Northern under-19s chase national dreams

Cricket North stars Jake Williams, Blake Cassidy, Lachlan Newland, Jarrod Freeman and James Curran form the Northern contingent of the state’s under-19 side which will compete in Adelaide, starting with a clash against the Cricket Australia XI on Monday. 

Tasmania-listed spinner Freeman is the most experienced of the quintet having played in the same carnival on home turf earlier this year, and will be crucial to the state’s fortunes according to Mowbray teammate Blake Cassidy. 

“I think Jarrod Freeman will be probably our most important player - he’s got a lot of experience so he’ll play a big role for us,” the 18-year-old paceman said. 

“It’s a bit of an honour really to be able to do it for your state and to be good enough to play for your state - you always want to do well and make Tassie proud.”

All five Northerners have played in the Hobart-based Cricket Tasmania Premier League this season, with Freeman lining up for Lindisfarne and the remaining four for the Greater Northern Raiders. 

In five rounds the youth-heavy Raiders have come up against the likes of Ben Dunk, Sam Rainbird and Hamish Kingston - encounters which will likely prove invaluable for Newland and his teammates come Monday morning. 

“Playing with the Raiders in the premier league and playing against some guys that are playing for Tassie is a great experience,” Newland said.

“And getting to train with the best players of the North ... it’s good to always be competitive, even at training.”

Westbury batsman Williams has enjoyed perhaps the most impressive season of the five to date.

The Longford-based teenager is the league’s leading run-scorer and was the first Raider to post a 50 and a 100. 

“It’s always good knowing you’ve started the season well I guess, but it’s a different place over there,” he  said.

“I think in our lead-up game we showed pretty good form going in to the carnival so the team’s gelled pretty quickly - we’re a team of pretty mixed ages but I’d expect us to take it to the top sides.”

Williams, Cassidy and Newland have all represented Tasmania at past national championships, but will still be challenged by the heat of Adelaide and a host of unfamiliar venues. 

“It’s pretty full-on,” Williams said of the carnival environment. 

“But if you can manage to stay calm and cope with nerves and stress you find that you perform the same as you do in any other game of cricket.

“Hopefully our preparation is good and we can go over there and continue our form as a team and individuals.”

Tasmania will play five pool games and three finals between Monday and Thursday, December 13.