See who made the cut in our Victorian Premier Cricket Team of the Year
Some of the hottest talents in Victorian cricket have earned a place in Leader’s Premier Cricket Team of the Year. See who makes the cut and our three rising stars.
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The Victorian Premier Cricket season has come to an end – this time a complete end.
Leader’s cricket writers have brought together the strongest performers of the season in a star-studded Team of the Year.
In a season of one-day cricket it paid to be an opener but there is still room for a specialist middle order batsman in this XI.
With the ball, the best wicket-takers have been recognised, led by the evergreen James Nanopoulos, who once again finished top of the pile.
We’ve also named a 12th man and three rising star nominations from what was one of the best Premier Cricket seasons in recent memory.
1. JAMES SEYMOUR (Essendon)
We’ve almost run out of words to describe Seymour’s past 18 months. The Essendon opener scored runs for fun at every level – Northern Territory Premier, NSW Premier, Victorian Premier, against Victoria and for Victoria. In 13 games for the Bombers Seymour plundered 822 runs – pipped by 11 runs for No.1 in the competition by Eamonn Vines who played three more games – at an outstanding average of 91.33 with three tons and six half-centuries. For those playing at home that’s at least 50 runs in nine of 13 matches. Finished a long summer with a well deserved Sheffield Shield (and another half-century) and Marsh Cup debut for Victoria. Did we mention he bowls as well? Seymour added 10 wickets with his spin. Does a second straight Ryder Medal await?
2. EAMONN VINES (Geelong)
Took his anger at being axed from Victoria’s squad on just about every bowler in Premier Cricket. The stats tell us the Cats skipper produced his third best season but given it was a completely one-day campaign, 2020-21 might just stand alone in what has been a sensational career. Vines knocked up 833 runs in the home-and-away season – No.1 in the competition – at an average of 59.50, scoring one century and seven 50s. The star opener was a picture of consistency, reaching double figures every time he walked to the crease. In a nine-week purple patch starting in Round 4 he scored 59, 27, 79no, 47, 73, 115no, 90, 65 and 76.
3. EVAN GULBIS (Carlton)
The former state all-rounder would be one of the leading Ryder Medal contenders after a standout campaign. Gulbis plundered three centuries for the summer, including an unbeaten 168 against Casey-South Melbourne, which was his 20th in Premier Cricket and placed him alongside the greats. Gulbis’ 687 runs at 45.8 would have been enough for consideration but he also collected 24 wickets at 20 apiece, including hauls of 5-47 and 4-38. As damaging as any player in Premier Cricket and a genuine champion of Victoria’s top competition.
4. DAMON EGAN (Prahran)
Wanting a fresh start – not, he stressed, more opportunity, since he had a lot of it at St Kilda – the right-hander crossed from the Saints to Prahran ahead of the season. On Saturday he signed off on 2020-21 with a premiership and the John Scholes Medal as player of the match in the grand final against Dandenong at the Junction Oval. Stylishly, flawlessly, he made 107 off 118 balls. It was his third century of the season and he finished with an aggregate of 779 runs at an average of 55.6. At 24, Egan has the talent to push for higher honours. In that regard, he does require opportunity.
5. JACK RUDD (Fitzroy Doncaster)
Delivered 780 runs at an average of 52 – fifth most in the competition – and finished as the Lions’ leading run-scorer by a long way. Rudd was one of only a handful of names across the top-flight to register three centuries this season, with a high score of 122 not out in Round 6, before hitting two in three weeks between rounds 9-12. A further four half-centuries spearheaded the Lions’ return to finals, culminating in a preliminary final. Triple-figure knocks aside, one of Rudd’s most notable performances came in the qualifying final against minor premier Carlton where he piled on 70 runs, lifting eighth-placed underdog Fitzroy Doncaster to an almighty upset.
6. NICK ROSS (Carlton)
Impossible to ignore as a specialist middle order batsman, Ross hammered 630 runs at 57.3 in an eye-catching season for the Blues. He peeled off three centuries, each coming after Carlton found itself in a precarious position. His knocks of 130 not out against Camberwell Magpies and 113 against Essendon helped his side claim victory, but his unbeaten 100 against Fitzroy Doncaster in the opening week of finals was ultimately in vain as the Blues suffered a shock defeat after finishing the regular season as minor premier. But Ross’s ability to deliver under pressure makes him a must pick in our team.
7. SCOTT EDWARDS (Richmond)
The Richmond wicketkeeper-batsman delivered a career-best season and takes the gloves in our XI. After a quiet start to the summer, Edwards punched out scores of 79, 121, 11, 53, 53, 50, 69, 0 and 101 not out in an incredibly consistent stretch at the top of the order as he finished with 637 runs at 45.5. It was good enough for seventh on the competition run-scorers charts. He also secured 22 dismissals behind the stumps and provided important leadership to a young Tigers line-up. Edwards, who was born in Tonga and has represented the Netherlands 33 times at international level, was rewarded for his hunger to improve.
8. JAMES NANOPOULOS (Dandenong)
Ahead of the grand final Melbourne coach Ben Vague declared the Dandenong veteran to be the best player in Premier Cricket. Maybe he was still dazzled by the right-armer’s performance against the Dees in the quarter-final, when Nanopoulos bowled eight maidens in a return of 3-7 off 10. He finished equal first on the wicket-takers charts in the home-and-away season with 34 at an average of 12.85, a haul made memorable by his stunning 8-16, with a hat-trick, against Kingston Hawthorn. Three finals took him to 37 scalps – again equal first.
9. MATT WILCOX (Prahran)
What a season from the experienced Prahran paceman. His 2-50 in the grand final not only helped his club to the premiership, it lifted him to the top of the competition wicket list, 37 taken at 12.97 and his economy rate of 3.12 led all comers too. He finished the home-and-away season with 33 scalps at 11.70 – third best in Premier Cricket. Wilcox bowled with enough pace to test the best batsmen and his control rarely wavered. The sight of him getting the celebrations started on the ground on Saturday will live in the memory of Prahran supporters.
10. HENRY THORNTON (St Kilda):
“He’s rapid,’’ a batsman said of the right-arm paceman early in the season. Others saw it for themselves. In one match teammates held their breath as the No.10 and 11 fronted up to Thornton at the Junction. One was clanged on the helmet. Tall, strong and, yes, rapid, Thornton captured an equal best 34 wickets at 14.03 – 36 including finals – with four hauls of four. The state selectors are no doubt watching.
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11. KYLE WILLIAMSON (Melbourne)
Williamson takes his place as Premier Cricket’s premier spinner in 2020-21. After making his First XI debut last season, he took his game to a whole new level this season, finishing with 33 scalps at 14.18 and a spot on the podium as the equal third best wicket-taker in the competition. Took at least one wicket in every match except two, sadly one of which was the quarter-final loss to Dandenong.
12. JACK PRESTWIDGE (Melbourne)
Melbourne knew it had scored a major coup when Prestwidge signed on after moving south from Queensland. However, they didn’t really get to see their boom recruit until half way through the campaign due to his Big Bash League duties with the Melbourne Renegades. However, he returned in magnificent form. In nine home-and-away matches he took an astonishing 23 wickets at 10.09, including three bags of four. He also contributed some handy knocks with the bat, reaching 40 three times but unable to break through for a maiden half-century.
RISING STARS
BLAKE PARSONS (Prahran)
The young left-arm spinner was a steady presence in the Prahran attack and a strong contributor to its first premiership in almost 40 years. Pocketed 29 wickets at 21.6 – only Melbourne leggie Kyle Williamson (33) took more in the slow-bowling ranks – including 5-37 against Camberwell Magpies in Round 3. At the end of the season he had spinning company in fellow left-armer James Boyce. You fancy they’re going to serve the club with distinction for a long time.
ASHLEY CHANDRASINGHE (Casey-South Melbourne)
The classy left-hander had played just four innings at Premier First XI level before this season, giving notice of his talent with a spectacular debut knock of 144 against Northcote in 2019-20. The 19-year-old opener finished his first full campaign with 669 runs at 47.8, earning plaudits from the likes of former Test bowler and Casey specialist coach Damien Fleming. The highlight of Chandrasinghe’s season was a hand of 103 not out, but he also hit scores of 98 not out, 85, 70, 67 and 51, finishing as the competition’s fourth most prolific batsman. One of the brightest young talents in the state.
FERGUS O’NEILL (Melbourne)
The Demons young gun continues to go from strength to strength. After a breakout season in 2019-20 that saw him make his First XI debut and take 23 wickets, O’Neill stepped it up again this season. The paceman finished the home-and-away season with 27 scalps at 16.04 – seventh among all Premier Cricket bowlers – and was a picture of consistency. He took at least one wicket in all bar two matches. He also showed his talent with bat in hand, making a maiden half-century against St Kilda and repeating the dose the following week against Footscray, to finish with 267 runs at 22.25.
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