The best bats from the Darwin and District Cricket Association’s Under 18 competition over the past decade
Ten Territory representatives make up the best junior bats in the Darwin and District Cricket Association’s Under 18 competition, MyCricket stats show.
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Who are the Territory’s best junior bats of the past decade?
The NT News has sifted through the MyCricket numbers from the past ten seasons of the Darwin and District Cricket Association’s Under 18 competition, and selected players from their best two years at that level.
And it reveals five youngsters who have gone on to play first grade cricket beyond the Territory.
In fact, one current Tracy Village bat played at three clubs across two states, while a further three all played at the one South Australian district level club, Woodville.
There were also eight who represented the Territory at an Under 17 level, and two who made the cut in the Under 19s, at national championships.
There have also been some regular centurions, too, with two players making three hundreds from their two best seasons at Under 18 level, while seven made at least seven 50s.
Fortunately, and in a good sign for player retention, only two players were lost to the Territory last season.
SEE WHO MADE THE LIST
Daniel Mylius
THEN: Southern Districts.
BEST UNDER 18 SEASONS: 2016-17
NOW: Southern Districts.
HIGHEST LEVEL: Frankston Peninsula second grade in Victorian Premier, Woodville first grade SACA Premier, Premier Grade, Under 17 National Championships.
RUNS: 1030 runs
AVERAGE: 51.5
M: 23
INN: 24
HS: 107*
100: 3
50 5
NO: 4
Named in the NT News team of the year in 2021, the wicketkeeper has made solid contributions in grade cricket in both Victoria and South Australia.
He made a 47 not out this summer for Frankston Peninsula against St Kilda and registered three fifties in Woodville’s second grade in 2020-21.
However, his 2017 season in Under 18s was huge, with 703 runs at 70.3 with three hundreds and four 50s.
Antum Naqvi
THEN: PINT, Waratah/Tracy.
SEASONS: 2014-15
NOW: Tracy Village
HIGHEST LEVEL: Northern Districts first grade SACA Premier, Blacktown Mounties, Hawkesbury first grade NSW Premier.
RUNS: 1012
AVE: 46
M: 25
INN: 25
HS: 131
100: 1.
50: 7
NO: 3
The Belgium-born Naqvi – who moved to Australia as a six-year-old with his family – has enjoyed success far beyond the Territory.
The talented bat, who has also trained with Jamaica Tallawahs in the Carribean Premier League, has played first grade cricket in both South Australia (Northern Districts) and New South Wales (Blacktown Mounties, Hawkesbury).
Naqvi, who also bowls off spin and played for Northern Tide in the Strike League, had a strong season with Northern Districts, with scores of 126 and 97.
His best junior season came in 2015, stroking 650 runs at 59.09, including a highest score of 131 against PINT, and six half centuries.
Harshtik Bimbral
THEN: Palmerston
UNDER 18 SEASONS: 2019-20
NOW: Palmerston
HIGHEST LEVEL: Port Adelaide second grade SACA Premier.
RUNS: 988 runs
AVE: 65.86
M: 26
INN: 26
HS: 100*
100: 1
50: 7
NO: 7
Another youngster who has gone on to play cricket in South Australia, Bimbral played three second grade games for Port Adelaide this summer with a highest score of 35.
His best year at Under 18 level came in 2020 with 537 runs at 89.5, with four 50s.
Ethan Anderson
THEN: Darwin
SEASONS: 2018-19.
NOW: Darwin
HIGHEST LEVEL: Woodville second grade SACA Premier, Premier Grade, Under 17 National Championships.
RUNS: 988
AVE: 47.04
M: 27
INN: 28
HS: 102*
100: 1
50: 7
NO: 7
Anderson has been prepared to leave the Territory to improve his cricket.
And he hit some decent form over the summer with Mooroopna’s A Grade team in the Shepparton cricket association in regional Victoria, with 337 runs at 25.92 and a highest score of 105 opening the batting, and two fifties.
He also stroked 132 runs for Darwin last season in Premier, with a highest score of 80 against Waratah.
Anderson also made 105 runs at 17.5 after five games with Woodville in the SACA Premier League last summer.
Cameron Hyde
THEN: Palmerston
SEASONS: 2017-18
NOW: Palmerston
HIGHEST LEVEL: Darwin Premier Grade, Under 17 National Championships.
RUNS: 976
AVE: 65.06
M: 23
INN: 23
HS: 131*
100: 2
50: 7
NO: 8
The Territory representative, at both Under 15 and 17 level, will be looking to convert his strong junior record into senior performances.
The youngster gained valuable senior experience in 2020, playing in a winning semi-final over South Districts but losing the grand final to Waratah.
The runs didn’t exactly flow for Hyde last season – with a top score of 38 – as he played primarily B Grade fixtures.
William Pilkington
THEN: Darwin
SEASONS: 2020-21
NOW: Darwin
HIGHEST LEVEL: Darwin Premier, Under 17 National Championships.
RUNS: 967
AVE: 60.43
M: 28
INN: 14
HS: 105*
100: 1
50: 8
NO: 9
The Darwin youngster will be searching for further senior experience after a monster Under 18 season in 2021.
Pilkington smashed 596 runs at an average of 74.5 with eight half centuries and a highest score of 87 not out against Waratah.
The Under 19 Territory squad member got his first taste of Premier Grade cricket last season, making an unbeaten 14 against Southern Districts.
Sam Elder
THEN: Waratah.
SEASONS: 2017-18
NOW: Did not play senior Darwin cricket last summer.
HIGHEST LEVEL: Gordon second grade in NSW Premier, Woodville second grade SACA Premier, Under 17 National Championships.
RUNS: 924 runs
AVE 57.75
M: 20
INN: 23
HS: 105
100: 1
50: 7
NO: 7
Elder, who hasn’t played for Waratah for several years, was recently picked in NT Cricket’s Under 19 team to contest the national championships in Mackay next month.
The promising junior has played a high level in two states, second grade in both New South Wales and South Australia.
However, he smashed 666 runs at 60.55 with a century and six fifties in a dominant 2017 season at Under 18 level.
Charlie Bignell
THEN: Palmerston
SEASONS: 2020-21
NOW: Palmerston
HIGHEST LEVEL: Premier Grade, Under 15 National Championships.
RUNS: 865
AVE: 50.88
M: 26
INN: 26
HS: 74*
100: 0
50: 8
NO: 9
Bignell, who was recently announced as a Cricket NT development squad member, also got his first taste of Premier Grade cricket last season, making four against Darwin.
Like Darwin junior star William Pilkington, Bignell had a standout season at Under 18 level last winter, compiling 591 runs at 84.43 with six half centuries and a highest score of 74.
Bignell played A Grade cricket in Toowoomba this summer.
Nathan Hangan
THEN: Southern Districts
SEASONS: 2014-15.
NOW: Southern Districts
HIGHEST LEVEL: Under 19 National Championships, Darwin Premier.
RUNS: 839
AVE: 41.95
M: 24
INN: 26
HS: 106*
100: 2
50: 4
NO: 6
Hangan was a strong junior in Darwin cricket with the bat, compiling two centuries during his two most dominant years at the level, with an unbeaten 100 and 106 not out, both against Nightcliff.
However, Hangan has been more of a force with the ball in recent seasons in Darwin Premier Grade, winning a premiership with Crocs against Darwin by 108 runs in 2019, taking 1/8 off five overs.
Taj Glenn
THEN: Nightcliff
SEASONS: 2018-19
NOW: Did not play senior cricket in Darwin in 2021.
HIGHEST LEVEL: Under 17 National Championships, third grade Port Adelaide SACA.
RUNS: 806
AVE: 36.63
M: 28
INN: 28
HS: 107*
100: 1
50: 5
NO: 6
Glenn is one of just two players from the 15-man list who did not play Territory cricket last season.
The Territory Under 19 member played cricket in Toowoomba last winter and last played with Nightcliff in 2020, playing two Premier Grade matches.
His best Under 18 season was in 2019 where he smashed 507 runs at 50.7, including three fifties and a highest score of 107 not out.
Lachlan Markey
THEN: Southern Districts
SEASONS: 2018-19
NOW: Southern Districts
HIGHEST LEVEL: Under 17 National Championships.
RUNS: 798
AVE: 39.9
M: 21
INN: 23
HS: 105
100: 1
50: 6
NO: 3
Markey has only played a handful of games in Premier Grade games for the Crocs, but he was a more than handy junior bat.
His highest score during at Under 18 level was a 105 against Nightcliff in 2019 plus an unbeaten 92 against Darwin in 2018.
The latter season was his best at the level, scoring five half centuries.
Jacob Dickman
THEN: Darwin
SEASONS: 2012-13.
NOW: Darwin
HIGHEST LEVEL: Woodville first grade SACA Premier, Under 19 National Championships
RUNS: 691
AVE: 53.15
M: 16
INN: 16
HS 155*
100: 1
50: 5
NO: 3
Dickman has been one of the Darwin’s leading bats for several years now and in 2021 took over the captaincy at Darwin Eagles.
Last season was particularly solid, with 300 runs at 30, including a highest score of 91 against PINT.
He previously held a rookie contract with the South Australia Redbacks and scored two hundreds with Woodville in the Adelaide first grade in 2019-20.
His best underage season was in 2012 with 395 runs at 43.89, with three fifties.
Dylan Mullen
THEN: Southern Districts.
SEASONS: 2013-12
NOW: Southern Districts.
HIGHEST LEVEL: Darwin Premier, Valley first grade QLD Premier, Under 19 National Championships.
RUNS: 663
AVE: 36.83
M: 21
INN: 21
100: 3
50: 1
NO: 3
The Crocs player, who was one of four Territory tweakers who attended a Cricket Australia Spin Camp in Brisbane in 2015 with his leg spin, pursued his cricket in Queensland’s grade competition for several years with Valley.
However, Mullen has not been able to convert a strong Under 18 record into senior cricket performances in recent seasons.
His most dominant Under 18 season came in 2013 when he belted 550 runs at 61.11, including three hundreds (highest score of 128 against Palmerston).
Dean Fry
THEN: Southern Districts
SEASONS: 2015-16.
NOW: Southern Districts
HIGHEST LEVEL: Woodville first grade SACA Premier, Darwin Premier, Under 19 National Championships.
RUNS: 663
AVE: 39
M: 17
INN: 17
HS: 114
100: 1
50: 5
NO: 0
The Crocs bat has gone on to play at a high level in South Australia, averaging a solid 25 in first grade in season 2019-20.
His 2021 numbers with Southern Districts were equally solid: 297 runs at 27 with a highest score of 96 against Darwin.
However, his biggest Under 18 year came in 2016, smashing 402 runs at 67 from just six innings, with a lowest score of 32 and three fifties and a hundred.
Lachlan Dumigan
THEN: Tracy Village
SEASONS: 2019-20
NOW: Tracy Village
HIGHEST LEVEL: Under 17 National Championships, Sturt fourth grade SACA Premier.
RUNS: 592
AVE: 39.46
M: 19
INN: 20
HS: 65
100: 0
50: 4
NO: 5
Dumigan has pursued his career in South Australia the past two summers, playing fourth grade with Woodville.
The Territory representative at Under 17 level will be looking to build on 13 Premier Grade matches over the past two seasons, with a highest score of 40 against Nightcliff.
His best season at Under 18 level was in 2019 with 381 runs at 38.1, including two half centuries.
Darwin cricket expert Grey Morris says:
“A wise man once told me talented young sportspeople in their various disciplines are a sign their chose sport is extremely healthy.
That summary applies to the game of cricket, where Darwin’s magnificent dry season weather promotes and encourages the Territory’s youth to perform consistently at an elite level.
The complex craft of batting is a classic example, where young batsmen who may score freely against their peers, have to maintain those standards against men who are stronger and more experienced.
Of the present day players, Jacob Dickman still rates highly in my book with his aggression and shot selection, Dean Fry continues to show a big appetite for runs that began at a young age and Palmerston’s Harshtik Bimbral has the right technique and shot selection to go a long way in the game.
If the word potential is being thrown around, Nathan Hangen, Lachlan Dumigan, Will Pilkington, Cameron Hyde, Sam Elder, Ethan Anderson and Charlie Bignell only need the word consistency attached to the word ability to make it at senior level.”
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