Exciting young talents in Cricket Australia XI

As many as eight of Australia’s most exciting young talents could make their one-day domestic debuts for the inaugural Cricket Australia XI in next month’s Matador BBQs One-Day Cup.

South Australian allrounder Alex Gregory will captain the side, which has been introduced as the competition’s seventh team in 2015-16 and is comprised of players from around the country who narrowly missed selection by their respective states in the 14-man Matador Cup squads.

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Formed with an eye to fast-tracking the development of promising cricketers, the squad boasts a talented young crop of players who have had a taste of high level cricket in either the Australia Under-19s system, Matador Cup, Sheffield Shield or KFC Big Bash League.

Gregory, 20, is one of six players chosen in the CA XI with previous List A experience, having made his Matador Cup debut last season for the West End Redbacks.

Western Australia allrounder Hilton Cartwright, Queensland wicket-keeper Jimmy Peirson, Tasmanian batsman Ben McDermott, Victorian allrounder Matt Short and Western Australian quick Matt Dixon have also played one-day cricket for their respective states.

Cricket Australia National Talent Manager Greg Chappell said the CA XI concept was designed to give promising players from around the country more opportunity to play at domestic level.

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Over the last three seasons, on average one state-contracted player and three rookies failed to play a single game of domestic cricket, providing a hole in the pathway the new Matador Cup team hopes to fill.

“The idea behind it was to make sure the next generation of cricketers were going to get the opportunities they need to keep their development going,’’ he said.

“There will be some familiar names from having played a little bit of first class cricket or a little bit of 50-over cricket for their state previously.

“They are the ones the public can start looking at with the view to perhaps watching them grow over the next few years, get into their State sides and hopefully go on to represent Australia.”

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Gregory has represented Australia Under-19s // Getty Images

Chappell said he believed the CA XI concept had already had a positive impact, encouraging state teams to sign their young talent.

“They will be competitive,’’ he said.

“There are probably three or four players that we thought we might have in the CA XI side who have gone on and been selected by their states and would expect to play prominent roles in their state squad.

“So maybe we have frightened some of the states into thinking they needed to pick some of their young players and, if that’s the case, that’s terrific.”

The squad boasts plenty of international experience, with 12 of the 14-man line-up either current or former Australian Under-19 players.

Zimbabwean-born Cartwright and Queensland leg-spinner Mitch Swepson are the only members not to have donned the green and gold at youth level.

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Fast bowlers Jhye Richardson and Liam Hatcher were strong performers for Australia Under-19s against England on their tour in July, while batsman Sam Heazlett scored a century against England Under-19s when they toured Australia in April.

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Dixon playing for the Warriors in 2010 // Getty Images

Four players in the squad – McDermott, Dixon and Cartwright and Queensland allrounder Jack Wildermuth – have Sheffield Shield experience, while Peirson, Victorian batsman Seb Gotch and Queensland allrounder James Bazley were all part of a CA XI Twenty20 side which played a tour match against South Africa.

Peirson and McDermott (Brisbane Heat), Cartwright and Dixon (Perth Scorchers) and Short (Melbourne Renegades) have all tasted action in the BBL.

Bupa National Cricket Centre head coach Troy Cooley and former England International Graeme Hick, an Australian Under-19 coach, will be in charge of preparing the squad for their opening game against NSW on October 5.

Cricket Australia XI: Sam Heazlett (QLD), James Pierson(QLD), Ben McDermott (TAS), Seb Gotch (VIC), Matthew Short (VIC), Alex Gregory (capt) (SA), Jack Wildermuth (QLD), Jhye Richardson (WA), James Bazley (QLD), Liam Hatcher (NSW), Mitch Swepson (QLD), Hilton Cartwright (WA), Riley Ayre (ACT/NSWC), Matthew Dixon (WA)

Greg Chappell on the CA XI

Sam Heazlett (QLD): Solid left-hand opening batsman. He’s performed well at youth level for Australia and Queensland, including a big 160 against England U19s earlier this year in Perth. To complete the package, he bowls some orthodox left-arm spin and fields well.

James Pierson (QLD): Aggressive right-hand opening bat. He’s an exciting batting prospect who just happens to be a quality wicketkeeper. Peirson represented Australia in the 2012 U19 World Cup and has gone on to make his List A debut for Queensland, as well as playing a full season for Brisbane Heat in the KFC Big Bash League last season.

Ben McDermott (TAS): Moved to Tasmania this season to get more opportunities, having previously played for Brisbane Heat and Australia in the 2014 U19 World Cup. He is a strongly built top-order batsman/wicketkeeper. Son of Australia Test bowler Craig McDermott.

Seb Gotch (VIC): Positive right-hand batsman, who can also wicketkeep and is a brilliant fieldsman. He represented Australia at U19 level before taking up with Greater Western Sydney in the AFL. Gotch is a very talented all-round sportsman and we’re delighted to have him back playing cricket.

Matthew Short (VIC): All-rounder who will play an important role in the CA XI side. He is an exciting talent; a right-hand top-order batsman, spin bowler and athletic fielder. He has put in a lot of work into his bowling to become a genuine all-rounder and has already made his List A debut, representing Victoria at the Matador Cup last season.

Alex Gregory (captain) (SA): Will captain the CA XI side, having shown great composure and tactical skills as captain of Australia during the U19 World Cup in 2014. He’s an all-rounder who will bat in the middle order, is a tall, upright medium-fast bowler and also a handy fielder in the circle.

Jack Wildermuth (QLD): Another all-rounder who is reminiscent of a young Sean Abbott at this age. He’s an athletic cricketer who is a fast-medium bowling all-rounder. Unfortunately missed out on representing Australia in the U19 World Cup in 2012 due to injury.

Jhye Richardson (WA): He’s currently in our U19 program and coming off the back of a successful tour to the UK. He swings the ball both ways, hits the deck hard, and has also proven he’s handy with the bat and an excellent, athletic fieldsman too.

Liam Hatcher: (NSW): Like Jhye Richardson, Hatcher has impressed in the current U19 program with his pace and tenacity. He is a strong right-arm fast bowler who is incredibly competitive.

Mitch Swepson (QLD): One of a number of exciting young spinners in Australia at the moment. He’s a right-arm leg-spinner who gives the ball a rip and impressed everyone during his work at our Spin Camps and also during a trip to the MRF Foundation in India this year.

Hilton Cartwright (WA): Zimbabwe-born all-rounder who’s performed well for WA in the one-day tournament previously and for the Scorchers in Champions League T20. His aggressive batting will help balance the team and give some hitting power in the middle-to-late overs.

Riley Ayre (ACT/NSWC): Tall left-arm orthodox spinner who is largely self-taught. Came through the U19 program and impressed everyone with his quiet determination and ability to learn. He continues to improve and I’m sure he’ll impress when he gets opportunities during the tournament.

Matthew Dixon (WA): Strong right-arm fast bowler who can swing it away from right-handers, and is one of the young exciting quicks coming through. Played Sheffield Shield and List A cricket for WA but his progress has been hampered by injuries.

James Bazley (QLD): All-rounder who had an important impact with bat and ball during Australia’s U19 World Cup in 2014. A tall, strong medium-fast bowler who also provides a power-hitting lower-order batting option. In the mould of John Hastings.