Most kids don’t have to be restrained from the cricket net in the height of summer, or the frigidity of winter. But Sam Davis, 15, is not most kids.
The young cricket tragic from Carinya has made a habit of scoring runs, forcing selectors hands everywhere to bump him up into a higher grade and representative honours.
Monday was no different in round 1 of the Douglas Shield, when he helped his school to a 22-run win over cross-town rivals Calrossy with a typical captain’s knock in the first innings.
It was a job that required an experienced hand, with Davis being required just three overs into the contest with the team teetering at 2/10 thanks to the Calrossy quicks making full use of the new ball.
It was ultimately a combination of classy strokes mixed with power hitting that showcased why he’s been picked in City United’s first XI, arguably the favourites for this year’s Tamworth 1st Grade Comp.
It took a very sharp catch from Harrison Hamilton behind the stumps off the bowling of Max Judd to finally dislodge him for 60.
After Carinya kicked their score to 9/155 with the help of some lusty hitting from Mac Sinclair (58*), Davis mustered his troops over 36 overs to inevitably strangle the life out of a gallant Calrossy run chase, bowling them out for 134.
As much as he enjoys local cricket, it’s had nothing on the standard he’s met in the last 12 months.
On the back of a growing list of centuries in school and grade cricket, Davis was selected last season for the Central Northern Bradman Cup side to compete in the NSW under 16 Country Championships, with a year of eligibility still up his sleeve.
“Bradman cup was a couple of elevator levels above Tamworth second grade,” he laughs.
The annual competition brings together the best sixteen-year-olds in the state, outside of Sydney, and is widely regarded as one of the toughest underage comps in the country.
Players who perform put their name in the hat for potential selection in NSW under 17s squads, a notoriously difficult door to get the foot in.
The Central Northern zone has made a habit of producing quality cricketers through this pathway, including the likes of Matt Everett and James Psarakis (Randwick Petersham & Western Suburbs 1st grade respectively), and of course the Bendemeer Bullet Josh Hazlewood (Australia).
Davis was by no means out of his depth, however.
He impressed so much across the week that he was selected in the NSW Country team of the tournament, and shortly after had several emails from Sydney Grade Clubs clamouring for his signature to play Green Shield, the Sydney Metropolitan equivalent this season.
He has since played for Gordon twice, hitting 42* in a warmup match against Shore and scoring 38 to go with three wickets against Kings.
When quizzed on what it’s like to have such a whirlwind year, Davis is quick to deflect the spotlight.
“My jobs pretty easy when the coaches and players just tell me what they need.”
He’s had that guidance right the way through he says, with Damien Henry at City United, Adam Jones at Northern Inland and Tamworth Rep, and Luke Knight and Aaron Mahoney at NSW Pathways all providing support on and off the field.
“He’s had a lot of blokes be really dedicated and with him and I know he appreciates that,” said proud father, Josh.
Like his son, Josh hints at something bigger than the cricket going on.
“It’s been exciting, but I guess for me, probably the thing that I’ll be focused on more is just who he’s turning into as a young man.”
“The cricket’s great, but in the end, I just want to see him be a man of character, and at this stage, that seems to be the thing that’s happening for him.”
To the surprise of nobody, Davis concluded his school sport week on Thursday with triple figures against Parkes Christian School, in a remorseless display of dominance in the CSSA knockout.
After already nailing a Green Shield spot for Gordon, a competition which will no longer clash with Bradman cup as it has done in years past, Davis will be hoping to double up and make this season’s Bradman Cup side again.
If he does, he could become one of the first Central Northern cricketers to ever play the two comps in the same season.
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