2023/24 Scholars Tier 1 CHARLIE ANDERSON Club: Northern District Cricket Club Playing Style: Right-arm medium fast & Right-hand bat Charlie is a very talented eighteen-year-old tall fast bowler from the Northern Districts Club. Tall with a smooth, strong action and a supple wrist Charlie has the ability to swing the ball away from the bat at a very lively pace and is a fierce competitor. He is also a very handy lower/middle ball batsman, a clean ball striker and an athletic fielder in any position. At Premier Cricket level, Charlie enjoyed a very productive season first full season in the top grade for Northern Districts, picking up 18 wickets at 20.61. His season highlight was his maiden five wicket haul (5/32 v Blacktown), the same match in which he scored a crucial 63 with the bat to showcase his versatile skill set. Charlie has been part of the CNSW Pathway system for several years now, representing NSW at Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 level. He once again spearheaded the bowling attack for the NSW Metro Under 19 side that took part in the National Under 19 Championships in Adelaide in December 2022 April. Charlie’s consistent performances were rewarded with selection in the Australian Under 19 team that played in the series of matches vs England Under 19 in Brisbane in January/ February of this year. As a bottom age Under 19’s player, we are very excited to see Charlie’s continued improvement both technically and physically over the next two seasons. This is Charlie’s second Basil Sellers Scholarship. ELLA BRISCOE Club: St George-Sutherland Women's Cricket Club Playing Style: Right-hand bat & Right-arm fast medium bowler Ella is a talented seventeen year old all rounder from the St. George – Sutherland Club, who possess immense power with the bat alongside being technically sound and is a consistent medium fast bowler who can swing the ball. She is also very athletic in the field and her good hands and strong arm make her a very exciting all round package. Ella has been part of the CNSW Pathway system for several years now, representing NSW at both Under 16 and Under 19 level. She once again spearheaded the bowling attack for the NSW Metro Under 19 side that took part in the Under 19 National Championships in Perth in December 2022. Ella is a developing middle order bat who strikes the ball powerfully and can dominate opposition attacks. She is continuing to develop this skill at her Premier Club and has been called upon many times to be a rock in their middle order. She has a good ability to absorb pressure and build an innings to accelerate from. Last season, Ella’s ability and performances were recognised and saw her added to both the Breakers and Thunder squads, where she was able to gain some valuable Elite squad experience. Ella will be competing her HSC this year and has aspirations to join the Air Force. This is Ella’s first Basil Sellers Scholarship. SIENNA EVE Club: Northern District Cricket Club Playing Style: Left arm orthodox bowler & Left hand bat Hailing from Newcastle, Sienna is a talented eighteen year old left arm orthodox spinner and more than handy middle order batter. Sienna’s has a great ability to get great shape on the ball whilst maintaining pinpoint accuracy which makes her a very exciting prospect. After a couple of seasons out of the CNSW Pathway set up, she has continued to work on her craft at home and was rewarded with a call up to the NSW Country U19 team for the National Championships in Perth in December. In this side she was heavily relied upon with the ball, taking six wickets at an economy of 3.7 runs per over for the tournament. She was similarly economical in Premier Cricket for her First Grade side, going at 3.7 across the season in both T20 and 50 over cricket. Sienna’s solid technical foundation with the bat makes her a very reliable middle order bat who can build partnerships and keep the score board ticking over. This is Sienna’s first Basil Sellers Scholarship. RYAN HICKS Club: Mosman Cricket Club Playing Style: Right-hand Bat & Wicketkeeper Ryan is a very talented eighteen-year-old wicket keeper/batsman from the Mosman Club Ryan is an exciting prospect. He is a versatile and innovative right hander who also possesses a solid technique which enables him to bat anywhere in the top six. He is also a neat and classy gloveman both over the stumps and standing back. Ryan has been a valued member of NSW Youth teams for several seasons, having represented NSW at Under 15, Under and Under 19 levels. Ryan’s cricket has continued to develop since scoring 42 and 53 in his 1st Grade debut as a fifteen-year-old in 2020/21 when playing for Hawkesbury. This improvement was highlighted during the 2022/23 season with Ryan scoring his maiden 1st Grade century in the Round 12 match against the strong Northern Districts attack. Ryan was an integral member of the successful NSW Metro side at the National Under 19 Carnival in December 2022. His 217 runs at 54.25 saw him bat in a variety of positions and was highlighted by a fine 104 vs Tasmania. His outstanding all round performance in the final vs Queensland emphasised his value, scoring a valuable 47 in a low scoring match, and snaring seven catches in a flawless display behind the stumps. Ryan has been selected in the Australian Under 19 World Cup Preliminary Squad, and was eleven players from across the country who travelled to Sri Lanka in July for a training camp. This is Ryan’s second Basil Sellers Scholarship. ELSA HUNTER Club: Gordon Cricket Club Playing Style: Right-hand Bat & Right-arm Off Spin Elsa is a talented eighteen-year-old all-rounder. She is a top order batter, a very strong fielder and recently turned her hand to off spin bowling, which is developing very nicely. Elsa has been a part of the Cricket NSW Female Pathway programs for a number of years. More recently, she has represented NSW Metropolitan Under 19’s State Team at the 21/22 & 22/23 Under 19 National Championships, where she led from the front with the bat in the 22/23 edition in Perth, being the third highest run scorer for Metropolitan. Her highest score for the tournament of 65 came in a crucial innings against Tasmania, building valuable partnerships to lead the team to a match winning total. Elsa gained valuable leadership experience in Perth, being a part of the leadership group, ably assisting the Captain during matches and gaining knowledge on team selection processes and general support of teammates. Off the back of these performances Elsa was rewarded with a call up to the NSW Breakers WNCL squad for a round in Adelaide. Whilst Elsa did not play in those matches, she gained an insight into the elite environment and the expectations of being a part of a High Performance squad. As a promising young cricketer with Malaysian heritage, Elsa became the youngest ever player for Malaysia, debuting at the age of 13. She played against Nepal in her debut match and batted number three. Elsa has now played 34 T20 Women’s International matches for Malaysia, where she is becoming an integral part of their batting line up. Her most recent outing was during the Southeast Asian Games held in Cambodia in May 2023. Elsa helped Malaysia achieve three bronze medals in the T10, T20 and 50 over competitions. Elsa will undertake her HSC this year at Hills Sports High School and has been elected School Captain for 2023. This is Elsa’s second Basil Sellers Scholarship. SAM KONSTAS Club: Sutherland District Cricket Club Playing Style: Right-hand Bat At only seventeen years of age, Sam has continued his prolific run scoring, enjoying a highly successful first full season in First Grade with Sutherland. His technique, temperament and appetite to bat for long periods has seen Sam establish himself as a player of immense promise. In his first full season of 1st Grade cricket, 664 runs at 39.06 Including 2 centuries vs Wests and Penrith These performances gained Sam selection in the NSW Metro 2ND X1 match vs ACT/NSW Country in March, impressing all with his versatility, scored an even ball 78. Captaining St George in winning the prestigious AW Green Shield competition in 2021/22, Sam scored an amazing 795 runs at 113.57, scoring a remarkable three 100’s and six 50’s in the process. This put him second on the all-time list of most runs in a Green Shield season. Sam broke the NSW Premier Cricket record of the most career runs in AW Green Shield with 1,670 runs at 64.23. This record had stood since 1951/52. Due to his school cricket commitments, Sam’s Premier Cricket appearances were limited. He made an immediate impact in his five 2nd Grade appearances, scoring 206 runs at 41.2, including 103 against Sydney University. Sam also displays impressive leadership qualities, having captained NSW at Under 15 level and Under 17 level. As a bottom age player, Sam skippered the NSW Combined Under 17 team that finished third in the National Under 19 Championships in Mackay in April, leading the team with great flair and composure. Sam is another of our players selected in an Australian Under 19 World Cup Preliminary Squad that took part in matches in Brisbane last month. With Sam still an Under 17 player, there is little doubt he will play an integral role in NSW teams for many years to come. This is Sam’s second Basil Seller’s Scholarship. LAUREN KUA Club: Manly Warringah District Cricket Club Playing Style: Right-arm Leg Spin & Right-hand Bat Lauren is a talented eighteen-year-old allrounder that plays Premier Cricket for Manly District Cricket Club. She is a right-handed top order batter and a right-arm Leg Spin bowler. Lauren has the ability to hit to different areas of the ground, making her a very difficult prospect for opposition bowlers. Lauren is willing to take on the bowling and use her fast hands to score behind the wicket, but also use her feet and powerful swing to hit down the ground and dominate opposition attacks all around the ground. Lauren’s leg spin is continuing to develop and her consistency in attacking the stumps, made her a difficult bowler to get away at the most recent U19 National Championships in Perth in December 2022. With the third most overs bowled by a bowler for the Metro side at that tournament, it was clear to see that Lauren’s bowling was heavily relied upon by the captain. Lauren is an asset to any side she plays in on the field. She is quick to the ball with a strong arm and and a powerfully accurate throw. Lauren was rewarded for her number of years within the Cricket NSW Pathway Squads, where she had already displayed excellent leadership skills, being a part of the leadership group for Metro in Perth. She ably assisted the captain during matches and gained knowledge on the team selection processes and showed great support of teammates. Lauren is currently in her first year at University studying a double degree of Commerce and Psychology. This is Lauren’s third Basil Sellers Scholarship. RAFAEL MACMILLAN Club: St George District Cricket Club Playing Style: Right-arm off-spin & Right-hand bat Rafael is a eighteen-year-old right arm off spinner and a more than capable lower/middle order right hand batter from the St George Club. Raf developed into a fine spin bowling prospect, impressing all with his ability to extract turn and bounce on any surface, coupled with his exceptional consistency and variety across all formats. NSW X1 v West Indies Raf is another of our players who has been involved in the CNSW Pathway for several years, representing NSW at Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 levels. Raf also enjoyed a productive Premier Cricket season in 2021/22, snaring 15 wickets in 2nd Grade at 17.4 from his nine matches. Raf is another of our players selected in an Australian Under 19 World Cup Preliminary Squad that took part in matches in Brisbane last month. As another of the bottom age Under 19s players, we look forward to continuing to provide Raf with opportunities to accelerate his growth. This is Rafael’s second Basil Sellers Scholarship. FRANKIE NICKLIN Club: Universities Women's Cricket Club Playing Style: Right hand bat & Right arm off spin Frankie is a talented eighteen year old all rounder from the Universities Club. She is an exciting top order batter, an accurate off spin bowler, and a livewire in the field with great energy and enthusiasm. Frankie’s dogged determination and willingness to play her role for her team was witnessed across the U19 National Championships in Perth in December 2022. In one match Frankie shone with the ball, turning a match on its head, by claiming a hattrick during her 10 consecutive over spell in the match. Frankie finished the tournament with 7 wickets at an average of 13.4 and an economy rate of 2.94. Frankie’s off spin is developing quickly and is certainly one to keep an eye on. Frankie saved her best innings for last in the U19 National Championships, scoring 53 in a match winning partnership of 104 with Captain and NSW Breaker Claire Moore, which lead the NSW Metro side to victory over the Victorian Country side, to claim the National Championship. Frankie’s attributes and performances, resulted in her making her debut for the Breakers in the 2022/23 season. She was a regular at Breakers training and practice matches throughout the season, where she performed admirably. Frankie has spent the past two winters in England gaining valuable experience in English conditions This is Frankie’s first Basil Sellers Scholarship. KATE PELLE Club: Parramatta Women's Grade Cricket Club Playing Style: Right hand bat & Wicketkeeper Kate is an exciting seventeen year old wicketkeeper/batter from the Parramatta club, who’s hard hitting at the top of the order and her silky smooth hands behind the stumps make her a very exciting prospect for the future. Kate has exploded on to the scene the past season. Kate’s enormous talent has been clear to see from a young age, but she took her game to another level in season 2022/23, to be the second leading run scorer for NSW Metropolitan at the U19 National Championships with 202 runs striking at 104 in her 6 innings. Kate also proved her worth for Parramatta throughout the Women’s Premier Cricket season, finishing in the top 10 First Grade run scorers with 365 runs, striking at 110 and averaging 40 in only 12 innings. Her destructive batting at the top of the order, saw her rewarded with a call up to the Australian U19 team for the 2023 World Cup held in South Africa in January. Kate gained valuable experience in different conditions and in a high pressure environment that will certainly hold her in good stead for the future. Kate’s wicketkeeping also continues to go from strength to strength. Her fast hands up to the stumps rivals some of the best keepers in the country. She will no doubt be one to watch behind the stumps this coming season, with big prospects and opportunities ahead. Kate’s busy cricket year ahead will be balanced with completing year 11 at Westfields Sports High School and she has commenced Nursing through Tafe NSW. This is Kate’s first Basil Sellers Scholarship. JAKE SCOTT Club: Penrith Cricket Club | Wagga Wagga Playing Style: Left-hand Bat & Right-arm Leg Spin Jake is a seventeen-year-old left-handed top order batter from Wagga Wagga who also bowls some handy leg-spin. Tall and strong with a convincing presence at the crease, Jake is a wonderful ball striker with the capacity to score all around the ground and move the game forward. Jake is also an exceptional fielder in any position with a safe pair of hands and a powerful throwing arm. Jake first came to the attention of CNSW playing for Penrith in the 2020/21 AW Green Shield competition, finishing third on the leading run scorers list with 392 runs at 43.56 including four half-centuries. From these performances, Jake was selected in the NSW Country Under 17’s Squad, where his work ethic and desire to improve were evident. This self-sufficiency is a feature of our better regional players who do not get the same access to coaching of our Metro players. Jake was one of only four Country players selected in the NSW Combined Under 17 side that finished third in the National Under 19 Championships in Mackay in April. Whilst not making a big score during the Carnival, Jake’s two straight sixes to win the T20 match vs ACT/NSW Country will long live in the memory. Jake is also a bottom age Under 19’s player, who is planning to play some cricket for Penrith when available this season. As he gets exposed to a regular higher level of cricket, we have no doubt he can take his game to another level. This is Jake’s second Basil Sellers Scholarship. HARJAS SINGH Club: Western Suburbs District Playing Style: Left-hand Bat & Right-arm Medium Harjas is a seventeen-year-old left-handed top order batsman and handy right-arm medium pace bowler who will play for Western Suburbs this season having previously played with Blacktown. A robust and adaptable player equally comfortable against both pace and spin, Harjas has produced some exceptional performances at both Premier Cricket and Youth level. Having represented NSW at Under 15 level in 2020, Harjas was the leading run scorer in the 2020/21 AW Green Shield competition with 468 runs at 52.00. Harjas carried his fine form into the 2021/22 season, scoring 466 runs in 1st Grade for Blacktown at an impressive average of 35.80. The highlight undoubtedly was his 101 vs St George in January 2022. In doing so, Harjas became the eighth youngest player in Premier Cricket history (16yrs, 349 days) to score a 1st Grade century. As a member of the NSW Combined Under 17’s side that took part in the National Under 19 Championships in Mackay in April, Harjas again played a dominant role. His 211 runs at 52.75 saw him as the second leading run scorer for the carnival and featured the innings of the tournament in the Round 2 match vs Queensland Country. In an awesome display of power hitting, Harjas scored 104 off only 52 balls, including fifteen boundaries and three sixes. Harjas is another of our players selected in an Australian Under 19 World Cup Preliminary Squad that took part in matches in Brisbane last month. It goes without saying that Harjas is a special talent, and as a bottom age Under 19’s player, we look forward to helping him continue to flourish. This is Harjas’s second Basil Sellers Scholarship. TOM STRAKER Club: Sutherland District Cricket Club Playing Style: Right-arm Fast-Medium and Right-hand Bat Tom is an eighteen-year-old fast bowler and right-hand bat from the Sutherland Club. A strong bustling fast bowler of genuine pace, Tom was identified at a young age due to his physical presence and rare ability to bowl at high speed. After representing NSW at Under 15 level with great success, Tom suffered a significant stress fracture in his back, missing the best part of the 2021/22 season. Therefore, it was wonderful to see Tom back on the cricket field in 2022/23, bowling fast, and more pleasingly, get through the full season injury free. Tom enjoyed a consistent first full season in 1st Grade picking up 15 wickets at 32.4 as well as 7 wickets at 17.67 in the Poidevin Gray Shield competition. Back in NSW colours at the National Under 19 Carnival, Tom was one of the leaders of the NSW Metro attack snaring 7 wickets at 16.57, including the first two crucial scalps in the final vs Queensland. Tom was rewarded with selection in the Australian Under 19 team that played in the series of matches vs England Under 19 in Brisbane in January/ February of this year. He picked up 9 wickets at 20.22 across all formats and bowled several deliveries just shy of the 140km mark. He is also part of the Australian Under 19 World Cup Preliminary Squad that will take part in several matches and camps as part of preparation for the Under 19 World Cup in Sri Lanka in January 2024. This is Tom’s first Basil Sellers Scholarship.
