Travis Dean has produced an astonishing debut for the Victorian Bushrangers in the Sheffield Shield.
The supremely talented batsman from Footscray Edgewater handled the new pink ball with ease, producing centuries in both innings of the Bushrangers’ nine-wicket win over Queensland in a four-day clash last week.
Dean carried his bat in both digs, finishing with 154 not out off 279 balls in the first and 109 not out off 221 balls in the second to become an instant hit with Victorian cricket fans.
The 23-year-old opening batsman was the first Bushranger since Wayne Phillips back in 1988 to score a century on debut and even hit the winning runs.
A greenkeeper at the Werribee Park Golf Club before winning his Bushrangers contract, Dean became only the seventh player in first-class cricket to make triple-figure scores in both innings of his debut game.
The former Werribee junior was the first player to achieve the feat in Sheffield Shield history.
Dean played for Werribee in sub-district cricket before crossing to Footscray Edgewater.
He is the son of Werribee life member Jeff Dean and younger brother of Matt and Shaun, who are dominating in the Tigers’ first XI.
Meanwhile, Footscray Edgewater’s clash with Casey-South Melbourne hangs in the balance in Premier Cricket.
On a rain-affected day, the Bulldogs recovered from a perilous position to post 8-196 in 68 overs and will continue to bat into the second day on Saturday at Casey Fields.
Minus Dean, the Bulldogs top order was unsettled, at one point being 3-1.
A gritty showing from English import Dan Hodgson, who batted 136 minutes and faced 95 balls for a patient 37, breathed life into the Dogs’ innings, though it was still in huge trouble on 7-69 when he was dismissed.
But the Bulldogs struck gold in the form of lower order pair Ben Green (75 off 158) and Lucas Dredge (44 off 69), who combined for 107 for the eighth-wicket partnership.
Green remains at the crease with new recruit Alex Hewet (13 not out).
Meanwhile, Cricket Victoria has ruled out a Premier Cricket expansion to 20 clubs in the forseeable future. Werribee, Melton and Plenty Valley put in strong submissions to join the state’s top cricket competition after an opening looked set to become available.
