Darwin cricketer Tom Menzies named in the Team of Champions at the Under 17 national carnival

One of the NT’s brightest cricketing prospects – who taught himself to bowl both hands – has vastly improved through working alongside a few Big Bash League stars.

Working with the likes of South Australian fast bowler Wes Agar during the Strike League last season propelled teenage Territorian all-rounder Tom Menzies’ game to new levels.

The just-turned 17-year-old Darwin Eagle was named in the Team of Champions after the Under 17 national carnival in Tasmania earlier this month.

He took 10 wickets at an average of 21 – including a best haul of 4/48 against South Australia – and chipped in with some handy scores, including 36 against the ACT.

However, in his second game against Queensland, Menzies said “everything clicked” as he took 2/19 in front of assistant coach and former Australian test bowler Ryan Harris.

It followed solid performances at the Under 19 championships for the Territory in December, where he claimed six wickets at 43 plus innings of 41 and 24.

Tom Menzies was a star for the Territory at the Under 17 national championships. Picture: NT Cricket.

Both championships top off a period of “non stop cricket” since 2021.

“I’ve been playing heaps of cricket over the last 12, 15 months,” Menzies said.

“All the work paid off (in Tasmania).”

Menzies said his game had vastly improved midway through Darwin’s Strike League, through tapping into the IQ of Northern Tide teammates Agar and James Bazley, bowling to quality batters and being used in the death overs.

With Agar regularly at mid off, he encouraged the teenager to keep things simple and not over complicate or overthink his game.

And after extending his run up, and making a few changes to his action, Menzies estimated he had added an extra 10km/hr in pace.

“All that experience ... it definitely helped my game so much,” Menzies said, who began his career in Nightcliff as a junior.

“I learned so much stuff, it was so good.

“I love my cricket, love watching it, love playing it.

Darwin cricketers Menzies and Will Pilkington were instrumental in the Eagles' win over Waratah in the 2022 Premier Grade semi-final. Picture: Darwin Cricket Club.

“Mum doesn’t really like me playing it too much though, because she’s a physio and she doesn’t like me bowling too much.”

Coming into his final year at Essington School, Menzies has plans of studying medicine or sports science, perhaps in Queensland or South Australia, in 2024.

Through a connection with Agar, and Tide coach Mark Cosgrove, Menzies is tempted to join both men at Northern Districts for the 2023-24 summer in SA Premier cricket.

“Playing cricket as a job is definitely the goal," he said.

While Menzies can also be relied upon to make lower order runs, he has a further string to his bow: left arm spinners.

He taught himself to bowl orthodox or seamers as “a party trick in the backyard” while playing against brothers Max, a leggie, and Sam, who has plenty of talent but prefers fishing at this stage.

He even took three lower order wickets against Adelaide Uni in 2021 at Kahlin Oval with his left armers.