A star-studded middle order could be the key to Central Highlands’ chances at this week’s under-18 Victorian state cricket championships.
With an impressive mix of bowlers and allrounders to complement his batting line-up, coach Paull Jeffrey says he’s hoping to play in the finals.
“We have a very strong middle order as well as a few spinners in the team,” he said.
“We’re a good fielding team and I think we have the right combination with a number of allrounders as well.”
Jeffrey said it would require all 13 players in the squad performing well to make finals, with the middle order being crucial.
Captain Blake Thomson averaged 63 with the bat for Victoria Country late last year at the under-19 national championships, including a top score of 110.
Gisborne junior Matthew Underwood captained Country at the championships and scored a ton himself.
Those two, along with another Gisborne junior, Tom Rogers, are part of the Australian Cricket Pathway rookie squad.
“Certainly, the big three are the ones we think will be the leaders, but cricket is a funny game,” Jeffrey said. “You can’t make runs every time. You have to rely on the whole 13 in the squad. How everyone plays will be the difference if we make finals or not.”
Jeffrey said other players to watch included Romsey’s Matthew Milne, Bacchus Marsh’s Jack Lalor and North Ballarat’s Jakob Tidyman.
“Matthew is a leg spinner who will be an X-factor,” he said. “There aren’t too many left-arm leg-spinners around.
“Jack, a first-year player for us, has had a good lead-up with both bat and ball. Jakob played for us last year and we’re expecting another big tournament from him.”
Jeffrey, in his 10th year as coach, said the team had been together since last October.
“We’ve had a trial game and a couple of practice matches,” he said.
“We had a hit-out against the under-16 team and we come into the competition in good form.”
Predictions show that bad weather could again play a part in the team’s championship fate. Last year, the Highlanders had two games affected by rain. “This year it’s looking like it’ll be hot,” Jeffrey said. “There’s a heat policy that could come into effect later in the week. You need to make sure you win the first game … it helps set up the week.”
