By Peter Howe
As a left arm slow bowler and right-hand batter, this month’s Don Deeble nominee could be excused for being confused.
“It was just a natural happening that I didn’t think too much about to be honest,” reflects Jackson Martin.
Martin was always destined to pick up a bat and ball following his father, Dave and grandfather, Peter’s footsteps.
“I played Milo cricket as a four-or five-year-old, had a crack at playing footy until under-14s and I quite enjoy a game of golf, but I begged dad every week to let me play cricket.
“I love the comradery playing cricket.”
Martin was selected in the Caroline Springs under-11 team as a six-year-old and quickly progressed to playing senior open age as an 11-year-old in the fourths. Martin wanted more; he needed to be challenged.
“I took the opportunity to move to the Yarraville Club Cricket Club where the coach Mitch Johnstone allowed me to play senior cricket,” he said.
“Bowling is my strength, but my batting is improving all the time. I made my senior debut in the VTCA [Victorian Turf Cricket Association] when I was 12 years old.”
Covid interrupted his cricket, but he played two full seasons in the seniors following the break and took 25 wickets in his last season with YCCC.
“I was lucky to be scouted by a few Premier district clubs including Footscray, Melbourne and Carlton but I chose Essendon because of their coaching staff and getting to learn from the best.”
Martin played in the second XI last season at the Bombers.
Martin has been part of Cricket Victoria’s pathway program since he was 10.
His focus on cricket hasn’t diminished regardless of the time of year.
As a student at Maribyrnong Sports Academy, he has a rigorous training regime. Three gym sessions a week at school that includes weights, strength and running coupled with net sessions with cricket coach, Leigh Holmes and then premier cricket training.
Martin gives much of the credit for his improvement to Johnstone who started mentoring him when he was 10 and by the time Martin was 13 they were premiership teammates, winning the senior division VTCA premiership. Leigh Holmes, cricket coach at MSA has been equally important in Martin’s development, spending hours with him developing his cricket skills. Both men continue mentoring Martin.
Martin was selected in the School Sport Australia cricket tournament for 2024-25 playing for Victoria in the 15 and under team.
In January, he returned to the Dowling Shield where most of the best young under-16 cricketers in Victoria compete representing premier cricket clubs.
Martin was back playing for Essendon, where he had an outstanding tournament, being the third highest run scorer making 236 runs and taking 16 wickets.
His best match for the tournament was against Northcote taking 6-35 and making 87 not out. He was named joint Dowling Shield most valuable player at the Cricket Victoria awards in early April.
It’s not surprising, Martin’s cricketing heroes are spinners.
“Shane Warne is my cricket hero,” he said. “He was a brilliant strategist and mentally strong. The most amazing opportunity I’ve had as a cricketer was bowling in the nets to the Australian team before the Boxing Day test last year.
“I bowled to Steve Smith for two hours, Meeting Nathan Lyon was amazing.”
The now 16-year-old is still learning his craft and had the opportunity to go to India last year and will get another shot this year. He will participate in a ten-day camp in Chennai.
“It’s another world watching and playing cricket over there. Pitches here are very batter friendly and as a bowler you really earn your wickets.”
“My goals are simple. Make the senior side playing premier cricket for Essendon, be selected in the Cricket Victoria under-17 championship team. Long term, it would be amazing to play for Victoria and my ultimate dream is to play for Australia.”
The Don Deeble Sports Star Award is sponsored by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club, Strathmore Community Bank, the Deer Park Club, Ascot Vale Sports and Trophies and Star Weekly Newspapers.
If you would like to nominate a monthly winner or attend a dinner, contact swrsportsclub@gmail.com or 0408 556 631.
