Top 40 U19 Victorian male cricketers revealed
Ahead of the Victorian Under 19 country and metro team selections, Leader has rated the top 40 under 19 cricketers in the state.
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An exciting bunch of talented under 19 Victorian cricketers are gearing up for their upcoming national tournament in Adelaide later this year in December.
The week-long event will feature several one-day matches beginning on December 15 through to December 23.
Victoria have announced their Metro and Country squads for the National Championships.
See the selected squads below and scroll further down to read more about them and some other notable cricketers.
Metro squad
Farzan Chowna, Essendon
Harry Demattia, Melbourne
Ikroop Dhanoa, Fitzroy Doncaster
Harry Dixon, St Kilda
Harry Flynn, Ringwood
Mitchell Jamieson, Footscray
Harrish Kannan, Casey-South Melbourne
Mitchell Lawson, Northcote
Alex Meehan, Ringwood
Tom Mileto, Carlton
Henry Pearson, Melbourne
Tyler Pearson, Kingston Hawthorn
Dhruv Redhu, Camberwell Magpies
Will Townsend, Camberwell Magpies
Country squad
Austin Anlezark, Richmond
Harkirat Bajwa, Melbourne
Liam Blackford, Geelong
Alexander Buxton, Melbourne
Coby Fitzsimmons, Camberwell Magpies
Harry Hauenstein, Geelong
Vincent Huf, Geelong
Henry Melville, Geelong
Thomas Neate, Geelong
Liam O’Connor, Casey-South Melbourne
Nicholas Pastras, Melbourne
Oliver Peake, Geelong
Josh Sawrey, Dandenong
Devlin Webb, Casey-South Melbourne
Ahead of metro and country squad announcements on November 2, Leader conducted research to produce the following top 40 under 19 cricketers in the state.
METRO CRICKETERS
Aingharan Athiththan, Dandenong
Role: All-rounder
A off-spinner who is crafty with the ball and a busy right hand bat. A consistent performer who is also a jet fielder with his ability to be agile.
Varad Chaudhari, Footscray
Role: Fast bowler
Right-arm seamer who can move the ball and get some bounce. A handy player with the new ball with his ability to swing the ball.
Farzan Chowna, Essendon
Role: Batter
Played in the firsts last year for Essendon. An accumulator with the bat who can go for long periods coming in at the top of the order. A competitor who gets busy at the crease. Hits lots of balls and was one of the highest scores in first grade out of all the under 19’s. Was unlucky not to make the state side last year.
Harry Demattia, Melbourne
Role: Batting all-rounder
A player who is still under 17’s but has the chance to play in the under 19’s as well if he makes the side. Demattia is a talented all-rounder who bats and bowls right-arm medium pace. He made his first-grade debut last year for Melbourne as a 15-year-old. He scored 48 at the level. Has good footwork to spin with his ability to use the depth of his crease. A player to watch who is also a talented footballer. He recently retired on 70 in a recent under 19 trial game.
Atharv Deshpande, Casey South-Melbourne
Role: Batter
Has similar batting traits to Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma with a classical and fluent technique. A hard worker who has previously scored loads of runs in the Dowling Shield. He bats time and made a few scores for Casey last season. He is following in the footsteps of Casey teammate Ashley Chandrasinghe who currently holds a state rookie contract.
Ikroop Dhanoa, Fitzroy Doncaster
Role: Leg-spinner
A leg-spinner who is also handy with the bat in the middle to lower order. He is an energetic player who is also handy in the field. He took the most wickets of any under 19 in first grade last season. Bowls flatter leg spin which is suited to white ball cricket. Gets wicket from targeting the stumps.
Harry Dixon, St Kilda
Role: Batter
Elegant cricketer who is a left hander likened to Shaun Marsh. He scored 100 in the seconds for St Kilda last year. Mixed his game time with Melbourne Grammar in the APS school competition. He is opener who can also whack a ball showcased by his half century in the super slam last season.
Harry Flynn, Ringwood
Role: All-rounder
Son of Ringwood coach Sean Flynn. Harry is a left-arm medium pacer and left-handed middle-order batter. A super athlete who is also an impressive footballer. A player with good game sense and craft who is handy in the middle and at the death. Also strong in the field.
Mitchell Jamieson, Footscray
Role: Batter
Classy right-hand top-order bat. Had a good year in the twos last season and finished in the firsts. Raised eye balls when he scored a gritty 40 on a difficult wicket against Camberwell in first grade. He is a bottom age under 19 player.
Harrish Kannan, Casey South Melbourne
Role: All-rounder
A highly rated all-rounder who scored the most first-grade runs of any under 19 player last season with 540. He came 12th overall in the first-grade competition. A skilful player who bowls handy left-arm spin and can play nice sweep shots with the bat. He retired on 50 in a trial game recently and is one to watch. Consistently contributes to his team with bat and ball.
Mitch Lawson, Northcote
Role: Wicketkeeper
Previously played at Essendon before moving to Northcote. A good keeper who has solid hands and great energy. He is a developing left-hand bat who finds gaps and is good at running in between the wickets. He has mixed his playing time with Ivanhoe Grammar in the AGSV competition.
Gabe Lawson, Ringwood
Role: Leg-spinner
Played a good season in seconds last year where he earnt a debut in the ones and played a few matches. More of a traditional leggie who can bowl nice top spinning balls that gain bounce.
Alex Meehan, Ringwood
Role: Fast bowler
A right-arm fast-medium bowler who has performed well at trial games. He has a strong economical action that often challenges a batters defence.
Tom Mileto, Carlton
Role: Batter
An opening batter who was a replacement player for Campbell Kellaway in the under 19’s Victorian Metro team last year. He made a century in second grade last season for Carlton and is set for good opportunity this campaign under Gulbis. He has developed gears in his batting in recent times.
Max Parker, Richmond
Role: Wicketkeeper
Brother of Victorian leg-spinner Will Parker. A naturally skilful batter who sweeps the ball and has good wrists with his cut shot, run offs and laps. He has developed power over the last few years. Catches the ball well with the gloves.
Henry Pearson, Melbourne
Role: All-rounder
An off-spinner and left hand bat that can bat anywhere. Had a consistent season in the seconds last campaign. He sets good fields when bowling and is quite game savvy.
Tyler Pearson Kingston Hawthorn
Role: Fast bowler
A quick bowler who is raw. He played most of the season in the seconds last season and has come to the attention of selectors in recent years. He is developing physically and has upside.
Dhruv Redhu, Camberwell Magpies
Role: Leg-spinner
Played in the Victorian metro team last year. Had some pretty good games with the ball in that tournament. He spins it big and has gained overspin with his stock ball in recent times. He can also bat proved by the 50 he made in a recent under 19 trial game.
Lewis Sellenger, St Kilda
Role: Fast bowler
He has battled with a few injuries in recent years although he has been able to get in a decent pre-season this year. Bowls with good pace and gets movement by hitting the seam.
Will Townsend, Camberwell Magpies
Role: All-rounder
Highly rated all-rounder who made a half century for Victoria Metro last year when the team was sent in on a wet wicket. Has scored an 80 in first grade and bowled a few overs at the level as well. He is one of the top fielders in the under 19 trialling squad.
Kai Turner, Fitzroy Doncaster
Role: Leg-spinner
A tall leg spinner who bowls with over spin and generates bounce. He took a six-fa in the premier cricket thirds last season. A good team player who will make state selection of the spinners difficult.
COUNTRY CRICKETERS
Austin Anlezark, Richmond
Role: Fast bowler
A seamer who is the quickest under 19’s bowler in the state when up and running. Has a nice action similar to a blend of Patrick Cummins and Jhye Richardson. Anlezark has had an interrupted pre-season although he could return to full fitness soon. Has good attributes with the ball.
Harkirat Bajwa, Melbourne
Role: Off-spinner
A highly rated tall off-spinner who went to the West Indies last year as a bottom squad member to play in the under 19 World Cup representing Australia. He can spin the ball big and can also play a role with the bat. He played in the Victorian Country under 19’s team last year. He has improved his batting in recent times highlighted by a 50 in the most recent trial game.
Liam Blackford, Geelong
Role: Wicketkeeper
A highly rated wicketkeeper-batter who is set to make his second XI debut for the Victoria next week. Blackford is a left-hand top order bat who is technically sound, hits the ball hard but also shows an impressive defence. He has worked hard on his keeping in recent seasons which has added another major skill to his repertoire. He has played a few games in the Melbourne Stars academy and he also featured against the UAE in a World Cup practice game with Geelong. Certainly a player to watch.
Raheel Bostan, Dandenong
Role: Left arm leg-spinner
A leg-spinner who has a good wrong ’un so he can beat both sides of the bat. Is good in field with his movements and can smack them with the bat. A handy all-round package for any team.
Xander Buxton, Melbourne
Role: Wicketkeeper
A talented top-order batter who strikes the ball well. He played in the Victorian Country under 19’s team last year as a 17-year-old. In his first hit that tournament, he scored 80 at a strike rate of almost 200 which included some balls flying onto the roof. Buxton mixes his playing time with Melbourne Grammar in the APS competition and is a super talent.
Bradman Constable, Greenvale Kangaroos
Role: Fast bowler
He has had a few injury issues in recent times. A talented all-rounder who is a busy middle-order bat and swings the ball away at a lively pace.
Fletcher Cozens, Geelong
Role: Batter
A gritty left-handed bat from Hamilton who is well organised and willing to bat long periods. He had a shoulder injury but is back up and running now. He has a good base to build on.
Sam Croft, Geelong
Role: All-rounder
Played a full season in the seconds last year. He is economical with the ball and is starting to vary his pace well. He can also contribute with the bat. A handy player.
Coby Fitzsimmons, Camberwell Magpies
Role: All-rounder
An opening batter and leg-spinner from Albury who came down to Melbourne mid-season last campaign to finish the season with Camberwell. Made an 80 in a game and has bowled some overs. A tall and strong country cricketer who hits ball hard.
Harry Hauenstein, Geelong
Role: Fast bowler
A right-arm medium pacer who will play with Geelong in premier cricket this season. In prior seasons he has played with local club South Barwon in the Geelong Cricket Association where his father Brad is a legend of the competition. Harry played a season in England over the winter this year and looks ready for a big year.
Vincent Huf, Geelong
Role: Fast bowler
A Western Waves cricketer who played as a bottom squad member in last year’s Victorian Metro under 19 team. Huf has featured in the Geelong first-grade side. He is a naturally gifted fast-medium pace bowler who is strong and a fluent mover.
Isaiah Jassal, Casey South Melbourne
Role: Left arm orthodox
A consistent bowler who doesn’t miss too often. Played mostly seconds last year for Casey. A player who targets the stumps and is often a threat with his accuracy.
Tristan Maple, Footscray
Role: Batting all-rounder
A Central Highlands representative who is a handy top-to-middle-order bat. Gets busy at the crease with the bat and can also bowl off spin. He is also a talented footballer who represented the Greater Western Victoria Rebels.
Max Marinic, Dandenong
Role: Batter
Had a good year in the premier cricket seconds last season which was highlighted by a century. A player who hits ball hard and is a consistent performer.
Henry Melville, Geelong
Role: Batter
A top batter who can score big and can also go behind the stumps with the gloves. Originally from Colac, Melville scored 205 in a Dowling Shield game against Greenvale last season. In the same tournament, he also made an unbeaten 142 against Essendon. He holds the record for the most runs ever in a Dowling Shield tournament. Certainly a player to watch.
Thomas Neate, Geelong
Role: All-rounder
Played in the under 17’s Victorian Country team last year. A left-arm seamer that can also bat. He played a World Cup practice game against the UAE for Geelong and performed in one of the matches. He mixes his playing time with Geelong Grammar in the APS school competition.
Liam O’Connor, Casey South Melbourne
Role: Leg-spinner
He took a six-fa late in the season last year for Casey. A hard worker who has developed revs on the ball in recent times. A player who is willing to work and has strong potential.
Nicholas Pastras, Melbourne
Role: All-rounder
A batter who can also bowl right-arm medium pace. A strong player who has a cannon throw in the field. He bats in the middle order but can also clear a fence late in the innings. One of the better under 19 fielders in the state.
Oliver Peake, Geelong
Role: Batter
A highly talented batter who is still bottom age under 17’st but will play in both tournaments if he makes i into the under 19’s side. A left hander who can smash the ball through the off side. Played mostly seconds at Geelong last year and could be in line for more cricket in the firsts when he is available outside of school cricket commitments with Geelong Grammar. A freak talent who is one to watch. He is the son of Clinton Peake, a former first-class Australian cricketer.
Reuben Rode, Essendon
Role: All-rounder
Left-arm orthodox and left-hand batter. A busy batter who can come in at any spot. He can do the freakish things sparked by his athletic ability. He is a jet in the field and also a good footballer.
Josh Sawrey, Dandenong
Role: Bowling all-rounder
A game savvy player who has good change ups and doesn’t miss too often. Bowls to a plan and is able to outsmart batters. With the bat, he hits gaps and ticks the scoreboard over. Similar to James Nanopoulos.
Devlin Webb, Casey South Melbourne
Role: All-rounder
Played for the Northern Territory last year in their under 19’s team. Had a good season with Casey and finished in the club’s first team. A handy middle order bat and fast bowler. Good all-rounder for any team. He moved from Frankston to Casey last season.
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