All-rounder set to take on world

Ipswich all-rounder Sam Fellows was shocked at his selection in the Australian under 15 cricket team to play the West Indies next summer.

Contributed

ONE bowler had a lethal bouncer batsmen couldn’t get their heads out of the way of.

Another made his leg-breaks dip and turn sharply in both directions.

Sam Fellows’ secret weapon at last week’s national under-15 cricket championships was just as effective.

“Just my dad,” the Ipswich all-rounder said of the key to his 10 wickets which helped earn him selection in the Australian under-15 team.

“At the start of each over he was down the other end telling me what ball to bowl.

“He always inspires me.”

Needless to say, dad Richard was ecstatic to hear his son selected in the Australian team following the tournament in Campbelltown, NSW.

He had left before the presentation ceremony to drive back to Queensland and had to be phoned with the news.

Sam’s mother Melissa was there for the moment and Sam was well aware of her presence.

“Mum was a mess,” the Raceview 14-year-old said.

“When my name was called out, you could hear her scream.”

Sam’s selection came despite his Queensland team coming fifth at the tournament.

That result was not a true indication of the team, however, with Queensland only losing to eventual finalists NSW and Victoria.

In Queensland’s first game, they were rattled by one of the NSW opening quicks who hit Queensland’s opener in the head first ball and went on to take 6-9.

“He was a good bowler,” Sam said.

“I got a few in the helmet.

“The first ball I was flat out seeing it because my eyes weren’t open to it.

“He was coming in off a huge run and you didn’t know when he was going to bowl a bouncer.”

In their second match, Queensland had to face Victoria and were guilty of complicating matters with the ball.

“We were bowling two sides of the wicket,” he said.

“We tried to do too many things and trying to bowl different areas.”

It was a recipe for disaster that Queensland subsequently learnt from, winning their final three games.

“It was a really high standard,” Sam said.

“There was one kid picked in the Australian team who was 13.

“He was spinning the ball both ways and getting dip on the ball.”

Sam proved he was up to the same standards.

In five matches batting at number five, he scored 126 runs at an average of 25 and took 10 wickets at an average of 11.

His best were 44 against Victoria and 4-25 against NSW.

Sam now has nine months to prepare to take on the touring West Indies side in NSW and Victoria at the end of the year as part of the Australian under-15 team.