Cricket Victoria is pleased to unveil The Targeted Rookie Program as part of its strategy to strengthen investment in emerging Victorian talent with a focus on achieving sustained success across all formats for years to come.
The new high-performance initiative will further bolster Cricket Victoria’s connection with Premier Cricket, providing emerging players with targeted individualised programming to enhance the development of the next generation of Victorian rookies.
This will involve tailored individual plans for all identified players, targeted skill development, analysis and leadership sessions, training and education opportunities with the Victorian senior squad, while also working closely with our Melbourne Stars and Renegades T20 teams and performance managers.
Furthermore, rookies will be provided the opportunity to work closely alongside Cricket Victoria’s specialised sports science and sports medical teams, educating and preparing them for the rigors of playing professional cricket.
Players will also receive the opportunity to play in meaningful T20 games, U19’s and rookie matches and represent Victoria’s 2nd XI, should their performances warrant selection.
Eight players have been selected in the program including Harkirat Bajwa (19, right-arm off spin) and Geelong’s Ollie Peake (17, left-hand batsman), who both played important roles in Australia clinching the U19 World Cup in South Africa earlier this year.
Captain of last year’s U19 Victoria Country squad, Bajwa joins Melbourne Cricket Club teammate Christian Howe (19, all-rounder), while Farzan Chowna (20, right-hand batsman) and Callum Stow have also been named.
Stow has been rewarded for a stunning breakout Premier Cricket campaign for Geelong, selected as the program’s second spinner.
Casey South Melbourne speedster Harry Hoekstra leads a talented pace bowling core alongside Northcote’s Archie Lalor and St Kilda’s Tom Paddington, who represented Victoria Metro during this year’s U17 National Championships in Ballarat.
Cricket Victoria’s Head of Male Cricket, David Hussey, believes the new program will provide outstanding opportunities for emerging players to further their development, supporting the state’s ambitions for sustained success for years to come.
“The Targeted Rookie Program is great opportunity to enhance the development of some of Victoria’s most exciting young talent,” said Hussey.
“The age profile of our current Victorian playing list has a significant number of players in the mid-twenties meaning we have a great core of players who will hopefully be key figures for Victorian cricket for years to come.
“This initiative is important so that we can keep topping up that core group with young talent, so that our Victorian, Renegades and Stars teams can have sustained success for years to come.
“The Targeted Rookie Program certainly does not discount more established players that are consistently performing strongly in Premier Cricket. Those players who continue to excel in Premier Cricket and have the traits to play professional cricket will be rewarded with opportunities for selection in the Victorian 2nd XI and T20 academies.”
The Targeted Rookie Program 2024/2025
Harkirat Bajwa, Melbourne CC
Farzan Chowna, Melbourne CC
Harry Hoekstra, Casey South Melbourne CC
Christian Howe, Melbourne CC
Archie Lalor, Northcote CC
Tom Paddington, St Kilda CC
Ollie Peake, Geelong CC
Callum Stow, Geelong CC