Long Island cricketer Aiden McKenna named in Vic Country side for Australian championships
After belting sixes into a nearby swimming pool in a trial game, a power-hitting Mornington Peninsula batter has been selected in the Victorian Country XI.
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Aiden McKenna has proudly watched his sister Rhys rise through the ranks to become a Victorian cricketer in the past few years.
Now, it’s his turn to don the state cap.
The clean-hitting opening batsman and wicketkeeper from Long Island in the Mornington Peninsula association has been named in the Victorian Country side for the Australian Country Cricket Championships in the Barossa Valley in South Australia from January 2-11.
“It’s a massive honour,” McKenna said.
The 23-year-old’s aggressive style against the new ball in a couple of state trial matches impressed selectors. In a game in Bendigo he belted several sixes into a nearby swimming pool.
“When I went for the first couple of trials there are so many good players and you don’t think you’re going to get in,’’ he said.
“But like anything you just try and put your best foot forward and I feel like I did that. I really wanted to represent them and hopefully I can do my best.”
Aiden’s sister Rhys, 20, is a fast bowler and, like her brother, a big-hitting batter. She plays for the Melbourne Stars in the Women’s Big Bash League.
Aiden remembers not-so-subtly persuading Rhys to take up cricket eight years ago.
“Rhys never really got into cricket until she was probably 12 or 13,” Aiden said.
“She came to training one day and she didn’t want to get out of the car so I dragged her out and put her in a net and then she just started bowling and started knocking blokes over and that’s where it started for her really. And then it was cricket all the time.”
Aiden McKenna has emerged as one of the most exciting young cricketers on the Mornington Peninsula, blasting over 1100 runs in three seasons.
He’s also represented the Mornington Peninsula in Country Week.
Long Island showed how highly it rates McKenna by handing him the First XI captaincy when he was 22, fast-tracking his development.
He’s proven to be a natural leader.
“I’m loving it,’’ McKenna said of the leadership role.
“I captained a bit of underage stuff. And then playing with blokes like Tom (Boxell), Tweeds (Andrew Tweddle) and Tug (Nick Jewell), they knew that I was taking an interest in field settings and that sort of stuff. Those guys were huge in making me want to do it as well.
“When Tom didn’t play the second half of last season, I jumped at it (the captaincy).’’
Long Island president James Haley said McKenna was a captain with high standards and good tactical nous.
“He’s got a lot of respect from all the players,’’ Haley said.
“When Tom (Boxell) couldn’t do it Aiden was ready for it. He’s young but he’ll have a crack at people and all of that sort of stuff.’’
McKenna is likely to open the batting for Victoria in the nationals and intends to play his natural game.
“I like to take it on a bit,’’ he said.
“Be attacking but in the right way. I don’t like to sit there and let bowlers dominate…I like to take a bit of calculated risk to try and get my team on the front foot.’’
It comes as a surprise for such a fast-scoring and talented batter McKenna is yet to score a century in senior cricket. He said “it’s my next thing’’ to tick off.
McKenna will be part of a strong Victoria Country side, featuring Ferntree Gully star Jake Toohey, who is captain, and former Casey South Melbourne batsmen Nathan Freitag and Lachie Sperling.
Vic Country men’s side:
Jake Toohey (C) - Ferntree Gully CC
Nathan Freitag (VC) - Glengarry CC
Campbell Love - Strathfieldsaye CC
Ben Fulford - North Albury CC
Joshua Henry - Ferntree Gully CC
Jesse Tower - Waaia CC
Dale Kerr - North Geelong CC
Tyler Larkin - Central Park St Brendans CC
Kyle Mueller - Kyabran CC
Tom Le Lievre - Mt Clear CC
Bailey Sykes - North Geelong CC
Chris Galvin - Lavington CC
Lachie Sperling - Newton & Chilwell CC
Aiden McKenna - Long Island CC
EMERGENCIES:
Daniel Mock - Phillip Island CC
Harry Hauenstein - South Barwon CC
Jacob Hetherington - Nestles CC
Coach - Luke Manders
Manager - Travis Harling
Vic Country women’s side:
Stephanie Townsend (C) - Koroit CC
Grace Jones - Torquay CC
Hannah Rooke - Warnambool CC
Amy Yates - Mortington Peninsula CC
Erica Kershaw - Traralgon Imperials CC
Maddie Green - Port Fairy CC
Sarah Mannes - Golden Square CC
Stacy Rockliff (WK) - Latrobe CC
Madi Albers - Puckapunyal CC
Annabel Glossop - Geelong CC
Jessica Bohn - Koonwarra CC
Makinley Blows (VC) - Gol Gol CC
Alyssa Humphries - Casterton CC
Tia Davidge - Barkers Creek CC
EMERGENCIES:
Kirrily Bruce - Rosedale/Kilmany CC
Tamsyn Hutchins - Northerners CC
Coach - Tamara Norquay
Manager - Kristen Webber
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