Werribee youngster Thomas Duxson has been a cricketer in demand in the first quarter of 2015 and his busy schedule is set to continue throughout the World Cup.
The spinning all-rounder has risen to prominence for the Tigers in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association, making the giant leap from a little-known third XI player last summer to be settled in the firsts this season on the back of some impressive showings.
The decision to promote Duxson to the Tigers’ top side for the opening match of the season was the first in a long line of surprises to come his way this summer.
“We got news at the start of the year that it was just the ones and the fourths playing on the first weekend of the season, so I thought I’d be playing the next week in the one-dayer for the seconds or the thirds,” he told Star Weekly.
“I was in Horsham with [brother] Nick and dad said I got a call up to the firsts, which was a really big shock.”
Duxson has not looked out of place in the Tigers’ first XI.
His statistics – 104 runs at 26 and 10 wickets at 30 – don’t smack you in the face, but the value of the contributions at important times in matches is not lost on captain Shaun Dean.
Duxson seems to find a way to get involved in games, be it lengthy spells of bowling in the heat to take the pressure off the Tigers’ quicks, valuable late-order runs or in the field, where he has four catches and three unassisted run-outs.
Someone at Cricket Victoria must be watching and taking note because Duxson has been invited to be a net bowler for international World Cup sides when they travel to Melbourne.
The Hoppers Crossing resident will bowl at the English, South African, Sri Lankan and Indian cricket teams during the World Cup, something most cricket-obsessed teenagers only get to do with a remote control in hand while playing video games.
“It’s the stuff you sort of dream of as a kid,” Duxson said.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get to bowl to them.
“Maybe one day I’ll get to bowl against them in an actual game; that’s a dream.
“I took the opportunity with both hands and it’s something I might never get to do again.”
Duxson would not have been chosen if Cricket Victoria didn’t think he was up for the challenge.
The rising star, who captained Western Spirit at a junior representative carnival last month, expects to see the odd ball flying back over his head, but he will do his utmost to limit those occasions and give the international players a solid workout for their matches.
“I’m always up for a challenge,” Duxson says. “These guys are world-class players and probably will put me all over the park, but if I can bowl some good balls and maybe get a wicket, I’ll be pretty rapt.
“I can’t do anything more than bowl the way I bowl on the weekend.”
Duxson played his junior cricket at Hoppers Crossing and Werribee Juniors and has regularly been part of western suburbs under-age representative sides.
The year 11 student at Thomas Carr College comes from a cricket-mad family.
Dad Dave is vice-president of Werribee Cricket Club and his brothers have also donned the yellow and black cap.
It didn’t take long for Duxson to follow their footsteps to the Tigers, but the ascent to the firsts was quicker than expected.
He landed in the right situation, learning from some of the top sub-district players and taking advantage of the club’s knowledgeable coaches.
He receives priceless in-game advice from stars Heath Pritchard, who he regularly bats with in the middle order, and Tim O’Brien, another spinner in the team.
Coaches Ivo Havard and Jeff Dean have also been there for support.
“They’re roles models; they’ve played at a higher level and they’ve played firsts,” Duxson says.
“They’re guys to look up to at the club and the chance to play with them this year is a really big opportunity.”
David Dodemaide, the brother of Cricket Victoria chief executive Tony, also helped take his game to another level.
“He’s taught me the real craft of cricket and how to get the best out of myself,” Duxson says.
In recent years, the Tigers have been billed as one of the favourites to land the title but have failed to seal the deal.
Duxson is confident the side has what it takes to be a genuine contender in the finals.
“We’ve gone under the radar this year,” he said. “We’ve got a really good team and everyone gels well, so I think we can give it a really good shake.”
