James Muirhead is a Cricket Victoria Future Stars nominee. 73471 Picture: RON TURNER
ALTONA Meadows resident James Muirhead has been announced as a Cricket Victoria Future Stars award nominee for October.
The 18-year-old leg spinner has impressed for first XI district club side St Kilda, the same club that nurtured champion wrist-spinner Shane Warne.
Muirhead, who played for Altona Cricket Club as a junior, also represented Australia’s under-19 side in the Tour of India in September and bowled an eye-catching spell for Victoria’s Futures League side against Queensland, where he bowled five straight maidens and claimed a wicket in his debut match on 7 November, which was abandoned due to rain.
He debuted in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition last season, taking two five-wicket hauls in the third XI, before progressing to the second XI where he showed he wasn’t out of his depth, collecting 12 wickets in four matches.
This season he has played all six matches in the first XI, grabbing 17 wickets at an average of 17.12.
Introduced in 2005-06, the Cricket Victoria Future Star Award is presented each season to the best under-19 Victorian male and female cricketer based on the their performances at Premier club level and in National Championships, with nominations made on a monthly basis.
Footscray Edgewater wicketkeeper batsman Dylan Kight was named last year’s winner, while Werribee’s Molly Strano won the female award.
Past winners of the award include fellow Werribee resident Jess Cameron, Aaron Finch, Michael Hill, Emma Inglis, Alex Keath, Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani.
The Future Star Award winner will be announced at the Cricket Victoria Gala Awards evening.
