Nathan Walsh was selected in the Victorian under 17 cricket side last week after missing out twice on underage squads in the past.By Marc McGowan
LYSTERFIELD cricket sensation Nathan Walsh believes the pain of past rejections spurred him on to selection in this year’s Victorian under 17 cricket team.
Walsh, 16, a stylish right-handed opening batsman, was named in the 13-man squad last week and will represent his state for the first time when the national championships kick off in Melbourne on 5 January.
Cranbourne East’s Casey Fields and Dandenong’s Shepley Oval will each host a match during the cricket showcase.
“I missed out on the try-out for the Victorian under 15 side and I was cut in the first round of the Victorian under 12s, which was quite upsetting,” Walsh said.
“I made sure I made this one count.”
But there were some stressful times for Walsh in the lead-up to selection after failing in the trial match.
“I’m actually very relieved because in the trial game I made a golden duck!” he said.
“I made a few scores for my Victorian Premier Cricket club Ringwood, which I think is what got me in, but making that golden duck had me thinking twice.”
Walsh’s career is definitely on the rise after shining for the Outer East Eagles in the under 16 Dowling Shield competition in 2006.
His performances have Outer East Metro regional cricket manager Rob Elliot comparing him to an Australian great.
“He is like Mark Waugh in that he seems to score with effortless ease. He doesn’t appear to get flustered at all at the crease,” Elliot said.
“It is a very long path to head down, but it really comes down to hard work and performance and there are no limits for him.”
Walsh was delighted with Elliot’s flattering assessment.
“I’d like to think I’m a bit more technically correct (than Waugh), but if he wants to put me in the same rank as that, I have no worries!” Walsh said.
“It’s a pretty hard game to copy someone else, but it’d be great to be like Jacques Kallis from South Africa – he has a great technique.
“Brad Hodge is another one. He’s worked his bum off to get to where he is.”
Ringwood is not only reaping the benefits of Walsh’s talents, but also those of his brothers Brendan and Sam.
Left-arm off-spinner Brendan has played in the Rams’ seconds side for several years, while all-rounder Sam is making his way up the ranks in the club’s junior development squad.
Walsh, who is also a talented footballer for Rowville Junior Football Club, is pleased with the development in his game, but knows he has much improvement to come.
“I probably need to work on playing a bit straighter early and not being as loose and playing too many shots early,” he said.
“I used to describe myself as an aggressive batsman, but I’ve changed that and I’m able to adapt to different situations.
“The benefit of being at Ringwood is that you have the Tom Strays and (players) like that to look up to.”
While many young sportspeople are desperate to reach the top, Walsh will be satisfied with whatever he achieves in the sport – so long as he gives it his best shot.
“The way I see it is I’ll try to play as high as I can and however high that is I don’t know,” he said.
“If I only get the chance to represent Victoria at under 19 level I’ll be happy, or if the seconds at Ringwood is as high as I get, then that’s fine with me.”
