Young guns: Leading players from the 2021-22 Premier Cricket Dowling Shield series

Some exceptional players emerged when the Dowling Shield returned to Premier Cricket as an Under 17 series this season. Here are 20 to track.

Atharv Deshpande, Henry Melville, Mitchell Jamieson.

The grand final between Footscray and Ringwood at Windy Hill on March 14 will put the cap on a memorable return in club colours for the Cricket Victoria Dowling Shield.

There have been some outstanding performers, and performances.

Here are the players who have set down their influence on the Under 17 series.

Atharv Deshpande, Casey South Melbourne

The young Swan missed out in the first game of the series but he made up for it by peeling off centuries in the next three: 101 not out against Frankston Peninsula, 126 not out against Ringwood and 143 (run out) against Prahran. “We’ve given him feedback that he’s worked on and he’s very coachable,’’ Swans development coach Stuart Fairley said after Deshpande’s third century. “He’s taken on all that the coaching group has given him. From the first one (century) to the second one to third one, it’s like he’s worked through the gears, got the right intent, the right tempo.’’ Deshpande, who joined CSM last season, finished with 401 runs at 133.7. He has also had encouraging season in the Second XI, scoring 361 runs at 30.1.

Atharv Deshpande of Casey South Melbourne.

Harry Dixon, St Kilda

Having appeared in the Saints’ First XI before Dowling started, Dixon was expected to be one of the leading performers in the series. He had scores of 45, 21, 70, 154 and 1, with his big century coming against Greenvale Kangaroos and lifting his aggregate to 291. Highly rated by Cricket Victoria’s high performance officials.

Archie Flynn, Ringwood

The 15-year-old opener played only four matches owing to illness, but he put 221 runs and averaged 55.5 with scores of 71, 51 (run out), 68 and 32. He’s also averaging almost 30 for Ringwood’s Second XI, good going for such a young player.

Darcy Gregory-Francis, Fitzroy-Doncaster

The all-rounder took 10 wickets from four matches with his right-arm medium pace, including two four-fors, and showed his ability with the bat by hitting 61 against Carlton. A second-season Lion and has appeared in their Second XI this season.

Jack Iverson, Richmond

The left-hander crossed the 300-run mark with his hand of 48 in the semi-final against Ringwood and settled on 318 runs at 53.0, with his obvious highlight a sparkling 114 against Melbourne University in Round 2. Iverson picked up some headlines a few weeks ago when he blitzed 197 not out off 81 balls for Salesian College in a school game against Emmanuel College. There were 12 sixes and 21 fours. It was the former Oakleigh junior’s fourth century this season.

Oliver Horlock, Ringwood

The fluent right-hander and useful offie is captain of the young Rams and will lead them into the grand final against Footscray. Has struck 289 runs at 57.8 from six hands, including a 130-ball 129 not out against Frankston Peninsula. Also played in the Victorian Under 17 series and is performing handily for his club’s second XI.

Hugo Hughes, St Kilda

Missed out in the first two matches but got himself going with 65 against Essendon in Round 3 and followed up with 67 against Greenvale Kangaroos and 110 in the final round Geelong, jumping into the top 10 runmakers with 271 at 54.2.

Mitchell Jamieson, Footscray

The Bulldogs have an outstanding prospect in right-hander Jamieson, whom they promoted for a First XI debut two weeks ago after a century in the seconds. He made 39. He also made a lot of runs in the Dowling Shield: 366 at 122, including 128 in Round 1 against Greenvale Kangaroos, when he shared a partnership of 244 with Josh Pace (140no).

Mitchell Jamieson of Footscray.

Liam Mason, Footscray

A Ballarat boy, Mason plays for Buninyong and is already entrenched in the First XI. Didn’t bowl much for his club before Christmas owing to injury but was ready to go for the Doggies and collected 11 wickets at 15.5 with left-arm pace bowled sharply and in areas to test batsmen. He can bat too, but with Footscray losing only 14 wickets in six games, he wasn’t required to show it. Was one of the Dogs’ leading bowlers in last season’s Premier Cricket Under 16 series.

Ashwin Mehta, Casey South Melbourne

Stylish right-hand batsman who can hit the ball hard. Finished 10th on the run list with 237 at 47.4, hitting three figures (112) against Frankston Peninsula. Has also batted promisingly for the Swannies’ Third XI this season.

Henry Melville, Geelong

The young Cat from Colac had everyone talking on Australia Day when he cracked 205 – with 23 fours and 3 sixes – against Greenvale Kangaroos. It’s believed to be a Dowling Shield record; it’s certainly the highest score in the competition since Damien Bulakowski’s even 200 for Prahran in the early 1990s. Geelong Dowling Shield coach Barry Tsitas called Melville’s knock the “perfect innings”. “Just the way he was able to manipulate the field, worked the gaps and just build his innings that way,” Tsitas said. “He’s not the type of batsman to come out and blast an attack from ball one. He certainly builds his innings. You could see that run-a-ball hundred that he got to at that point, he didn’t blast the attack all the over the park, he really just built a perfect innings.” It was his second ton of the series; he opened it with 142 not out against Essendon. Unsurprisingly he’s at the top of the Dowling run chart with 460 at an average of 115. Melville is playing in Geelong Second XI team in Premier Cricket and also opening the batting for Geelong Grammar in the APS.

Henry Melville of Geelong.

Zac Mills, Northcote

Took the equal-most number of wickets in the carnival, 13 at 9.1. From Subbies club Ivanhoe, he’s in his second season with the Dragons and bowls his left-arm mediums thoughtfully and accurately. Took four wickets for Northcote’s Third XI last Saturday.

Aiman Nadeem, Footscray

Went in first for a strong batting line-up and featured in two unbroken century partnerships on his way to 222 runs at 74. Another of the Dowling Shield Bulldogs already at the Premier club.

Josh Pace, Footscray

Pace set the pace in the first match of the series with his 140 not out against Greenvale Kangaroos. He faced 140 balls and hit 13 fours as he made an easy transition to Premier company from VTCA club Keilor, where across all grades he’s put up 621 runs this season. Other Dowling scores of 46 (run out), 1, 82no and 65no gave him 334 runs at an average of 167. Pace, a tall left-hander, is expected to play Premier Cricket next season.

Max Parker, Richmond

Max, 17, is the brother of young Vics leggie Wil and quickly starting to make his own name in the game. The wicketkeeper-batsman scored 343 runs at 85.8, highlighted by his 99 not out in Round 5 against Camberwell Magpies. He walked off unfussed, more concerned with the team total than his own score. From Norwood Cricket Club, he’s got the gloves for Richmond’s Second XI and last Saturday hit 40 and took a catch. He captained the Vic Metro Under 17 team at the Bendigo carnival in January, indicating he has leadership qualities besides natural ability.

Max Parker of Richmond.

Oliver Peake, Geelong

Peake, who still has two more seasons to play in the Dowling Shield, opened the carnival with knocks of 114 against Essendon and 101 against Melbourne. Missed out after that but came in with 294 runs at 49.

Muhammad Abdul Rafay, Footscray

A bottom-age player, the right-arm paceman claimed 12 wickets at 22, showing out with his aggression and wholehearted approach. Joined the Dogs last season and has improved enormously in the past 12 months.

Nick Sharpin, St Kilda

The leg-spinner’s five matches produced 10 wickets, including returns of 4-26 against Essendon and 4-37 against Greenvale Kangaroos, A representative junior player with the South East association, Port Melbourne product Sharpin is also performing well for Melbourne Grammar in the APS competition.

Harrison Sheahan, Melbourne University

The left-armer from Kyneton caught the eye in the 2020-21 Under 16 series and he backed it up with 13 wickets at 13.3. Played for Vic Country in the Under 17 series in Bendigo.

AND TWO MORE LEGGIES

Arjun Sehrawat, Footscray

The Dogs believe “Arji’’ is one of the best spinning prospects in the state, saying his control is exemplary for a young leggie. “Every ball is on the spot, with good revs … he gives it a rip … and he creates chances,’’ Footscray coach Dervic Duradbegovic said. His 10 Dowling Shield wickets came at an average of 18.5 and came on batsmen-friendly wickets. Played juniors and lower-grades senior cricket with Subbies club Yarraville before joining Footscray two years ago.

William Waters, Northcote

Has an action that Dragons president Mark Sundberg regards as almost perfect. “He’s as good as I’ve seen for some time,’’ Sundberg said of the Marcellin College students. Took 10 wickets at 15.50 in the series, with a best of 4-38 against Carlton.

AND FIVE NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

Thivi Salwathura, Frankston Peninsula: cracked 113 in Round 2 against Frankston Peninsula

Lachlan Shinn-Mahony, Carlton: hit 103 off 105 balls in Round 4 against Melbourne University

Henry Edwards, Carlton: was outstanding with 5-12 off 10 overs in Round 4 against Melbourne University

Trent McRae, Dandenong: collected 5-26 off 10 overs in Round 4 against Frankston Peninsula.

Tom Wrigglesworth, Melbourne: spun out St Kilda in Round 1 with 5-16 off 5.3 overs.