By LIAM TWOMEY
IT HAS been an amazing summer for Altona resident James Muirhead.
The 20-year-old has gone from rising star to world-beater after bamboozling some of the cricket world’s best batsmen.
Following a strong Big Bash League campaign with the Melbourne Stars, the leg spin bowler was selected in the Australian Twenty20 squad for its three match series against England.
Being his country’s front line spinner and bowling in front of packed out crowds may have been too much for some but Muirhead thrived on the big stage.
From his three international T20 games he took 1/34, 1/17 and 2/13 as Australia stormed to a series whitewash.
On the back of his stunning success, Muirhead was selected in the Australian T20 Squad for the upcoming World Cup in Bangladesh.
Before the tournament he will also represent Australia in South Africa.
Not surprisingly, Cricket Victoria wasted no time getting on the front foot and signed Muirhead to a contract with the Bushrangers for the next four seasons.
“I feel like Victoria is the best environment for me to develop my cricket,” Muirhead said earlier this month.
“I was born in Melbourne, I live in Melbourne and now I can just focus on playing my cricket in Melbourne.
“We’ve got a great set up, with the best coaches … so I’m very happy.”
Bushrangers coach Greg Shipperd said he was pleased to have secured Muirhead on a long-term deal.
“We seem to be a bit of a factory of spinners at the moment,” Shipperd said.
“So to have secured one of Australia’s most promising leg-spinners – someone who has already shown in the heat of international competition that he’s got the nerve and an exciting skillset – to have him commit to Victoria is a really positive move for our squad.
“He’s still got some work to do with his batting and bowling and understanding the game from a spin bowling point of view, but that comes with experience, and he’s got at least four years of it (to come) so we’re thrilled with that.”
For his outstanding sporting achievements Muirhead has been named this month’s Don Deeble Rising Star nominee.
The award is run by the Sunshine Western Region Sports Club in conjunction with the Star News Group.
Muirhead will receive $1000 donated by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club and other prizes to assist in his future sporting goals.
The Don Deeble Rising Star Award recognises young athletes in the western suburbs who have achieved outstanding results at a state and national level.
