Ashkenazi and Lamb named Future Stars

Heat quick Ashkenazi was Victoria’s best performer at the Under-19 National Championships where he claimed 15 wickets, at an average of 14.53, and was the state’s sole representative in the Team of the Tournament.

He was rewarded for that form with selection in the Cricket Australia’s Under-18 Talent Squad that was run at the Centre of Excellence in February.

During the season, Ashkenazi also played 12 matches in Frankston Peninsula’s first XI, where he claimed 14 wickets.

He will tour New Zealand later this month as part of the 14-man Australian Under-19 squad.

Plenty Valley’s Lamb enjoyed a breakout season with the VicSpirit after making her debut in the opening round WT20 match against the Western Fury.

By season’s end, Lamb was opening the bowling with her aggressive left-arm bowling which yielded her 10 wickets across both competitions.

She also became the side’s pinch hitter after she smashed 27 from just 16 deliveries in her first innings for Victoria.

Lamb also opened the batting and bowling for Plenty Valley where she made 154 runs and claimed 11 wickets.

Introduced in 2005-06, the Commonwealth Bank Future Star Award is presented each season to the best under-19 Victorian male and female player based on the their form at Premier Cricket level and in National Championships, with nominations selected by a panel of committee members on a monthly basis. 

Commonwealth Bank Future Star Award 2012-13 nominees
October: Jack Taylor (Prahran CC) & Alana King (Dandenong CC)
November:  Ben Ashkenazi (Frankston Peninsula CC) & Emily Smith (Essendon Maribyrnong Park CC)
December:  Pat Ashton (Ringwood CC) & Kirsty Lamb (Plenty Valley CC)
January: Guy Walker (Footscray-Edgewater CC) & Sarah Chancellor-Goddard (Box Hill CC)
February: Matt Short (Northcote CC) & Nicola Hancock (Brunswick Park CC)

Commonwealth Bank Future Star Award past winners
2011-12: Meyrick Buchanan (Geelong CC) & Anna Lanning (Box Hill CC)
2010-11: Dylan Kight (Footscray-Edgewater CC) & Molly Strano (Essendon Maribyrnong Park CC)
2009-10: Alex Keath (Melbourne CC) & Cassie Brock (Essendon Maribyrnong Park CC)
2008-09: David King (Ringwood CC) & Meg Lanning (Box Hill CC)
2007-08: Michael Hill (Melbourne CC) & Elyse Villani (Essendon Maribyrnong Park CC
2006-07: Kumar Sarna (Dandenong CC) & Jessica Cameron (Brunswick Park CC)
2005-06: Aaron Finch (Geelong CC) & Emma Inglis (Brunswick Park CC)