Metro pathway stars to go head to head

The State squad comprises of Vic Metro U17, Northern Territory U19, Cricket Australia U16 and U17 players and will be captained by Blake Parsons.

The Allstars squad was selected following a ‘showcase’ fixture at Frankston Peninsula CC earlier this month and will give the players a chance to prove themselves against older opposition.

This fixture, along with the country match, will form part of the U17 trials process for 2016, providing selectors and coaches the chance to see targeted players in match situations this summer.

However, there will also be training and trial opportunities for a wider range of players throughout the winter, as part of the lead-up to the U17 National Championships in September.

Orthodox spin bowler Parsons claimed 11 wickets at 22.55 with his best figures of 4-14 coming against Western Australia in the third round of the National Championships.

Parsons has also been playing in the Firsts and Seconds for Prahran Cricket Club and has claimed 12 wickets at 18.70, including 4-29 for the Seconds against Footscray Edgewater.

Batsman, Jonathan Merlo, will be looking to carry his form through from the Under 17 Championships where he scored 233 runs at the impressive average of 44.6 with a high score of 114 not out against Tasmania.

Top-order batsman Edward Newman played well in both the U17 and U19 National Championships and will hope to replicate his success in this fixture.

Across the Championships he accumulated 399 runs at the healthy average 45.36 with a top score of 100 not out in an U19 Nationals Championship match against Tasmania.

All-rounder Shubham Bhargave will captain the Allstars side.

Bhargave has not only enjoyed success with a Cricket Australia XI in the U17 National Championships where he took seven wickets at 13.57 but also with the U16 Australian side in a series against Pakistan.

On the first three occasions he batted down the order at eight or nine but in the final match was given the opportunity at three which he certainly made the most of as he finished unbeaten on 85 to guide Australia to a seven-wicket win.

Another allrounder in Bhargave’s side is Mitch Perry.

In Metro Outer East’s Dowling Shield campaign Perry played well scoring 163 runs at 32.60 and claiming eights wickets at 12.25.

A third allrounder in the Allstars’ armoury is Connor Rutland.

Playing for Metro North, Rutland accumulated 179 runs at a healthy average of 44.75.  He also collected eight wickets at an average of 13.63.

The match will be a good test of skill and character for the U16s as they ply their trades against the U17s State squad.

Victoria Metro Under-17
Blake Parsons (C)
Nathan Boucher
Arky Cheema
Mick Edwards
Sam Elliott
Zak Evans
Josh Hartill
Jon Merlo
Nathan Murphy
Ed Newman
Kevin Spaull
Will Sutherland
Tate Volitakis

Metro Pathway Under 16 Allstars
Shubham Bhargave
James Boyce
Elliott Brandon-Jones
Noah Croes
Hugo Ferdinand
Jonty Leadbeater
Conor McGuire
Josh Murray
Mitch Perry
Connor Rutland
Daniel Scholtz
Harry Wardlaw