Brennan and Banthorpe nominated for Future Star Award

Banthorpe was in good form with the bat for Fitzroy-Doncaster in the Victorian Premier competition, hitting back-to-back half centuries in the Lions’ First XI against Greenvale Kangaroos and Kingston Hawthorn.

The 18-year-old wicketkeeper has seen plenty of time in representative colours this season, playing for Vic Metro at the Under 19 National Championships in December and also making his Toyota Futures League debut for the Bushrangers in February.

His debut performance against Queensland in the Toyota Futures League – three catches, a stumping and 40 runs with the bat – will no doubt ensure that he is on the selection radar at this level in seasons to come.

Brennan has been a consistent performer for Box Hill in the Women’s Premier competition this season.

She has taken nine wickets for Box Hill in the Women’s First XI, as well as representing the Gippsland Pride in the VicSpirit Under 18 Female State Championships and Victoria in the Under 18 Female National Championships.

Brennan claimed nine wickets in four games at the VicSpirit Under 18 Female State Championships, including a remarkable haul of 5-6 against South East Metropolitan.

Her statistics during the Under 18 Female National Championships also make for impressive reading, claiming seven wickets in eight matches with a miserly economy rate of 2.4 runs per over.

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 at the National Championships, with nominations selected by a panel of committee members on a monthly basis.

Past winners of the award include Aaron Finch, Meg Lanning and Jessica Cameron, who have all represented Australia.

The winners of the Commonwealth Bank Future Star Award will be crowned at the Cricket Victoria State Awards in April.

Commonwealth Bank Future Star Award 2015-16 nominees
October: Adam McMaster (Dandenong CC) & Makinley Blows (Workers Gol Gol CC)
November: Liam Banthorpe (Fitzroy-Doncaster CC) & Hayleigh Brennan (Box Hill CC)

Commonwealth Bank Future Star Award past winners
2014-15: Sam Grimwade (Prahran CC) & Tayla Vlaeminck (Plenty Valley CC)
2013-14: Matt Short (Northcote CC) & Sophie Molineux (Dandenong WCC)
2012-13: Ben Ashkenazi (Frankston Peninsula CC) & Kirsty Lamb (Plenty Valley CC)
2011-12: Meyrick Buchanan (Geelong CC) & Anna Lanning (Box Hill CC)
2010-11: Dylan Kight (Footscray-Edgewater CC) & Molly Strano (Essendon Maribyrnong Park LCC)
2009-10: Alex Keath (Melbourne CC) & Cassie Brock (Essendon Maribyrnong Park LCC)
2008-09: David King (Ringwood CC) & Meg Lanning (Box Hill CC)
2007-08: Michael Hill (Melbourne CC) & Elyse Villani (Brunswick Park LCC)
2006-07: Kumar Sarna (Dandenong CC) & Jessica Cameron (Brunswick Park LCC)
2005-06: Aaron Finch (Geelong CC) & Emma Inglis (Brunswick Park LCC)