Underrated Success of the CA XI

[Torz]

The CA XI gets a bad wrap.

For it’s short tenure in the domestic one day competition, it was seen as an easybeat, a kids club and ultimately a pet project for Greg Chappell to hang his hat on.

But having rediscovered some highlights the other day of them competing in the one day cup from a few years ago, what struck me were the number of familiar names. Many of which who have gone on to play for higher honours.

​

Player​	2015/16​	2016/17​	2017/18​	Played for Australia​
Riley Ayre​	X​	​	​	​
James Bazley​	X​	X​	​	​
Will Bosisto​	X​	X​	​	​
Hilton Cartwright​	X​	​	​	X​
Matt Dixon​	X​	​	​	​
Seb Gotch​	X​	​	​	​
Alex Gregory​	X​	​	​	​
Marcus Harris​	X​	​	​	X​
Liam Hatcher​	X​	X​	​	​
Ryan Lees​	X​	X​	​	​
Jimmy Peirson​	X​	​	​	​
Matt Short​	X​	X​	​	X​
Mitch Swepson​	X​	​	​	X​
Jack Wildermuth​	X​	​	​	X​
Xavier Bartlett​	​	X​	​	X​
Jake Carder​	​	X​	X​	​
Brendan Doggett​	​	X​	​	​
Ryan Gibson​	​	X​	​	​
Sam Grimwade​	​	X​	​	​
David Grant​	​	X​	X​	​
Sam Harper​	​	X​	​	​
Josh Inglis​	​	X​	​	X​
Josh Lalor​	​	X​	​	​
Arjun Nair​	​	X​	​	​
Tom O’Donnell​	​	X​	​	​
Jason Sangha​	​	X​	​	​
Param Uppal​	​	​	X​	​
Clint Hinchliffe​	​	​	X​	​
Beau Webster​	​	​	X​	​
Ben Pengelly​	​	​	X​	​
Jono Merlo​	​	​	X​	​
Mac Wright​	​	​	X​	​
Max Bryant​	​	​	X​	​
Harry Nielsen​	​	​	X​	​
Henry Thornton​	​	​	X​	​
Jackson Coleman​	​	​	X​	​
Mark Steketee​	​	​	X​	​
Dan Fallins​	​	​	X​	​
Matt Kuhnemann​	​	​	X​	X​
Charlie Stobo​	​	​	X​	​

​

What’s evident from this is the earlier iterations proved more successful than later seasons, with the level of talent potentially tapering off somewhat.

Not many players played in multiple years with the side, as they had often used it as a platform to propel themselves in their state side the following year.

Whilst it’s unlikely that the concept returns, there may have been more benefit to this experiment than first meets the eye. Exposing young talent to better cricket, forces them to rise to the challenge and become better. Are they going to win much, if at all? No. But are they going to learn more than sitting on the bench of their state side, biding their time for an opportunity? Absolutely.

For me, I wouldn’t mind seeing it return. This season it could give the likes of Harry Dixon, Hugh Weibgen or Mahli Beardman regular cricket at at advanced level.

 

[whatwhatsaywhat]

what number went on to play for state level cricket? bbl representation? international t20 franchise cricket?

cartwright, harris, swepson have already, and you'd expect inglis will go on to play test cricket for the country, which is a massive achievement

 

[Torz]

what number went on to play for state level cricket? bbl representation? international t20 franchise cricket?

cartwright, harris, swepson have already, and you'd expect inglis will go on to play test cricket for the country, which is a massive achievement

Still a regular at state level or BBL, that haven’t played for Australia:

James Bazley (QLD)
Liam Hatcher (NSW)
Jimmy Peirson (QLD)
Brendan Doggett (QLD/SA)
Sam Harper (VIC)
Jason Sangha (NSW/SA)
Beau Webster (TAS)
Jono Merlo (VIC)
Mac Wright (TAS)
Max Bryant (QLD)
Harry Nielsen (SA)
Henry Thornton (SA)
Mark Steketee (QLD)
Charlie Stobo (NSW/WA)

Had a semi-substantial stint at state level, but largely out of the system now:

Will Bosisto (WA/SA)
Seb Gotch (VIC)
Jake Carder (WA/SA)
Ryan Gibson (NSW/SA)
Arjun Nair (NSW)
David Grant (SA)
Josh Lalor (NSW/QLD)
Clint Hinchliffe (WA/VIC)
Jackson Coleman (VIC)
Dan Fallins (NSW)

May have made a brief appearance for their state, but didn’t kick on:

Riley Ayre (NSW) - Left arm orthodox spinner
Matt Dixon (WA) - Right arm fast-medium
Alex Gregory (SA) - Right arm medium all-rounder
Ryan Lees (TAS) - Right arm fast-medium
Sam Grimwade (VIC) - Right arm off spin
Tom O’Donnell (VIC) - Left arm medium
Param Uppal (NSW) - Right hand bat (part time off spin)
Ben Pengelly (SA) - Left arm medium all-rounder

 

[corbies]

I think there is more than reasonable chance that all those players have similar levels of success even if they didn't play for the CA XI.

 

[ioppolo]

Jeez I remember Arjun Nair. Didn't his action get cited and that was the end of that?