Bathurst players star across NSW Premier Cricket grades this season

Some of Bathurst District Cricket Association’s leading under 20s over recent seasons, such as Nic Broes, Ben Mitchell, Luke Powell, Tanvir Singh, Ryan Peacock and Callum Hotham have enjoyed time against senior opponents.

Then there’s older players like Ben Trevor-Jones, Nick Shurmer and Max Hope who have progressed through the grades towards the top of the competition thanks to their prolonged exposure to high-level cricket. Bathurst’s most recent test cricket representative Trent Copeland still enjoys a smattering of grade games.

Big performances have been easy to find across the grades this season for that group, most notable being Trevor-Jones’ 124 in first grade for Sydney University and Copeland’s 5-50 for St George.

Hotham hasn’t taken long in making a second grade impact for Western Suburbs.

The wicketkeeper has scored a century and three half centuries already this season to cement his place as opener.

Broes and Singh earned a promotion to Western Suburbs’ second grade side for the most recent round of the competition, giving Bathurst a rare triple appearance in a single Sydney team.

Keep up to date with the latest sports news by clicking here.

Trevor-Jones said it’s been excellent to see so many player making the journey east.

“Callum’s knocking the door down for a first grade spot, for sure. He’s had a century and a couple of half centuries,” he said.

“A lot of those younger players have come to Sydney and done quite well. If you’re starting in second or third you’re doing really well and then to score runs and take wickets that’s a great sign for Bathurst cricket.

“Hopefully it motivates everyone around cricket circles in Bathurst to keep producing these good young players.”

Trevor-Jones and Hope’s uni teams have been in excellent touch.

First grade have jumped back onto the top of the table, having suffered just a single loss thus far, while Hope’s second grade men have won all eight of their games – one of them being an outright success.

“Our first and second grade squads are playing really well at the moment,” Trevor-Jones said.

“Our second grade team is filled with guys who have played first grade and done well or with players who are very close. That’s been reflected in their performances.

“In turn, that’s driving first grade as well. We fell off the ball for a short period there with a draw and a loss but we got back on the horse against Mosman and we’ve managed to jump back up to first.”

NSW Premier Cricket resumes on January 12.