Bernadine Phelan
BRIAGOLONG’S Austin Anlezark, 17, has had a whirlwind summer of cricket, culminating in a call-up to play in the Australia Under 19 side in the Test and one-day international (ODI) series against England in Brisbane last month.
Australia defeated England 4-2 in the series.
The right-armed fast-medium paceman opened the bowling in the second Test, taking the crucial first wicket of England’s opening bat, and following with two more wickets over the four-day Test.
He also opened the bowling in the first ODI, taking a wicket in each of his first two overs.
Regularly bowling over 135km/h, Anlezark has been described as the fastest Under 19 seamer in Victoria, with a fluid style similar to Australian pacemen Pat Cummins and Jhye Richardson.
Anlezark had his own cheer squad in Brisbane: his parents Sharn and Corey Anlezark, sister Maicey and grandfather Russell Wain were on the boundary every day in support.
His former Boisdale-Briagolong and now Richmond CC clubmate, Ed Phelan-Penson, also flew up for the Test.
They were joined at the grounds by former Maffra resident and former Richmond CC clubmate, Bayden Dowsett.
Dowsett’s family, Tash and Matt – who now live in Brisbane – added their support.
Anlezark’s parents say it has been an incredible roller-coaster for the teenager.
Just over a year ago, he was selected in the Victoria Country squad to train for potential selection to play in the national championships in Adelaide in December 2022.
His cousin, Shaymus Wain and Phelan-Penson headed to Adelaide to watch that competition.
Photo: Cricket Australia
While Anlezark acquitted himself well in the nationals, his mother Sharn said they were still surprised when he got the call-up into the Australia side to play England.
“We’re so proud of everything he’s achieving – he’s certainly put in the hard work, but he’s very humble and reckons he has been lucky,” she said.
“We’re still pinching ourselves.”
The next steps will be to train with Cricket Victoria over the off-season, with the chance of being named in the squad to head to England in August for the remaining games in the series.
For the past two seasons, Anlezark has been playing with Premier Cricket side Richmond, along with fellow former-Boisdale-Briagolong teammates, Mason Annear and Ed Phelan-Penson, as well as Austin Bauer from Longford.
Training and playing Premier Cricket, along with his Victorian squad commitments, has meant travelling more than 1500 kilometres a week.
“We don’t mind the time and travel when it’s something the boys are so passionate about,” Austin’s mother said.
The group has been quite successful over the years – the three players won an Under 14 premiership with Boisdale-Briagolong and, with Austin Bauer, have played together at representative level for Sale-Maffra Cricket Association.
Together they won Under 14 and Under 15 Junior Country Week titles in their last representative games as juniors, winning the Gippsland Cricket League Under 18 series, captained by Annear.Anlezark played one match in that series, but was understandably excused when the call-up came to join Australia.
Anlezark has returned from Brisbane and since re-joined his Year 12 classmates at Maffra Secondary College.
