LiamBlackford

Liam Blackford became the first Victorian to hit a century on One-Day Cup debut when he hit 149 not out off 113 balls against Queensland to open the 2026-27 summer. It was also the highest score for any debutant in the competition's history. 

Blackford had played for Australia U19s in 2023, hitting a century against England U19s in a four-day match early in the year, then smacking 72no in a T20 victory.

He was awarded a rookie contract with Victoria for the 2023-24 season, but then endured a torrid health run that saw him miss plenty of cricket. In July 2023 his right arm became incredibly swollen and had turned purple after a net session that saw him present to a local hospital. Eventually a blood clot in his right arm and blockage in a vein was found. Diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, surgery followed and he was on blood-thinning medication for several months, rulling him out of cricket for the 2023-24 summer. A second procedure by a vascular surgeon followed in January 2024, and in March that year he had the top rib on his right side removed to ease pressure on the affected vein.