Premier Cricket preview 2020-21: Richmond’s young talent crucial

Skipper Dominic Matarazzo explains why Richmond’s emerging talent will be crucial ahead of Round 1 in Premier Cricket.

Richmond celebrates a wicket last season. Picture: Julian Smith

It’s young talent time at Richmond.

Having enjoyed a track record of success, the club will be enthusiastically searching for the next gem as it looks to climb the ladder this summer.

The Tigers boast a group of youngsters that is arguably unrivalled at Premier Cricket level.

Mitch Perry, Wil Parker and Jake Fraser-McGurk, who are all aged 20 and under, are in Victoria’s squad and have displayed their potential in the formative stages of their state careers.

Richmond also had 10 players feature in Cricket Victoria’s under-19 male emerging performance squad.

Those selected included Parker and Fraser-McGurk and top prospects Zac Sleeman, Yash Pednekar, Reiley Mark and Jonathan D’Rozario.

Dylan Tibballs, Shobit Singh, Jordan Hesline and Bailey Moon were also picked based on performances in club cricket, the Youth Premier League and last season’s youth national championships.

Premier Cricket watchers will also remember Campbell Vadlja, who is plying his trade interstate these days.

Vadlja spent most of the 2018-19 campaign in Richmond’s Third XI before earning a call-up and hammering a record score of 180 in his First XI debut against St Kilda.

If the Tigers are to contest finals this season after finishing 14th in 2019-20, then the young guns at their disposal will be required to do some heavy lifting.

And perhaps even one or two who come on unexpectedly quickly.

Dominic Matarazzo sends one down for Richmond. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“I’d be disappointed if we weren’t pushing for the top eight,” Richmond captain Dominic Matarazzo said when asked to outline his expectations this season.

“But we still have a lot of young guys that we haven’t got a lot of games into yet.

“Depending how quickly some of them come along, it will really shape where we end up. Over the last few years we’ve had Wil Parker, Campbell Vadlja … a couple of guys have really shot up the grades quickly.

“If we have another one or two of them, it will be a pretty big help for us and we’ve certainly got the guys in the twos and threes who can do that.”

Matarazzo noted a season of one-day fixtures would be “totally different”.

But he is hopeful the Tigers’ youthful enthusiasm could assist them in the shorter format.

Matarazzo said his team was not short of bowling options and could bat down to “nine or 10”.

The availability of Perry, Parker and Fraser-McGurk around state and Big Bash League commitments will also be a significant factor.

The trio could be available for matches against Melbourne and Casey-South Melbourne in the opening two rounds in a boost.

“If we’ve got them, we’re in a great position,” Matarazzo said.

“If not, some of these young kids can come in and do a job.”

But while the young talent is not in question, the Tigers also have some capable experienced heads.

Paceman Marcus Berryman will again be a key figure after a career-best campaign in 2019-20 as he took 34 wickets at 13.6 to go with 278 runs and was rewarded with selection in the Team of the Year for the first time.

Marcus Berryman prepares to let one go for Richmond. Picture: Julian Smith

“I think he got a bit wiser and realised his stock ball was good enough to get pretty much everyone out in the competition, and just stuck to that,” Matarazzo said.

“He makes it really uncomfortable for batters, so it’s handy we’ve got him.

“Him and Mitch probably feed off each other … and it makes it pretty good when you’ve got that one-two punch with the new ball.”

Scott Edwards strengthened the batting after the Christmas break last season and hit a century against Geelong among 223 runs at a good average of 44.6.

The ever-consistent Matarazzo is a constant handful with the ball, collecting 79 First XI wickets in the past three seasons.

On the negative side, Jackson Waters has crossed to Upwey-Tecoma after he was the club’s most prolific batsman last season with 356 runs at 25.4.

“He got a new job last year and the commitment level was just taking a toll. It’s too hard to balance for him,” Matarazzo said.

“He’s gone back to Upwey, hopefully for just a year, but it’s one of those things. He was starting to find his feet in the ones at the end of last year as well.

“He became a rock at number three, which is what we’d been looking for.”

Spinner Tom O’Connell has also made the move to Geelong.

Richmond will host Melbourne in Round 1 on Saturday.