Locked in: Cricket Victoria names male emerging performance squad for 2021-22

Young spinners Reiley Mark, Eddie O’Sullivan and Blake Parsons, and experienced batsman Nick Ross are included in the 16-player squad.

Damon Egan, Reiley Mark and Jack Rudd.

Cricket Victoria has put out the call to three of the state’s promising slow bowlers: come in, spinners.

Prahran’s Blake Parsons, Carlton’s Eddie O’Sullivan and 18-year-old Richmond offie Reiley Mark have been included in the CV male emerging performance squad for 2021-22.

Melbourne’s former South African leggie Kyle Williamson has also taken a call-up, as has experienced Carlton batsman Nick Ross after his outstanding 2020-21 in the middle-order.

Parsons broke through with 29 wickets at 21.6 last season, helping the True Blues to their first premiership in almost 40 years.

Mark made his debut for the Tigers at the age of 16.

Last season he combined Premier Cricket with school cricket for Haileybury College, where he nabbed 23 wickets at 12.35. Remarkably, of the 147.5 overs he bowled, 51 were maidens.

O’Sullivan, an accurate left-arm spinner who figured in Carlton’s 2018-19 flag, collected 27 wickets at 19.3 last season and is highly regarded by Blues coach Evan Gulbis.

Williamson has had a speedy rise since linking with Melbourne halfway through 2019-20.

Last season he captured 33 wickets at 14.7.

Reiley Mark bowling for the Tigers.

Fellow leg-spinner Peter Hatzoglou of Melbourne University is also part of the squad after his stunning elevation to the Melbourne Renegades and South Australia teams last season.

Ross (630 runs, with three centuries), stylish Fitzroy-Doncaster opener Jack Rudd (780 runs), Ringwood’s Tom Rogers (632 runs) and Prahran right-hander Damon Egan (779 runs) were among the leading batsmen last season and have been recognised with selection in the squad.

Nick Ross batting for Carlton last season. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It’s terrific recognition for Ross, who made his debut for the Blues in 2008-09 and is 31.

Egan saved his best innings for the big occasion of the grand final, hitting a century to take the John Scholes Medal as player of the match against Dandenong.

His new Prahran teammate Bailey Moon joins him in the squad, which will train at the CitiPower Centre.

St Kilda wicketkeeper-batsman and former Victorian rookie Patrick Rowe is another notable name in the group.

Injury-hit Saints quickie Matt Hennig also gets a look-in, as does all-rounder Connor Rutland, who has left Essendon to play with Carlton.

“We are looking forward to continuing to offer opportunities to players of interest from outside the State Squad,” Victorian assistant coach Andre Borovec said.

“This squad has diversity in terms of not only skill set, but also experience.

“Our goal is to provide each player with an experience that will add value to their preparation for the 2021-22 season.”

The program will start in early July and run through to the beginning of the Premier Cricket season.

Former Australian and Victorian player Clint McKay will coach the squad.

Victorian Male Emerging Performance Squad

Damon Egan (Prahran), Josh Garner (Geelong), Peter Hatzoglou (Melbourne University), Matt Hennig (St Kilda), Reiley Mark (Richmond), Bailey Moon (Prahran), Tom O’Donnell (Essendon), Eddie O’Sullivan (Carlton), Blake Parsons (Prahran), Tom Rogers (Ringwood), Nick Ross (Carlton), Patrick Rowe (St Kilda), Jack Rudd (Fitzroy-Doncaster), Connor Rutland (Carlton), Dylan Tibballs (Richmond), Kyle Williamson (Melbourne).