Joe Blake is one of the best young bowlers coming through the ranks in Melbourne’s west. 88177_ Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By ADEM SARICAOGLU
GUN Sunshine cricketer Joseph Blake is ready for his step up into Premier Cricket.
The 16-year-old joined Premier club Footscray Edgewater ahead of the upcoming summer after taking 20 wickets for Sunshine in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association last season.
Blake was again impressive with ball recently, playing for a Victorian Metro under-17 team that saw him take on the best young talent in the state.
The left arm medium pacer said he enjoyed the experience.
“It was good fun, I enjoyed the whole week,” Blake said.
“Being preseason I was a bit rusty, but I don’t think I went too badly, overall.”
Blake has played a lot of senior cricket considering his age, but to this point he says he’s adapted to it quite well.
“At the start of the season I was a bit iffy, but then after that I was just enjoying my cricket and having fun,” Blake said of last summer.
“I guess the more you enjoy it, the quicker it is for you to adapt to it, and the better you’re going to play as an individual.”
Blake believes he has timed his venture into Premier Cricket perfectly, and said he hopes it is the first step to taking his game further up the ranks.
“I think I made the move at the right age because I’m still developing as a cricketer,” he said.
“I reckon Footscray can help me develop even more, and help me go further as well.
“I’m not expecting it to be easy. I’m just expecting a bit of a difference to sub-district cricket and you have to work a bit harder in adapting to what it’s going to be like.”
Blake’s ability as a bowler has got him to where he is, but with Footscray he wants to ensure his fitness and batting both get better.
“I’m expecting to work a lot harder in developing my cricket and with the number of coaches that they’ve got down at Footscray, all I have to do is take everything on board and then it should be a good process from there on,” he said.
“Hopefully I’ll work my way up by the end of the season and hopefully be pushing for twos.”
Bulldogs coach Barry Neivandt said the club was very happy to have Blake on board for this season.
“He’s got a huge potential and we haven’t seen the best of it yet,” Neivandt said.
“He’s got the world at his feet. That’s my point of view.”
