JLT One-Day Cup: Each state’s young gun ready to burst onto the scene

Cricket Sports

JLT One-Day Cup: Each state’s young gun ready to burst onto the scene

First-drop Sangha - who captained the side - was Australia’s topscorer at the event (229 at 38.16), narrowly ahead of opener Edwards (216 at 43.20). Meanwhile, Uppal added 131 runs at 32.75 from the middle-order and spun his way to three wickets at 32.33.

Uppal is the only one of the trio to have represented NSW at senior level, playing for the state in two Sheffield Shield matches in March and making 72 runs at 18. He also bowled 30 overs between the two matches, failing to take a wicket, but only going for 2.66 runs per over.

Sangha played twice for Cricket Australia XI against England as part of the visitors’ 2017-18 Ashes warm-up. In the second match, Sangha made a score of 133 off 226 balls against an attack boasting Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, Mason Crane and Moeen Ali.

Jaques said his group of young guns may not all get the chance to play in this year’s JLT One-Day Cup, adding: “But I think we have probably some of the best young batters in the country at the moment that have played in Australia under-19 teams over the last couple of years.

“So there are certainly positions there, and it’s out of those guys who will stand up and be selected.

“So guys like Jason Sangha, Jack Edwards and Param Uppal ... Those three guys have performed really well at under age level and they’ll be in the mix when we pick the side.

“Whoever performs in our trials will probably get the nod for a couple positions.”

VICTORIA

Mackenzie Harvey – 17 years old – left-handed batsman

Yet to debut

Will Sutherland – 18 years old – right-handed all-rounder

Three List A matches – five wickets at 19.40. 10 runs at 5.00

Tom O’Connell – 18 years old – right-arm leg-spinner

Yet to debut

Victoria coach Andrew McDonald has named three teenagers who could get a chance to impress at senior level this JLT One-Day Cup.

And although McDonald stressed the importance of not placing “unnecessary pressure” on young players, talented trio Mackenzie Harvey, Will Sutherland and Tom O’Connell have caught his eye.

“We’ve got a couple good young players in Mackenzie Harvey, Will Sutherland and Tom O’Connell who has recently come across from South Australia,” he said.

“So they’d be three [potential emerging stars] depending on who is in our squad … but they’re three young players who may get a look-in during the JLT if they perform well.”

In-demand leg-spinner O’Connell was lured across the border from South Australia on a reported three-year deal, despite being untested at senior level.

With veteran spinner Fawad Ahmed out of contract at Victoria, O’Connell has the opportunity to fill his shoes as a specialist tweaker.

He impressed in South Australian grade cricket last season, being awarded the Jason Gillespie Medal for the league’s rising star.

Left-hander Harvey - like Sangha from NSW - impressed against a touring English side last summer. Batting at six, he made a quickfire 59 off 48 balls in a one-day tour match against an England XI that also included Woakes and spinner Adil Rashid.

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