Photo Credit: Cricket NSW
Twelve of the best young cricketers in NSW have been selected as 2021-22 Basil Sellers Scholars.
Among the players awarded a scholarship are eleven first-time scholars, including all seven male recipients who have been selected in the Australian Under 19 World Cup Preliminary Squad for the Youth World Cup to be held in the West Indies in January 2022.
Northern Districts’ cricketers Aidan Cahill (all-rounder), Corey Miller (batter) and Lachlan Shaw (wicketkeeper/batter) are joined by the versatile top-order batsman Joel Davies from Manly Warringah and bowling all-rounder, Will Salzmann who represents Campbelltown-Camden. Davies is the younger brother of rising Sydney Thunder star Ollie Davies. Rounding out this year’s male scholars are fast bowling duo Liam Doddrell from Penrith and Central Coast’s Nicholas Toohey.
Riverina fast/medium bowler Ebony Hoskin was named player of the final when representing ACT/NSW Country during last year’s round robin tournament against Victoria and NSW Metro, while talented all-rounder Lauren Kua, who plays for Gordon, has captained NSW Metro for her age group over the past two years. Northern Districts all-rounder Shivani Mehta has been a member of the NSW Metro U19 squad for the past three seasons and represented her state at two National Championships.
Having been recruited by Sydney Thunder for WBBLl07, all-rounder Jessica Davidson from Tamworth in the Central North receives her second Basil Seller Scholarship, with Callee Black from Bathurst is this year’s youngest recipient. At just 14 years of age, the Indigenous left-arm fast bowler, who is also prolific with the bat, was named Penrith Cricket Club’s female player of the year for the past two seasons.
All twelve players have progressed through the Cricket NSW Pathway system, representing either NSW Metropolitan or ACT/NSW Country at various Underage National Championships.
In its 16th year, the program awards scholarships to promising male and female cricketers under 19 and supports scholars and their families with expenses such as education, travel and the cost of relocation from regional areas.
In addition, the Scholars are also offered a two-year Team Kookaburra equipment sponsorship, through the generous support of Kookaburra, one of Cricket NSW’s longstanding partners.
Founder and philanthropist Basil Sellers AM said each of the twelve Scholars have a great opportunity to pursue their dream of becoming elite cricketers.
“It’s been a challenging 18 months for the state’s best emerging cricketers but it has also been a character-building time for these twelve recipients in their pursuit to represent their state and country at the highest level,” Mr Sellers said.
“The perfect cricketing all-rounder is not just someone who performs in the middle but understand the importance of personal development away from the sport arena through education.
“By their actions, they are revered as role models and leaders amongst their peers, while conducting themselves in a manner which is in keeping with the spirit of our great game.
“I look forward to following with keen interest the progress of this year’s recipients and encourage all to seize upon the support and opportunities they have been afforded as they look to follow in the footpaths of previous scholarship holders who have gone on to not only represent, but captain Australia.”
The eleven new scholars take the total number to be awarded with a Basil Sellers scholarship since its inception in 2006-07 to 144. Of these, 20 scholars have gone on to represent Australia, including WBBL players Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Stella Campbell and Hannah Darlington, and Test stars Pat Cummins. Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith.
Cricket NSW Chief Executive Lee Germon thanked Mr Sellers for his significant contribution to the development of the state’s finest cricketers.
“Basel Sellers is one of Australian sports most generous philanthropists and his ongoing support of the state’s emerging talent is not only appreciated by the recipients and their families but by the wider NSW cricket community,” Germon said.
“His incredible generosity has supported the careers of over 140 of NSW and Australia’s finest cricketers, whilst reinforcing the importance of not only being great athletes but better people.
“On behalf of Cricket NSW, I would like to thank Basil for his unwavering commitment and support of the state’s elite pathway and of cricket in general.”
Basil Sellers Scholars 2021-22
| Name | Hometown / Zone or District Cricket Club | |
| Callee Black | Fast bowler | Bathurst, Western |
| Aidan Cahill | All-rounder | Lambton, Northern Districts |
| Jessica Davidson* | All-rounder | Oxley Vale, Central North |
| Joel Davies | Batter | Curl Curl, Manly Warringah |
| Liam Doddrell | Fast bowler | St Clair, Penrith |
| Ebony Hoskin | Medium/Fast bowler | Howlong, Riverina |
| Lauren Kua | All-rounder | Cherrybrook, Gordon |
| Shivani Mehta | All-rounder | Killara, Northern Districts |
| Corey Miller | Batter | Mt Colah, Northern Districts |
| Will Salzmann | Bowling all-rounder | Camden, Campbelltown-Camden |
| Lachlan Shaw | Wicketkeeper/batter | North Rocks, Northern Districts |
| Nicholas Toohey | Fast bowler | Holgate, Central Coast |
*Second Basil Sellers Scholarship
The 20 scholars to have represented Australia:
Sean Abbott
Stella Campbell
Nicola Carey
Lauren Cheatle
Patrick Cummins
Hannah Darlington
Ashleigh Gardner
Josh Hazlewood
Alyssa Healy
Phillip Hughes
Usman Khawaja
Nic Maddinson
Erin Osborne
Kurtis Patterson
Ellyse Perry
Gurinder Sandhu
Steven Smith
Naomi Stalenberg
Mitchell Starc
Adam Zampa
*Test players in bold
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions between Greater Sydney and Regional NSW, the annual presentation evening was held virtually at which Mr Sellers was able to speak to the scholars.
