Gifted left-hand batsman who is a very handy right arm leg spinner, Jobe Fraser, will contest the Under 17 national championships in January.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Talented youngster Jobe Fraser has been selected in the Victorian Country U17 Cricket squad, for the National U17 Championships in Ballarat from January 4-11.
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Jobe is 15-years-of-age, turns 16 in February and has helped out playing junior cricket of a Saturday morning this season before fronting up in the afternoon as Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club’s top A Grade batsman, batting at number 3.
When the Yarrawonga Chronicle caught up with Jobe last Thursday at practice, in the three games with the Lakers this season, the left-hand bat has made an unbeaten top score 65, 31 and another top score of 78 – in the previous week’s 8/163. Two of these games were against last season’s grand-finalists Wangaratta Magpies and Rovers United.
Club president Glenn Brear described Fraser as “well rounded in his cricket and wants to be successful”.
“He’s prepared to hit the ball and does not labor; plays shots and every ball on its merit,” Mr Brear said. “He’s still growing into his cricket but has improved at the highest level since last season.
“Jobe could transition into something special.”
The classy left hander has been a part of the Under 17 academy and will represent the Camberwell Magpies in this season’s U16 Dowling Shield, in December and January, and the national championships.
Jobe is also a very handy bowler according to the Lakers president.
“Jobe is a good right hand change bowler who bowls leg breaks.”
Arguably the hardest ball to bowl in cricket and arguably the most exciting type of bowler, he has picked up a wicket in all three A Grade games this season, without a stack of runs from his back-of-the-hand deliveries.
The gifted allrounder’s junior cricket has all been in the local Yarrawonga Mulwala competition which began with the Under 12s but he was into cricket long before and loves the local cricket scene.
“ ‘Knighta’ (Matthew Knight, star cricketer/coach) has been fantastic, Reid Clarke (star cricketer) was throwing me balls since I was about six and Kyle Archibald’s (current coach) been very good with his communication and pushing me through,” the Year 9, Sacred Heart College student said.
“Glenn Brear is a very good president. He represented the club very well and talks to everyone – he takes such a great interest in everyone.”
Of course Jobe’s Dad Lee could play cricket, the now 47-year-old retired cricketer had an excellent career with the Lakers as player and premiership coach, and Jobe’s brother Zac, 19, has plenty of talent, currently playing A Reserve. There’s naturally been a lot of cricket by and within the family with both sons in particular benefitting, and a proud Dad.
Jobe Fraser in the nets last Thursday at Vic Park.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Since June this year, Jobe has been training at the Junction Oval, St Kilda with the state’s elite Under 17 cricketers, coached by Cricket Victoria Talent Development Specialist Shane Koop alongside Richmond’s head coach Shannon Young as assistant coach. One of four Geelong representatives in the squad, Oliver Peake, will captain the team.
Cricket Victoria’s Talent Development Manager Tom Evans, said it was a great opportunity for both Vic Metro and Vic Country sides to test their abilities against the best under 17 players in the country.
“All players that took part in the Emerging Under 17 Program have put in a great amount of hard work to continually improve themselves as cricketers and people over the last four months,” he said.
“We are looking forward to their continued development across Premier Cricket and working with our Under 17 coaches to hit the ground running and perform well at the National Championships in Ballarat.”
Of his selection in the Victorian Country Under 17 squad of 15 players, Jobe said: ‘I’m very happy and very keen to play in the national championships.
“I want to play the best possible cricket I can and be around the best possible cricketers I can.”
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