Harry Hauenstein will play for Vic Country at upcoming carnival after strong form in England

A Geelong young star’s dominant English summer has set the teenager up for selection in the Victoria Country squad, and is set to play alongside five friends from local cricket.

Harry Hauenstein. Picture: Mark Wilson

Young Geelong star Harry Hauenstein says he is lucky to have made the Victorian Country under-19s team after spending the winter plying his trade in England.

The all-rounder played for Northowram Fields, where he made 1411 runs and took 36 wickets across the season.

Hauenstein said he made it back to Australia “in time” to train with the extended squad before a final group of 15 players were selected for the Adelaide tournament.

“They started training while I was still in England, then when I got back there were still two or three training sessions and a couple of practice matches, then they picked a squad from there,” he said.

“I was a bit on the back foot having missed a bit of the training side of things, but luckily they picked me, I was pretty lucky with that.

“I probably bowled better than I did batting in the practice matches, I didn’t make too many runs but bowling I was okay.

“I’ve never made the team before, in terms of a rep side, so I didn’t know what to expect.”

Harry Hauenstein and Oliver Peake were both picked to represent Victoria. Picture: Mark Wilson

Hauenstein’s dominance in England did not come easy, with the rising star admitting he struggled at times playing on international soil.

He said it was “a completely different type of cricket”.

“I was a little more inconsistent than I would’ve liked, some weeks I didn’t bowl too well,” he said.

“The wickets are a lot slower, some can do a bit more, especially with the Duke ball, so the ball was quite tough to control, especially when it was new.

“Sometimes I felt like I swung too much.”

Harry Hauenstein batting for Geelong against Carlton. Picture: Charlie Scott Media

Hauenstein made the move from South Barwon in the GCA to Geelong’s premier side, making his debut in the second grade team.

The gun is already vying for a senior debut after smashing an undefeated 107 off 118 deliveries in his first knock at the level, and was not required to bat in his second game at the weekend.

Hauenstein said he was lucky a number of his Geelong teammates had made the Vic Country squad as well, with Ollie Peake, Tom Neate, Vincent Huf, Henry Melville and Liam Blackford all making the under-19s squad for the Adelaide tournament.

“I’m a pretty shy sort of person, so I’m pretty happy to have those guys there as well,” he said.

“It makes the trainings a bit easier to go and know guys there already.”

Originally published as Harry Hauenstein will play for Vic Country at upcoming carnival after strong form in England