Essendon strengthens its batting line-up with England and Ireland youth internationals

Yorkshire’s youngest centurion since Sachin Tendulkar will join Essendon next Premier Cricket season, while the Bombers have also added a Ireland international.

Harry Duke in action for Essex.

Yorkshire’s youngest List A centurion since Sachin Tendulkar will call Victorian Premier Cricket home next season.

Essendon has secured former England under-19 young gun Harry Duke for the 2024-25 season as well as Ireland under-19 Mark Donegan.

Duke was 19 years old when he smashed 125 in the Royal London Cup in 2021 and made his First Class debut that same season.

He’s made 19 County appearances for Yorkshire and Essex, played four under-19 matches for England and was part of the 2020 Under-19 World Cup squad.

The Bombers have further strengthened their batting stocks with Donegan, luring the Irishman across from VSDCA club Ivanhoe.

Harry Duke in action for Essex.

The wicketkeeper-bat was part of Ireland’s squad for the 2018 Under-19 World Cup and made his List A debut for Leinster in 2023.

Donegan was the Saints’ leading run-scorer this season with 394 at an average of 32.83.

Essendon coach Ben Fletcher said it was a significant coup for the club.

“Harry’s a bat-wicketkeeper but we’ve recruited him as a specialist bat because we’re keen to invest in Connor Poulton, our young keeper,” Fletcher said.

“He was referred to Essendon, someone contacted me through a friend, and then I contacted him and it started from there.

“He’s 22, he’s played 50-odd List A matches and captained Yorkshire Seconds, played for Yorkshire and just did a stint at Essex on loan.

“Mark was Ireland under-19s and was at Ivanhoe this season, so he’s come to Essendon.

“He’ll be putting pressure on for senior selection as well, we’ll actually have potentially three wicketkeepers not keeping in First Grade.”

Duke and Donegan add to the arrival of Josh Trembearth (St Kilda), Jackson Martin (Yarraville Club) and Will Dundon (Coburg).

The Bombers have officially lost Farzan Chowna (Melbourne), Bailey Toseland (Prahran) and Lucas Cavigan (Carlton).

Fletcher said the club was still on the lookout for a frontline spinner and paceman for next season.

Meanwhile, the club has finalised its coaching panel.

The Bombers have signed former Melbourne Aces, Colorado Rockies minor leaguer and Netherlands and Fiji coach Dean Marnell.

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He’ll join the likes of Zimbabwe international Solomon Mire, Victoria First Class pair Louis Cameron and Ash Gilbert and Essendon favourite Ricky Waters under Fletcher.

“We’ve launched our pathways programs and we’ve got Thirds and Fourths coaches,” Fletcher said.

“Solomon Mire is on board again as a batting coach, Ash Gilbert is on board again, Louis Cameron is new as a bowling coach and Ricky Waters is back again as an assistant coach.

“Dean Marnell has come on as our fielding coach, he’s got a baseball background, he’s been involved in the Melbourne Aces and done college in America and I think fielding is a massive area for us.”