By Marc McGowan
GUN Narre Warren South cricketer Clive Rose is celebrating his ascension to the Australian under-18 side’s training squad after a sensational performance in last month’s National Under-17 Championships in Brisbane.
Rose, 17, is a fixture in Casey-South Melbourne’s top Victorian Premier Cricket side and has held a scholarship with the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) since March.
This is all playing a role in reaching the left-arm orthodox spinner’s next big goal – the 2008 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia.
“That would be a pretty big thing to make the World Cup side,” Rose said.
“I only received the letter a couple of days ago saying I was picked for the under-18 Australian side’s training squad.
“They go to Queensland for a couple of training sessions and from the squads they have chosen, they’ll pick 13 guys to represent Australia (at the World Cup).”
Cricket has loomed as a likely career path for Rose since he first took up the sport as a six-year-old.
“Ever since I was small, I had a bat and a ball in my hand,” he said.
“I enjoy playing with people that love it as much as I do.”
That enjoyment has remained with Rose as he has climbed the ranks since first playing for the Clayton Cavaliers.
Those days are a world away from Rose, who is now becoming accustomed to rubbing shoulders with the likes of Damien Fleming, Merv Hughes and Darren Berry at the VIS.
He even trained with the England team before the Boxing Day Test last year and is preparing to do the same with the New Zealanders – and idol Daniel Vettori – tomorrow (Friday).
“I think it’s just great experience to see what level I have to achieve to play at the international level,” Rose said.
Judging by his recent performances, he will be joining Vettori on the international scene sooner rather than later.
Representing Victoria for the third straight year, firstly in the under 15s and the last years two with the under-17 squad, Rose was awarded the vice-captaincy and was a class above.
The budding all-rounder averaged just shy of 10 with the bat, but it was with the ball that he shone.
He bowled the most overs of any other player in the tournament and finished with 12 wickets at 22 apiece.
Victorian under-17 coach Tim McCaskill continues to be impressed with his charge’s skills.
“His bowling is improving all the time. He has fantastic control and a fantastic temperament,” McCaskill said.
“He rarely bowls a loose ball and doesn’t give the easy scoring options which spinners tend to give.”
Cricket Victoria’s south east metro regional manager Paul Montgomery, who has been watching Rose since the teenager was nine years old, offers similar praise.
“He’s just continuing to flourish every year as a person and a player,” Montgomery said.
“He showed form early as a batter, and now more as a bowler. His bowling has just grown – he’s a smart little cricketer.”
With superlatives flowing in regards to the youngster, Rose is careful to remain grounded and understands he still has improvements to make.
“I need to work on knowing my field placings and I think I should be working on my batting,” the St Bedes student said.
Rose has taken 10 wickets at an average of 32.1 for Casey-South Melbourne this season in his first extended stint with the top team, after making his debut at that level in the final round of 2005-06.
“I’ve been able to learn off the guys – they’ve played more cricket than I have,” Rose said.
All that is left now is for Rose to continue to develop, and hopefully the higher honours will follow.
“Who knows what can happen – we’ve seen what Shane Warne has done,” Montgomery said.
“Left-arm orthodox and right-arm leg spin bowlers are definitely getting more of a go at the top level.
“If he keeps doing the right preparation and gets a bit of luck, he could be playing for Victoria, and who knows from there.”
