I was at Chatswood Oval Saturday with cardboard cut-outs of ‘The Hoff’ and Sharon Osborne to find the next Ashton Agar.
Most of the prodigies in Australian cricket skip seasons of first-class cricket and get thrust into stardom too early.
If you have enough people banging down doors for you, a lack of consistent form and development is no problem.
Rain delayed my mission so instead I was forced to eat a nice custard treat and mosey around the local Chinese New Year festival. There was plenty of exotic talent on show there as well.
The sun eventually came out and I swear I saw the maroon parts of the Gordon DCC cap start to turn a shade of baggy green.
Gordon have a group of good young players with a few starting to get opportunities at state second XI cricket. I am wondering if there are any administrators about to open doors for them as well.
Sydney grade cricket is Australia’s version of the minor baseball leagues in America. Every other state in Australia rightfully pillages from the talent pool.
There are at least 20 NSW-developed former Sydney grade players in the other five state systems.
It is great for them personally that they get a chance to play state level cricket at earlier stages of their careers. NSW has too much talent to choose from, and providing all of them enough opportunity is a challenge.
In regards to Ashton Agar he obviously has some skill, and I am not saying he won’t take wickets in the India A tour game, but does he actually deserve the chance of a Test debut?
To have only played two first-class games takes the mickey out of all the long-term state-level spinners who are almost there.
For him to be sharing newspaper column space with Peter Siddle, Shane Watson and Michael Clarke is amusing and I am sure is a novelty for him as well.
If you have seen the next Ashton Agar in Sydney grade cricket or out in country Australia, let your fellow Roarers know and we can spruik their cause.
Damo
Guest
Country NSW certainly punches above its weight, and always has done since before Bradman. Off the top of my head- NSW- Copeland (Bathurst), Haddin (Cowra), Hazlewood (Bendemeer), S Henry (Mudgee), Maddinson (South Coast), Tremain (Orange), Zampa (South Coast). Qld- J Henry (Mudgee) playing First Grade. SA- Christian (Narrandera), Cooper (Lismore), P Hughes (Macksville), Lyon (Young), Mennie (Port Stephens) plus recently delisted Delaney (Dubbo). Tas- Maher (Newcastle), Sandy Rogers (Orange). Vic- McDonald (Albury), Sheridan (Kiama). WA- Armstrong (Dubbo), Hogan (Newcastle), Cockley (Newcastle) plus recently delisted Paskal (Central Coast). Renegades- Drew (Central Coast), O'Brien (Central Coast). Sixers- D Hughes (Cowra), Thornely (Wagga). Thunder- Lockyear (Bathurst).
The_Big_Big_Show
Roar Rookie
Damo you can't break that down further to city vs country can you ? Be interesting to know.
The_Big_Big_Show
Roar Rookie
Brilliant work. I hope you didn't have to spend a lot of time compiling this. I usually overstate things but I went conservative with at least 20. You got any names you expect to get rookie contracts around aus or bolters for full state contracts?
Damo
Guest
NSW can of course only contract 1/6th of all interstate-level players, under the same salary cap as everyone else, and can only select 11 in any one match. As a result, with so many forced interstate to get a contract ie a paid job and career, rather than the occasional Shield or even 2nd XI match, more than 30% of all current interstate players across Australia are NSW-origin. Of the 17 players currently in India, 10 are NSW-origin. Of Australia's currently-contracted 148 players, each State has provided as follows- NSW 44, Vic 30, Qld 23, WA 20, Tas 13, SA 12, ACT 5, overseas 1. Clearly, NSW is doing its job in developing elite players (for everyone, and particularly for the States with much smaller populations from which to draw). And there's plenty more future ones currently running around in First Grade in Sydney, waiting for their opportunity.
The_Big_Big_Show
Roar Rookie
I have heard this. thats pretty impressive.
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
If you're talking about serious child prodigies though, Jake Doran from Fairfield-Liverpool is the kid to watch. I think he's only 16 and keeping in first-grade already. He also just earned a scholarship at the centre of excellence for the winter in Brisbane.
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
Yeah he's playing first-grade, albeit in a very weak side. Still young and Wests is a proven test cricketer production line. Cheers TBBS.
The_Big_Big_Show
Roar Rookie
Is he playing first grade yet? or still in lower grades? I will have to check out some of your cricket articles.
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
Brenton Wright, 18 year old left-arm orthodox from Western Suburbs. Could be one to watch.