ACT teenager Matt Condon will get the perfect chance to show why he's touted as a future Australian cricket star when he attempts to lead the Comets to a first-innings lead against Victoria in their Futures League match on Tuesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Condon is in the Australian under-18s development side that will have a training camp in April under Test great Greg Chappell.
Condon, 17, was the highest run-scorer in the Canberra first-grade competition last year and belted 66 for Wests-UC last weekend.
The Comets are 2-43 in their clash against the Victorian second XI at Chisholm Oval, with Condon set to get a chance to impress in the top order.
''It was an impressive effort from Matt last year, but he's had a bit of a tough time of it this season,'' Comets coach Mark Higgs said. ''We've chucked him in the deep end this year and it's been a bit tough.
''But it's fantastic for him to get noticed at that Australian level and we're looking for him to get some runs [on Tuesday].
''He's had some massive jumps … he's gone from school cricket to grade cricket to the Comets in a year and a half. It's a pretty steady climb, you can't expect him not to have hiccups.
''We just want him to learn on the run.''
The Comets rallied late against a Victorian side boasting spinners Fawad Ahmed and Jon Holland as well as former Queanbeyan star Aaron Ayre.
Victoria was 3-198 before Michael Spaseski's run out triggered a Comets resurgence late in the day and the visitors were all out for 253.
Ethan Bartlett and Cameron Suidgeest were impressive in their first games for the Comets, claiming 1-54 and 2-25 respectively.
Tom Rogers, Vele Dukoski and Michael Shaw took two wickets each.
Comets skipper Jono Dean then set about cutting into the deficit, belting 21 off 27 balls to be unbeaten at stumps.
''I didn't think we bowled that well,'' Higgs said. ''We didn't hit the right areas, but we still got the result and now it's about chasing down those runs.''
