Ballarat set to play host to School Sport Australia’s cricket titles
Victoria’s best under 12 cricketers will chase glory at the national titles starting this weekend. Meet our next generation of future stars.
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The next generation of Australian cricket superstars are set to descend on Ballarat later this week.
For the first time in three years, the School Sports Australia under 12 national titles are set to be contested with the regional Victorian city set to play host to the event.
Shepparton had originally been the host venue but recent flooding meant a change was required.
Victoria will have three teams — Vic Boys Blue, Vic Boys White and a girls side — battle it out for national glory.
“We are obviously disappointed for Shepparton to have to withdraw as the host association in such testing times and really appreciate the effort they went to in the lead up before having to make the difficult decision,” Team Vic Boys Blue coach Travis Colley said.
“After not having had the Championships for a couple of years, the most important thing is that the young players (boys and girls) are able to get an opportunity to challenge themselves against the best in the country for their age group.
“Our students are extremely excited to participate, and they would have been devastated if it had been cancelled.”
At the last event in 2019, the girls side finished and they’re confident of again pushing the very best in the country.
“We expect excellent results during the titles,” Team Vic girls coach Steve Watling said.
“We have a talented group of girls. Having finished in the top two or three for the last seven or eight years, we continue to expect similar (results).”
Victoria took out the boys title at the last event.
“Having not had a Championship for a while, it is difficult to get a gauge of where other states are at with their development and given the interruptions with preparations the boys teams will need to bring their best efforts,” Colley said.
“But I have no doubt that they have the skill sets to go really well in Ballarat.
“Both teams are well balanced and all players bring plenty to the team.”
Meet Victorian stars in our player profiles below.
TEAM VIC BLUE
Arjun Itankar, Good News Lutheran College
Plays in the Western Region Junior Cricket Association for Williams Landing Sports Club. Has averaged 43 with the bat in the under-13 competition so far this season.
Blake Doherty, Lysterfield Primary School
Plays for Lysterfield Cricket Club and has played one match so far this season in under 14s. He made 26 not out and got one wicket in the contest.
Charlie Macumber, St Therese’s School
The young cricketer plays for Bendigo United’s under 14s and dominated last season in the under 12s. Has got out once all year batting for his club side and is averaging 257, making a high score of 42. Macumber is also a talented footballer.
Harry Lindsay, Leopold Primary School
Described by his coach as a very good top/middle order batter. The Geelong player is expected to be one of the team’s leaders in the team and with Lindsay’s competitiveness will set to shine through.
Leith Salwathura, McKinnon Primary School
Plays for Toorak-Prahran and Ormond. He’s averaging 119 with the bat in all grades for Toorak-Prahran this season so far and 73 for Ormond.
Louis Read, Leongatha Primary School
The Gippsland junior is already playing under 15 cricket for Koonwarra Leongatha RSL, playing in the grade since 2019. Last season he made his first 50 in the competition.
Mikail Farooqi, Brentwood Park Primary School
The Berwick rising star scored more than 800 runs for his club last season, which included seven half centuries.
Neith Ashley Fernando, Parade College
The talented spinner plays for several clubs including Thomastown United. He’s also playing in Coburg’s Third XI in the Subbies competition.
Rayanjot Singh, Epping Views Primary School
A Diamond Valley representative cricketer. The Epping bowler has already taken a wicket this season in the under 16 competition.
Shaunak Parab, Cranbourne East Primary School
The opening batsmen has played for multiple clubs this season and represented the Ferntree Gully and District Association last season. For Endeavour Hills Cricket Club, he has scored more than 50 runs this season across three matches.
Shlok Shanbhag, Port Melbourne Primary School
A South East Cricket Association representative who averaged more than one wicket a game last season in the under 12 the Kevin Mitchell Shield. He hasn’t played many games this season but last season he took 16 wickets for Ormond.
Shravan Shanmuga Sundaram, Bacchus Marsh Grammar
A Western Region Junior Cricket Association representative who plays for Point Cook. He’s averaging 33 runs with the bat in the under 13s this season.
Wilbur Emerson, Belmont Primary School
A talented golfer, footballer and cricketer, Emerson is able to do it all. The Highton all-rounder player is good with bat and ball, scoring more than 100 runs for his club last season and taking seven wickets.
TEAM VIC WHITE
Aadarsh Itankar, Good News Lutheran College
The Williams Landing Sports Club representative averaged almost 40 with the bat in three grades last campaign and has started this season in similar vein.
Aarav Laxman, St Thomas the Apostle School
The Thomastown United star was one of the standouts last season in the VMCU. He scored a century in the under 12 Phil Arnold Shield and was the only player to do so. This season he is averaging more than 50 with the bat.
Aiyaan Ariketty, Gleneagles Secondary College
The Ferntree Gully & District Association cricketer has already hit a half century this year, hitting 51 not out for the Lynbrook Lakers in under-14. The all-rounder has also taken three wickets with the ball in the same competition.
Declan Brasher, Marist College Bendigo
The Castlemaine United cricketer is already playing B Grade cricket and made 27 in his first hit out last weekend.
Dhanush Dahiya, Laurimar Primary School
Was meant to be playing in last year’s squad but couldn’t due to Covid cancelling the titles. This year he gets his shot and has started the season in fine form for Laurimar. In under 16 competition he has hit two half-centuries and has not been dismissed.
Joshua Mithen, Blackburn Lake Primary School
The all-rounder from Laburnum is playing under 14s this season and is averaging more than 50 with the bat. This includes a 38 not out.
Kai Hauenstein, Belmont Primary School
The Geelong talent plays for South Barwon across the under 13 and 15 grades while averaging almost 20 in both sides.
Max Darcy, Scotch College
The Boroondara rising star is making waves in the under 14s side this season. He impressed last campaign with seven wickets including a special performance of 4-14.
Nevon Eshwara, Kingswood Primary School
Eshwara plays his club cricket for Mazenod Old Collegians. This young gun could eventually have a decision to make after representing Victoria in footy earlier this year.
Nicholas Critchley, Brighton Secondary College
A South East Cricket Association representative who is playing under 15s for Brighton District.
Reeve Bal Pannu, Alamanda K-9 College
The Werribee junior is averaging 70 with the bat in all competitions and has made scores of more than 40 four times. He is a Western Region Junior Cricket Association representative player.
Rishi Desai, Epping Views Primary School
Another player from Thomastown United. In all competitions this season, he has not been out, making 74 runs in two grades — under 14s and E Grade.
Tanish Singh, McKinnon Secondary College
A top order batsmen who is expected to cause plenty of headaches for the opposition. His coaches say he is a smart young cricketer who is aware of the game situation and can easily change his approach to adapt to whatever confronts his side.
TEAM VIC GIRLS
Addison O‘Connor, St Martin of Tours School
The Banyule star can bat anywhere in the top six. She’s averaging 39 with the bat this season.
Ananya Mahajan, Maribyrnong College
Mahajan is a middle order batter who bowls medium pace. A Werribee player, Mahajan is described as an exciting talent who will be a leader in her team. She is vice-captain for the carnival.
Angelina Panaia, Keilor Primary School
The North West Metropolitan Cricket Association representative plays for Keilor. She took 29 wickets last season in all grades for her club at an average of 13.69.
Anna Burgon, Sandringham Primary School
Burgon has represented the South East Cricket Association and plays for East Sandringham. The under 14 bowler has already taken six wickets in two games this season.
Bella Bowles, Victory Lutheran College
The Wodonga prospect plays for Baranduda Rangers. Last season in the under 12s she averaged almost 20 with the bat and 16 with the ball.
Georgia Naughton, Firbank Grammar School
The South East Cricket Association representative player plays for several clubs including Prahran. Naughton made her debut in the Premier Third XI competition earlier this season and plays under 15s for the club.
Ishita Tiwari, Bentleigh West Primary School
Another player who plays for Prahran. Tiwari earnt a shot with the Premier club’s under 15 team after impressing for Bentleigh, where she still plays. She is averaging 47 with the bat for Bentleigh this season in under-12 and under-14.
Mineli Menaaya Perera, Glen Waverley Primary School
A top order batter who can bowl leg spin. Perera played Premier Cricket for Box Hill’s Second XI recently and scored 21 runs. Her coaches say she is a player to watch in the carnival. She was also a part of the State Development Camp in 2021.
Noura Abdul Qader, Al-Taqwa College
The Werribee Juniors player is also a representative player for Western Region Junior Cricket Association. Last season she averaged almost 50 with the bat in the under 12s.
Puneet Kaur Dhillon, St John the Apostle Catholic Primary School
Another player who has played representative cricket for the Western Region Junior Cricket Association. The Werribee junior hasn’t been out so far this season, making 77 runs in under 13s and 16s. She is also a handy bowler, taking five wickets, including 3-5 in one game.
Ruby Flett, Inverleigh Primary School
The Geelong cricketer is playing for St Joseph’s Cricket Club after previously playing for Inverleigh. The all-rounder has impressed in under 16 competition for St Joseph’s, taking three wickets while also averaging more than 30 with the bat.
Trisha Bajaj, Mount Waverley Primary School
Already playing B Grade for Monash University in the Ringwood and District Cricket Association. She has also played for Inner South East Cricket in representative cricket. Last season she averaged almost 30 with the bat.
Varsha Avulanna, Birralee Primary School
An Eastern Cricket Association representative, Avulanna plays for Box Hill. She’s played two matches this season, taking a wicket and making 17 runs.
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