Cricket Australia domestic contract news: Teague Wyllie attracting interest, new faces added to Victorian squad

Bolters to the Victorian squad, a Test prodigy on the radar of rival states and AFL clubs eyeing a batsman from SA for a code switch. Find out the latest moment in domestic cricket.

Come in spinner, into the Victorian squad.

Geelong slow bowler Callum Stow’s rise is set to continue with a state rookie contract.

The 22-year-old left-arm wrist spinner is tipped to join the Vics after a season in which he was called up to the Melbourne Renegades as a local replacement player to make his BBL debut and was also selected for the state Second XI.

Stow was also part of the Cricket Victoria team that competed in the Global Super League T20 tournament in Guyana, taking nine wickets in five games.

Renegades coach Cameron White has been a big supporter of Stow and said it was exciting for Victorian cricket to have a left-arm wrist spinner developing to state-squad standard.

“He’s done really well, hasn’t he?’’ White told CODE Sports.

“When you think back to his debut, it was against the Hobart Hurricanes on a very flat Bellerive surface and the situation of the game dictated that he needed to bowl the 18th or 19th over to Tim David under a pretty crunch situation and I think he went for seven or eight in the over. So that’s a pretty good indication of how a young left-arm spinner handles the occasion and what sort of ability he’s got.

“His rise from playing for the Cats to having a couple of Big Bash games and Second XI games to potentially having the opportunity to be a full-time, professional cricketer is great for him.’’

Callum Stow in Melbourne Renegades colours. Photo: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

He said Stow was “technically very sound’’.

“I guess when you are a wrist spinner, especially a left-arm wrist-spinner, and you get put under pressure, it helps to be technically sound,’’ White said.

“Therefore he bowls pretty accurately, he spins the ball, he’s got a nice wrong ‘un, he’s got good variations and he wants to work hard at his craft. I think the future is bright for him.’’

The Vics are also likely to add batsmen Oliver Peake (Geelong) and Blake Macdonald (St Kilda) and quickie David Moody (Melbourne) to their books.

First Big Bash wicket for Callum Stow!

The Hurricanes' troubles continue, 4/63 as Doran goes 👀 #BBL14pic.twitter.com/PM8MIqt1K6

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 14, 2025

All three were called up from outside the state squad to play for the Sheffield Shield team late in the season.

Eighteen-year-old Peake distinguished himself with an innings of 52 against WA in Perth.

Macdonald, 26, was promoted after scoring two centuries for the Second XI against WA in mid-February.

The former NSW player scored 45 and 22 in his first match for the Vics.

Ex-WA paceman Moody, 29, burst through ACT batting in a later Second XI match, jagging 6-15, and played against his former state in the final Shield match of the season. He took four wickets in the first innings and none in the second.

Oliver Peake raises his bat after reaching 50 against WA. Photo: Daniel Carson/Getty Images

But as Stow gets ready to join the squad, young off-spinner Reiley Mark has lost his rookie position after one year.

Mark, 22, did not replicate his wicket-filled 2023-24 season for Richmond and hardly featured at state Second XI.

Vacancies have opened in the Victorian squad with the retirement of Peter Siddle and Will Pucovski and the omission of Renegades opener Josh Brown and Mark.

Jonathan Merlo is also likely to be let go. The 26-year-old was omitted from the Shield team after the loss to Tasmania in Bellerive and did not play in the final Second XI match.

From the Under 19s to touring with the Test squad 🤩

Get an insight into life on the road with Geelong’s Ollie Peake 🤝 pic.twitter.com/z3Z7ApFvaA

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) February 5, 2025

But Merlo’s St Kilda teammate Adam Crosthwaite believes the batting all-rounder has more to offer first-class cricket.

Crosthwaite said on Tuesday that the out-of-contract Merlo was a “very, very good cricketer’’.

“My issue about ‘Merls’ is that he hasn’t been able to get a long run at it,’’ he said.

“Every time he’s played, he’s played a different role. He’s batted at No. 7 and bowled a little bit, he’s batted at No. 3, he’s opened the batting, he’s batted at No. 9 and 10 in the T20 stuff. They’ve kept him on the bench, they’ve never given him games. It’s harsh, because his Second XI numbers are outstanding, his club numbers are outstanding. People say he’s had a lot of opportunities. But he hasn’t had that many opportunities in long-form cricket and in short-form cricket he’s batted down the order and in so many different situations.’’

Crosthwaite added: “I get that they want more out of him. As a fan of Jon Merlo, I’m a bit sad that he hasn’t been given a constant role.’’

St Kilda's Jonathan Merlo batting in the Premier Cricket finals.

Opener Ashley Chandrasinghe is out of contract but in line to receive an extension.

Chandrasinghe knew ups and downs in 2024-25 but finished the season with a strong double century in the final Second XI match against ACT.

Wicketkeeper Jai Lemire is also set to be offered another deal with the Vics as he attracts interstate interest.

Tasmania has put eyes on Lemire after his 737-run summer – which included a double century – for Victorian Premier Cricket power Carlton.

Lemire was privately mentored by Tassie coach Tim Coyle as he emerged through the ranks at the Blues ahead of the 2020 season.

Rival states will closely monitor the opportunity given to West Australian prodigy Teague Wyllie next summer.

The 20-year-old has played 22 first-class matches but is yet to feature in the shorter format.

Eastern states see Wyllie as a multi-format player and are hopeful of prying the young star out of his home state if the lack of opportunity against the white-ball continues.

Wyllie still has a season to run on his contract which forbids formal interest interstate until the rollover on July 1.

Teague Wyllie batting for WA in a Sheffield Shield match in 2023-24.

Wyllie hit a Sheffield Shield century as a bright-eyed 18-year-old and has held an average of 21 since.

He announced himself as a potential future star of Australian cricket with a run-filled Under 19 World Cup in 2022.

South Australian Kyle Brazell is expected to be taken off the books, which could leave the door ajar for AFL clubs to sign the 23-year-old as a Category B Rookie.

Brazell’s management last month said there was “a solid amount” of interest in Brazell from several AFL clubs.

South Australia has moved quickly to replace Brazell in the rookie opener spot, offering West Australian youngster Douwtjie Hoogenboezem a deal.

Hoogenboezem impressed the Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup champions with strong grade cricket and Second XI form this summer.

The compact opener scored an unbeaten 128, saving a match against a Victorian attack led by paceman David Moody earlier this year.

Originally published as Cricket Australia domestic contract news: Teague Wyllie attracting interest, new faces added to Victorian squad