Brandon Crosbie, young man with a flurry. Picture: Gary Warrick
THE Blacktown Warriors are having their most successful Sydney grade cricket season and Brandon Crosbie is one of the players responsible.
The club is ninth in the club championship with their highest-ever pointscore and four rounds left to go.
The Warriors are in the running for the finals in most grades and the A W Green and Poidevin-Gray Shield teams both made the semi-finals for the first time in the one season.
And 14-year-old Crosbie is a part of it all, as a Green Shield and fourth grade team member.
So are Dylan Bent, Matthew Novak and Jordan Gauchi.
Fast bowlers Bent and Novak finished first and third in the Green Shield averages and have been picked in the City first and seconds respectively to play NSW Country.
Openers Crosbie and Gauchi announced their futures when they both scored centuries as Blacktown chased down 221 in the Green Shield quarter final against Northern District.
There are now plenty singing Crosbie's praises.
"He dominated in fifth grade, so we brought him into fourth grade, where he is the youngest player," said Warriors secretary and fourth grade captain Matt Mortimer of the left-hander and wicketkeeper.
"He's already scored a 40 and 50.
"He's a quiet, well-spoken young fellow and we're very pleased to have him."
Then there is Ian Gill, his coach at Westfield Sports High School.
"Brandon has plenty of ability and is a very level-headed young boy," Gill said.
Brandon said he was happy with his progress.
"I have always wanted to play grade but I thought it would be when I was 15 or 16," Brandon said.
"My goal is to one day play first grade."
Brandon's father Lindsay played second grade with Fairfield Liverpool and the son started cricket at eight.
"My dad was a wicketkeeper and he has taught me plenty of things about keeping," Brandon said.
"My dad has taught me about keeping to spinners up at the stumps, how to get down low, and don't grab for the ball."
And he put in a good word for mum Sharon and her encouragement and his coach, Blacktown first grader Rohit Ramanathan .
"Rohit is teaching me about my approach to batting," Brandon said.
"He has improved my run scoring off my pads."
Crosbie came through Blacktown juniors, then the junior representative teams and into grade.
He's also a member of the Cricket NSW youth academy squad.
Blacktown has put its faith in youth this season, from first grade down.
And Crosbie's individual progress is one the Warriors want to see every summer and in every player.