Below: After an entertaining 29-run innings, Dandenong opener Brett Forsyth was trapped in front of the stumps.By Marc McGowan
THE burgeoning stocks of young cricket talent in Casey were on display in a Victorian under-19 trial match at Casey Fields on Sunday.
The game was played as part of the selection process for the under-19 national championships in Hobart in December.
A 13-man Victorian squad will be taken to the championships for four one-day matches and three two-dayers.
The region’s two Victorian Premier Cricket sides were both represented, with Casey-South Melbourne’s Clive Rose and Rueben Wakefield padding up, and Dandenong’s James Pattinson and Brett Forsyth also in action.
Fellow Panther Kumar Sarna would have played in the contest but the rising star was chosen in Victoria’s second XI side.
All five locals have a strong shot of making the cut for the carnival.
Pattinson, who lives in Endeavour Hills, would be a certainty but the speed demon has been cut down by a major back injury that he has suffered from since last year’s national championships.
Victorian High Performance Academy coach Simon Helmot is still considering selecting Pattinson, who captained one of the teams and made 18 runs in the one-dayer, solely as a batsman.
“James has to work on getting stronger and on his core stability,” Helmot said.
“Fast bowling is not an easy craft and it puts a lot of stress on the body, especially on growing bodies, and Cricket Victoria is very conscious of it…
“We need to be careful because James’ injury is a serious one … he’s a terrific young person and he’s really frustrated at the moment.”
Exciting opener Sarna and left-arm orthodox spinner Rose both returned from Pakistan this week after representing the Australian under-19 side.
The latter, who is a Narre Warren South resident, made only one run with the bat, but bowled as economically as ever in snaring 2/18 off six overs.
“Clive was a little bit jetlagged but still bowled very well and from a Cricket Australia point of view he has been identified as a very good prospect,” Helmot said.
“Barring injury or illness, he is a very good chance (to make the Victorian) under-19 team.”
Forsyth was arguably the most impressive of the locals in smashing 29 off 39 balls before being trapped in front of the stumps.
It continued a stunning beginning to 2007-08 for the teenager that has thrust him into the mix.
“Brett has made an excellent start to the season and is taking his opportunity at the top of the order for Dandenong,” Helmot said.
“He made 90 on the weekend and 60 earlier on, so Brett’s certainly putting his name forward to the selectors and is committing himself well to training.”
Wakefield endured a disappointing afternoon – making just four with the bat and being hit for 16 runs off his four overs – but his early season form for the Swans cannot be ignored.
“Rueben’s a good young cricketer and made his maiden 50 (at Victorian Premier Cricket level) a couple of weeks ago,” Helmot said.
“He is continually learning and developing his all-round game and has been a part of the newly formed Victorian high performance academy.
“Rueben has the ability to hit the ball hard and seems to enjoy the challenge of the contest.”
Helmot explained that the scheduling of the fixture at Casey Fields was due to the quality youth in the district.
“It is great that we had a game there because cricket is nice and healthy out in Casey and the surrounding areas and we want to promote it,” he said.
