He's the 17-year-old ACT Comets rookie who has an "infectious" appetite for scoring runs.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The rise of Weston Creek Molonglo teenager Kevin Jacob will continue when he makes his Futures League debut against Queensland at Manuka Oval starting Monday.
Jacob earned high praise from veteran teammate Cade Brown, the second-highest leading run-scorer in Cricket ACT first-grade history anointing him as a star of the future.
"His commitment to the game and passion to want to score runs is infectious and he will be a successful player," Brown said.
"I'm looking forward to telling my kids and grandkids that I played with him.
"He's got a bit of Bill Lawry about him, a hard-working guy who's willing to bat time."
Before he switches to four-day cricket, Jacob will be in 50-over mode when Weston Creek takes on Wests/UC and Ginninderra in a John Gallop Cup double-header on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Jacob's elevation to the Comets has come at the expense of his Weston Creek teammate, Jono Dean.
The Comets and Adelaide Strikers opener was a surprising omission, but paid the price for averaging 28 over the past two seasons in the Futures League.
Dean has put his own disappointment aside to support Jacob.
"The way he's got around Kevin Jacob, who is effectively the guy who is replacing him, is an absolute credit to himself and we can't wait to walk out with Jono tomorrow," Brown said.
"He's been great since turning up at the club and we're rapt to have him on board."
Brown is 75 runs from reaching 9000 runs and is closing in on Peter Solway's record.
"I was lucky enough to play with Sol and don't consider myself to be in the bracket that Peter was," Brown said.
"He was such a great player when Canberra cricket was at its absolute best and I would hate to see how many runs he would make these days with the great pitches we play on and the bats we use.
"If and when that was to ever happen, that wouldn't change my opinion that Sol is the best batter that I've seen in Canberra."
SATURDAY: GALLOP CUP: Ginninderra v Queanbeyan at Jamison Oval. Weston Creek Molonglo v Wests/UC at Stirling Oval. North Canberra Gungahlin v ANU at Harrison 2. Eastlake v Tuggeranong at Kingston Oval. All games at 11am.
SUNDAY: GALLOP CUP: Weston Creek Molonglo v Ginninderra at Stirling Oval. Queanbeyan v ANU at Freebody. Eastlake v North Canberra Gungahlin. Tuggeranong v Wests/UC at Chisholm. All games at 11am.
