Liam Blackford continues to impress as he searches for Victorian contract

Fresh off a vital knock to win a grand final, one of Geelong’s brightest talents has been named in the Australian under-19 squad to face the Old Enemy.

Liam Blackford has impressed in Second XI cricket this season.

Geelong young gun Liam Blackford’s starring role for Victoria’s Second XI has earned him a berth to take on England with Australia’s under-19 side.

Blackford has been named in a 15-strong male squad for to face England in two four-day matches, three one dayers and a T20, beginning in late January.

Liam Blackford on the pull.

The left-hander who also keeps had a strong start to his Second XI career earlier this summer when he made 97 on debut against Queensland, a knock that caught the eye of under-19 coach Anthony Clark.

“Blackford’s Second XI performances have been something (we’ve looked at), he scored a 90 against a very strong Queensland side not long ago,” Clark told cricket.com.au.

“I know that he played for the (Melbourne) Stars in the tropic series in Darwin in the off-season and he’s someone that we’ve seen over a period of time.

“He was fairly close to making the last World Cup as well, so he’s someone we’ve known about for a while.”

Long earmarked as a talent to watch, Blackford, 18, played his junior cricket at North Geelong and Newtown & Chilwell before jumping into Premier Cricket with Geelong.

Just this week he steered Vic Country to victory by making an unbeaten 94 in the national under-19 championships grand final, allowing his side to chase down a target of 283 against Vic Metro.

Blackford ‘definitely pushing’ for state contract

Geelong rising star Liam Blackford “is definitely pushing” for a state contract after the left-hander’s “absolutely amazing” Second XI form this season has caught the eye of Melbourne Renegade young gun Jake Fraser-McGurk.

A wicketkeeping batter, Blackford has made an impressive step up to the Second XI – a competition one rung below Sheffield Shield – by compiling 249 runs at 41.5, including 97 on debut against Queensland.

Liam Blackford attacks for Geelong.

The North Geelong product has also been shrewd with the gloves, claiming 14 catches.

Blackford has long been earmarked as one of Geelong’s most promising young cricketers and this week has been representing Vic Country in the under-19 national championships.

Contracted Victorian Fraser-McGurk has played alongside Blackford in the Second XI and heaped praise on the teen’s efforts.

“He is a very talented player, he is definitely pushing for a contract next (season) and hopefully he gets it,” Fraser-McGurk said.

“He is a super talented player. he has shown some really good skill over the last few games in the seconds. He is one of our better batters actually and his hands behind the stumps, he is always composed and nothing fazes him.

“He’s done an absolutely amazing job. There is nothing I could fault him with really, he has been really solid behind the stumps and his batting’s been exceptional. I think it’s just that he gels with the team and we told him to back himself and go out and be confident, and that is what he has done.”

Liam Blackford in 2019. Picture: Alison Wynd

Fraser-McGurk will hit Geelong on Wednesday with the Renegades, fresh off a perfect 2-0 start to the BBL season.

The right-hander has been bumped up to No.3 in the order this season and added a useful 24 off 18 balls in the Renegades’ win over Sydney Thunder on Sunday.

The Renegades identified a strong start as crucial to their BBL chances and will hope t go 3-0 against Brisbane Heat at GMHBA Stadium on Wednesday.

“(We have) such a strong batting and bowling line-up, if we can just gel on paper and really get to know each other early and quickly, that is what good sides do,” Fraser-McGurk said.

“That’s one of the more important things in cricket, we just have to gel as a team and perform as a team.”

Couch scares Victorians in the nets

If the fear factor for two Victorian young guns is anything to go by, Geelong quick Brody Couch is ready to back up his breakthrough BBL campaign.

Stars quick Brody Couch at the crease last summer. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

After bursting onto the scene with the Melbourne Stars last summer, Couch will again don green this BBL season, bowling alongside the likes of Kiwi swing king Trent Boult and Aussie spin whiz and new Stars skipper Adam Zampa.

The right-arm Warrnambool product wasn’t selected in the Stars XI for Tuesday night's BBL season opener but made a stunning impact when he took two outstanding catches.

The first came early in Sydney Thunder’s innings, when Couch miraculously juggled a catch at short fine leg, claiming the ball after it bounced off his leg to dismiss Matthew Gilkes and give Boult his first BBL wicket.

In the thrilling final over of the clash, Couch then took the early frontrunner for catch of the summer when he stuck up his right arm to snare an athletic grab, much to the dismay of batter Chris Green.

Brody Couch celebrates one of his two stunning catches. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

Despite Couch’s heroics, the Stars lost the game off the final ball, when wicketkeeper Joe Clarke let four byes through.

Couch, who holds a state rookie contract, has been making strides at Victorian training this season and hard-hitter Jake Fraser-McGurk has begun to try and avoid the Geelong Premier Cricket quick.

“(Couch) is bowling fast that is for sure,” Fraser-McGurk said.

“I don’t like facing him in the nets because there is one ball that comes out at 125 (km/h) and you are thinking ‘OK’ and the next ball comes out at 150 and you are just like ‘wow’.

“He is doing some really good work with his bowling action and he is getting a lot more consistent which is what we like to see.

“Couchy is definitely one to look out for this Big Bash.”

Victorian all-rounder Will Sutherland is another who gets surprised by Couch’s speed change and described the 23-year-old as a “superstar” prospect.

Couch lets one go for Geelong. Photo: Hamish Blair

“He is a bit of a tricky one, he sort of comes in and bowls his decent pace at 130-135 (km./h) and then out of nowhere he hits you with a 145 ball,” Sutherland said.

“He is a unique sort of talent but he is a gun.”

Sutherland said he was keen to get on-field at GMHBA Stadium for the Melbourne Renegades on December 21, given his “nuffy” fandom for Geelong’s AFL side.

The all-rounder’s father – former Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland – sits on the Cats board and Sutherland said he has been invited to gym sessions at Kardinia Park.

“I was at the (grand final win in September) and snuck down to the rooms at the end so it was good to soak it up a bit,” Sutherland said.

Originally published as Liam Blackford continues to impress as he searches for Victorian contract