In charge of Greenvale Kangaroos’ Premier Cricket side, Stan Nell sees a lot of young talent come through.
The Kangaroos push local talent and there are young players in all of their sides.
Keen to further develop young players in Melbourne’s north, Nell has been coaching a group of players for the past two and half years at Cutting Edge Cricket in Bundoora.
Nell said fostering the next generation was important to ensure young players from the north made the most of opportunities at higher levels.
“When I read stuff about the really good young talent, most of the kids mentioned are from the east and south,” he said.
“I want the kids from this area to be named along with them. I’ve seen a lot of talented young kids who have thrived having this opportunity.”
No one was more pleased than Nell when four of the group were selected in various state teams earlier in this year.
Nell said all four players would make good premier cricketers, but he was hoping for greater things.
Leg-spinner Ikroop Dhanoa captained the Northern Falcons under-14 team at the state championships and was vice-captain for the Victorian schools 12 and under team last year.
Jagdesh Kodura starred for North West Wizards at the under-14 championships, with scores of 46 in the final as well as 102 not out and 80 not out.
Nell rates him as one of the best batsmen in the north-west region.
Grayson Tailiki was also part of the Wizards under-14 team, with his highlight taking 5-11.
Kevin Spaull, the oldest of the four, was part of the Wizards’ under-18 team.
Having already made his first XI premier cricket debut for the Kangaroos, he made 104 not out in the this year’s state championships.
He was also part of the Victorian Metro under-17 team last year.
Nell said it was the players and their families that deserved the credit for their achievements.
“It’s really pleasing for them, as I know how hard they’ve worked,” he said. “The kids have had great support from their parents, who have made scarifies to take them to training.
“The kids could be in the park or playing computer games, but they are training hard.”
Nell said he hoped the youth training program was just the start of something that could become much bigger.
“There’s another group of players who can emulate these guys,” he said.
