Cricket’s future stars: A look at the Victoria Country and Metro Under 19 male squads
Victoria has named its Under 19 male cricket squads. Here’s a run-down on every player in the Country and Metro squads — all 28 names examined.
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Victorian selectors have picked in-form and talented players for the Under 19 Male Championships in Albury in December.
Victoria will send two teams — Metro and Country — to the annual tournament which is a proven stepping stone to higher honours.
Australian Under 19 representative Harkirat Bajwa will captain Victoria Country and has been described as a unique talent by his Melbourne first XI captain Blake Thomson.
“In my opinion he is probably the best spinner in the state,” Thomson said.
“If the wicket is turning he’s going to be an absolute handful as well.”
Fellow Melbourne Cricket Club youngster Kyle Parrott has been named after scoring 138 not out in the Demons’ thirds on Saturday.
St Kilda batter and Melbourne Renegades listed Harry Dixon will captain the Victoria Metro side.
“He hits the ball as hard as any player in professional cricket I would suggest at the moment,” Cricket Victoria talent development specialist James Miller said.
Victoria Metro will be coached by Victorian-contracted batter Travis Dean with Miller as an assistant coach.
Former first-class cricketer and Geelong head coach Nick Speak will coach Victoria Country, with Victorian-contracted bowler Xavier Crone as an assistant coach.
The Under 19 Male National Championships are set to be hosted in Albury from November 30 to December 7.
VICTORIA COUNTRY
Harkirat Bajwa – Captain (Melbourne)
Bajwa has played a stack of representative cricket, including for Australia in the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa. He’s not a huge turner of the ball, but it’s his relentless areas that work batters over.
Austin Anlezark (Richmond)
Played Australian Under 19s as a fast bowler and has been working hard to come back from stress fractures of the back.
Xander Buxton (Melbourne)
An uber-talented junior who is starting to fulfill his potential. Keeper-batter Buxton was the unfortunate omission from Melbourne’s grand final side, making way for the returning Sam Harper.
Lucas Cavigan (Essendon)
Cavigan bats, and he bats long. He opened the batting in the Bombers Dowling Shield side last year and was a serious problem for opposition bowlers. He also made a stack of runs in the AGSV competition for Assumption College. In total, across all formats for all teams, Cavigan made 1001 runs at 41 last year.
Henry Edwards (Carlton)
Carlton coach Evan Gulbis has high hopes on Edwards, often referring to he and fellow young gun Lucas Brasher as the future stars of the club.
Jarvis Harvey (Carlton)
Cousin of former Victoria contracted bat Mackenzie. Jarvis is toiling away in the Carlton Third XI and is fresh off a super performance in the opening round of the Premier Cricket summer. Unlike his cousin, Jarvis is predominantly a bowler, but can swing the bat at the lower end of the order.
Jack Harwood (Melbourne)
Son of former Victorian paceman Shane. Jack is a promising young speedster.
Harry Hoekstra (Casey-South Melbourne)
Tall, bottom-age left-arm quickie who has just started his Premier career. Swings the ball late and can generate good speed.
Archie Lalor (Northcote)
Fast bowling all-rounder who can bat in the top middle order and can take the new ball. An exciting prospect.
Henry Melville (Geelong)
Was crucial in steering his APS side to the championship last season alongside Ollie Peake. The right-hander is knocking on the door of the Cats’ First XI after 59 in the twos at the weekend.
Liam O’Connor (Casey-South Melbourne)
Casey-South Melbourne has huge hopes on O’Connor as one of the more promising up-and-coming spinners. He has taken five wickets at an average of seven for the Swans so far this summer.
Kyle Parrott (Melbourne)
A proven century-maker throughout his junior days, the talented right-hander started the new season with a bang, blasting 138no in Melbourne’s thirds after returning from a hamstring injury sustained playing footy.
Oliver Peake (Geelong)
Super-talented batter with an insatiable appetite for runs and to better himself and play the game of cricket. Has the capacity to bat for long periods and score lots of runs.
Kane Scott (Prahran)
Scott debuted for the True Blues First XI at just (age) 16 last summer and held his own with both the bat and gloves, making 30 on debut against a fierce Footscray side.
VICTORIA METRO
Harry Dixon - Captain (St Kilda)
The left-hander is the Melbourne Renegades list. A fabulous striker of the ball. “He hits the ball as hard as any player in professional cricket I would suggest at the moment,” James Miller said.
Nick Brennan (Carlton)
Young, fit fast bowler who is a bottom-age player. Moves the ball in the air and at a good pace.
Atharv Deshpande (Camberwell Magpies)
Played in Darwin in the off season. Right-handed opening batter.
Darcy Gregory-Francis (Fitzroy Doncaster)
DGF is an all-rounder who bats in the middle order and bowls stump to stump seam-ups. Agile in the field. Good cricket brain.
Christian Howe (Melbourne)
Genuine all-rounder who bowls left-arm seam up and also a quality batter who could bat in the top order.
Ali Khan (Melbourne University)
Top order batter who has progressed a lot in the past 12 months, risen through the grades, making runs in finals and made his first XI debut this season.
Jack Lyndon (Camberwell Magpies)
Came into the program late on the back of some good performances. A seam bowling all-rounder with loads of energy and executes his skill.
Josh Pace (Footscray)
Top order batter, bottom-age player. Played in the Under 17s carnival last season and has already made his first XI debut. Has all the skills.
Max Parker (Richmond)
Played for the Northern Territory as a bottom-age player, as a wicketkeeper batter. Brother of Victorian player Wil Parker.
Tyler Pearson (Kingston Hawthorn)
Physically he’s progressed a lot in the last 12 months, added several yards of pace. Has been frightening to face on bouncy indoor wickets. He will lead the attack.
Vishwa Ramkumar (Dandenong)
He could be an ace with his white ball-suited leg-spin. Good variations, hard to pick his wrong ‘un.
Lewis Sellenger (St Kilda)
Played for the Northern Territory as a bottom-ager. Right-arm fast bowler, moves the ball in the air and can generate some good pace.
Bailey Toseland (Essendon)
Leg spinner with plenty of energy, has been batting really well. Has a 360 game and can score all over the place and is an outstanding fielder.
Will Waters (Northcote)
Bottom-age leg spinner. Very impressive with his flight and ability to spin the ball.
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