Tara Murray
Six local cricketers have been named in the Cricket Victoria’s under-19 male emerging performance squad.
The squad is selected based on performances in club cricket, the Youth Premier League and Youth National Championships last season.
Players in the squad are in contention to possibly represent Victoria at the under-19 national championships, which will hopefully occur in April next year.
Players have undertaken a series of virtual training sessions in recent months featuring high performance coaches, industry experts, former international players including Cameron White, Clint McKay and Michael Beer, former Victorian coach Greg Shipperd and current Victorian players including Peter Handscomb, Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris.
Throughout the program there have been close to 40 sessions, with players given an understanding of broader issues that arise throughout life as a professional cricketer including spending long periods on the road, evolving from rookie player to state squad player and providing insights into structuring genuinely challenging training sessions.
Essendon batsman Emerson White is one of the top age players in the squad.
White, who started his cricket at Rupertswood, was a late inclusion to the Vic Country under-19 team for the national championships last year.
He averaged just over 22 with the bat, including making 78 in the grand final which his side lost to NSW Metro.
Fellow Essendon player Bronson Hill is also in the program.
Hill, who comes from Bundoora Park, has been part of the Northern Falcons program at Youth Premier League level.
Northcote’s Daniel Lalor continues his rise up the age groups to be named in the squad.
The two-time Bacchus Marsh first XI premiership player has represented Victoria at under-12 and under-17 level previously.
He averaged 20 with the bat for Victoria Country at the under-17 national championships last year.
Footscray rising star Max Birthisel is another bottom age player, having represented Victoria at under-17 level last year.
The Altona junior made his Victoria Premier first XI debut last season for the Bulldogs.
Melbourne Uni duo Max Hatzoglou and Lachlan Melican have also been included in the squad.
Melican, who comes from Footscray United, was part of the Victoria Metro under-17 team at the national championships for the 2018-19 season.
He took five wickets and averaged 12 with the bat.
Hatzoglou, who comes from Sunshine Heights, was also part of that Victoria Metro under-17 team in 2018-19.
He averaged nearly 20 with the bat, including making 73.
Victorian senior squad members Jake Fraser-McGurk, Wil Parker and Cameron McClure are among the other players named in the squad.
Cricket Victoria’s Jarrad Loughman is leading the male high performance program and said sessions will move to the CitiPower Centre when State Government and health advice allows.
“The way the players have embraced the program throughout the early stages is a reflection of their excellent attitude and eagerness to develop all elements of their game. We’re looking forward to hopefully utilising the full benefits of our facilities at the CitiPower Centre in the coming months,” Loughman said.
“Ultimately we want to expose squad members to a range of quality cricket opportunities that provide both challenges and satisfaction, whilst complimenting their continued growth as young Victorian cricketers within club environments & their own individual skill development.”
