Victorian stars bound for talent camps

Earlier today, Cricket Australia announced three development squads for the nation’s best underage cricketers with the selected players to attend camps and undergo a range of training, match scenarios, musculoskeletal screening, fitness testing and psychological profiling under the watchful eye of specialist coaches, including Australian Test great Greg Chappell.

In total, 15 Victorians have earnt selection – a national high – across the under-18 male and female development squads and under-15 female development squad.

“These national programs at under-15 and under-18 level play an important part in our player pathway system and have recently hosted players like Pat Cummins, Nic Maddinson and Holly Ferling,” Cricket Australia Executive General Manager Team Performance Pat Howard said.

“The 2014 national under-18 talent and under-15 development squads have been selected following strong performances in our recently-completed National Underage Championships.

“These cricketers have all shown potential to follow in our senior players’ footsteps and their progress will continue during the camps, which will allow us to identify a best-fit approach to enhance their development.

“The under-18 talent camps are an excellent entry point into the national pathway and the state talent managers will also be watching the squads and camps with interest.”

The under-18 male talent camp will be staged at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane from April 10 to 14 and will be overseen by Chappell, while Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars Head Coach Cathryn Fitzpatrick will do likewise at the under-18 female talent camp from September 18 to 22 at the same facility.

For the first time, an under-15 development squad has selected, which is a new initiatives to develop players identified in the School Sport Australia Under-15 Championships.

The under-15 camp will be held from September 25 to 29.

Under-18 Male Development Squad: Wes Agar (VIC), Ejaaz Alavi (VIC), Riley Ayre (NSW), Liam Banthorpe (VIC), Jack Blain (VIC), Izaac Boylan (SA), Matthew Condon (ACT), Nicky Craze (NSW), Kyle Gardiner (WA), David Grant (SA), Sam Grimwade (VIC), Brooke Guest (WA), Sam Harper (VIC), Tom Healy (QLD), Clint Hinchliffe (WA), Pat McKenna (VIC), Connor McLean (SA), Corey Murfet (TAS), Brendan Murray (WA), Jonte Pattison (NSW), Jack Prestwidge (QLD), Matthew Renshaw (QLD), Jhye Richardson (WA), Kyle Scrimegour (NT), Henry Thornton (NSW) and Jake Winter (SA).

Under-18 Female Development Squad: Haidee Birkett (QLD), Piepa Cleary (WA), Rochelle Davis (NSW), Ash Gardner (NSW), Heather Graham (WA), Nicola Hancock (VIC), Taryn Heddo (NSW), Anna Horton (NSW), Alana King (VIC), Tahlia McGrath (SA), Sophie Molineux (VIC), Chelsea Moscript (VIC), Meg Phillips (TAS), Alex Price (SA), Lauren Smith (NSW) and A-J Wellington (SA).

Under-15 Female Development Squad: Melina Ayres (VIC), Katelyn Beaumont (ACT), Hayleigh Brennan (VIC), Lauren Cheatle (NSW), Shae Daly (SA), Ellie Falconer (SA), Saskia Horley (NSW), Carly Leeson (NSW), Annabel Martin (VIC), Kayla McGrath (SA), Yardely Polsen (NSW), Alana Ryan (ACT), Kirsten Smith (ACT), Hannah Trethewy (NSW) and Georgia Wareham (VIC).