Wishart competes with the best at national championships

By Matthew Kappos

Jan 7, 2025

Nondies-Cohuna’s Xavier Wishart took on the best cricketing prospects from across Australia at the under-19 national championships. Photo: Bruce Povey.

In December, a Goulburn Murray Cricket prospect was afforded the opportunity to compete against the country’s best emerging cricketers.

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Nondies-Cohuna’s Xavier Wishart was selected to join Victoria Country for the under-19 National Championships, held in Adelaide from December 12 to 19.

Wishart and Vic Country started the tournament on the right foot with a 134-run win over the Northern Territory in their opening contest.

He put in a solid shift with the ball, bowling a team-high 10 overs and taking 3-50.

Vic Country wasn’t able to pick up any more wins in the pool stage, going down to Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania, Wishart also unable to add to his wicket tally.

This led the side to a seventh-place playoff with the ACT, where Wishart’s side strolled to a six-wicket win after bowling the capital side out for 137, the Nondies prospect bowling 1-23 to help his side secure the placing.

The developmental format allowed sides to name a different 11 in each innings, and Wishart was not provided the opportunity to showcase his skills with the bat.

The young gun has been a bright spot in a low season for Nondies-Cohuna so far this year in the McMahon Shield.

Wishart is one of only two Nondies batsmen to have logged more than 100 runs this season, scoring 139 at an average of 34.75 through seven innings.

He hasn’t been able to find as much success with the ball, taking only one wicket thus far.

Wishart is also part of the Vic Country under-19 emerging players squad.