BBL10: Brayden Stepien and James Seymour earn BBL contracts

Two of Victoria’s most-prolific Premier batsmen will get the chance to impress at the next level after earning BBL deals.

Brayden Stepien’s prolific form has earned him another BBL chance.

Two of the biggest hitters in Victoria are set to be given a well-earned chance to prove themselves in the BBL.

News Corp understands Carlton’s Brayden Stepien has linked with Melbourne Renegades after plundering 363 runs in four innings this summer, while Essendon opener Seymour has signed with Melbourne Stars.

Seymour’s opportunity comes days after he hammered an unbeaten 110 for a Victorian Premier Cricket XI against a Victorian XI at the Junction Oval.

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The left-hander is said to have impressed state cricket bosses and coach Chris Rogers with a 97-ball innings highlighted by five sixes.

The innings prompted former state gloveman Adam Crosthwaite to say: “There’s a difference in the way the ball comes off the bat of a first-class player and a club player, and Seymour hits the ball as cleanly as anyone going around in state cricket. If you put him into a Shield game, he’d definitely hold his own.

“He’s a very good player, a special talent. In fact he’s better than a lot of Shield cricketers I’ve seen.”

Another 6 from James Seymour off Henry Thornton sees the @vicpremcricket team win by 7 wickets over the Vic State Team with 7 balls to spare. Seymour finishes on 110* and Yaksender 26*

— Vic Premier Cricket (@vicpremcricket) January 10, 2021

James Seymour has signed with Melbourne Stars.

Stepien could play his third game for the Renegades as soon as Thursday after being called into the squad during BBL09 as a replacement for wicketkeeper Sam Harper.

Premier Cricket supporters have long called for the prolific pair to be given an opportunity at the next level and remarkably they could face off on Sunday when the Renegades and Stars play at the MCG in the first Melbourne derby of BBL10.

The pair both hail from Bendigo.

Brayden Stepien played two games for Melbourne Renegades last season.

No Brayden Stepien for Carlton in @vicpremcricket today. Call-up to the Melbourne Renegades squad for the dashing leftie?

— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) January 9, 2021

Seymour featured for the Victorian Second XI last summer while Stepien is regarded as one of the cleanest hitters in the state.

Stepien hammered an unbeaten 157 from 113 balls against Geelong earlier this season and 62 from 19 balls in last season’s Vic Super Slam T20 final.

Dandenong’s Ed Newman, a former Victorian rookie was called in to the Stars squad as a replacement for Test batsman Will Pucovski on Friday.