Pace ace makes striking debut

By Paul Pickering
BERWICK teenager James Wilcock now accepts that he’s part of Dandenong Cricket Club’s next generation pace attack, but he wouldn’t have dreamt it a year ago.
Back then, the 15-year-old right-armer was celebrating with his Berwick team-mates after their Turf One premiership in the Dandenong District Cricket Association – having guided the Bears into that grand final with a five-for in the semi.
Now 16, Wilcock has made three Premier first XI appearances and been hailed by Panthers coach Warren Ayres as a key member of the club’s new guard.
The Berwick Secondary College student reflected last week on his break-out season, admitting that it had exceeded even his own expectations.
“I thought I’d go to Dandy and play a few games in the seconds (at best), so I was a bit surprised,” Wilcock said.
“It’s been a pretty good season.”
Few doubted that Wilcock was ready for the step up to Premier Cricket, so last Spring he accepted an invitation from Ayres to join a few net sessions at Shepley Oval.
Wilcock was chuffed to get the nod, but prepared himself for a lengthy fast-bowling apprenticeship in the lower grades.
It took less than four months for opportunity to come knocking.
After a solid pre-Christmas stint in the seconds and thirds, Wilcock was selected to make his first XI debut against St Kilda at Junction Oval on 31 January.
He claimed his maiden scalp by trapping Saints skipper Glenn Lalor in front on the way to figures of 1/34 from 12 overs.
Wilcock recalls being “a bit nervous”, but Ayres later marvelled at how comfortable the youngster looked alongside established quicks Darren Pattinson, Paul Boraston and Dave Newman.
He played the remaining two games against Melbourne Uni and Casey-South Melbourne, finishing the season with six first XI wickets at an average of 16.7.
Wilcock’s three-wicket haul against the Swans was one positive from Dandenong’s season-ending loss, and his emergence has been the silver lining in an otherwise gloomy season at Pultney Street.
He is now hoping to form a formidable pace trio with fellow teenagers Jackson Coleman and James Pattinson – whose mid-season back injury thrust Wilcock into the fold.
Ayres has high hopes for the burly teenager.
“He’s going to be a good player,” he said.
“He hits the seam on a good length and can get it to swing away, and anybody who does that consistently is going to have a lot of success.”
Wilcock played for the Southern Rangers in the Victorian under-16 championships in January – taking 4/13 in a match against the Mallee Murray region – and is determined to make the under-17 state side next summer.
As for his second season with the Panthers, Wilcock has a simple objective.
“My goal is to try and play the first game and then just stay in the team for as long as I can,” he said.