Talking about if "you are good enough, you're old enough" I just wanted to take the opportunity to raise the profile of one young up and coming cricketer.
His name is Sam Heazlett and he has just turned 20. The bad news is that he's an Aussie.
I came across Sam this summer as he was the overseas pro for Bexley CC. Sam didn't just turn out for the Club, he helped on the ground and with coaching the colts including my son, Seb. You could not wish to meet a more rounded young man - a total credit to his mum and dad who are both teachers back in Aus.
Sam came to Bexley from the same club, Redlands Tigers, as Jimmy Peirson who was Bexley's pro in 2013 (Jimmy has been playing for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash). Sam, again as Jimmy did, played for Australia U19s and scored 160 this March in a Test against England U19s.
Whilst Sam's Kent Premier League average of 42.82 was decent if not exceptional (overall average for the Club 64.07) it was more the nature of those knocks and one in particular that caught the eye. It wasn't even a League game - it was against Lashings for the Leigh College representative team.
Now anyone who has ever seen Lashings play knows that they play to win. But Sam took the bowling attack apart. And yes it was made up of former internationals who, perhaps, one could argue had seen better days.
But it did include one Tino Best. One very angry Tino Best who had been playing Test cricket as recently as 18 months earlier. So irate was Tino, one of his bouncer's at Sam not only cleared the keeper but only just fell short of the sight screen - he was bowling as fast as he possibly could. Sam went on to make 150 in probably no more than 15 overs. But the story doesn't end there.
Already the recipient of Queensland's Rookie Of The Year award, Sam made his first class debut this weekend for the State against Tasmania - against an attack including ex-internationals Ben Hilfenhaus, Jackson Bird, Xavier Doherty and James Faulkner.
In the first innings Sam amassed 129 off 248 balls. In the second he scored a vital 78 off 87 thus helping Queensland to their first win of the season by just 3 wickets - and securing the Man Of The Match award in his debut first-class game.
So remember the name Sam Heazlett because one day he will play for Australia. But don't be fooled by his easy going and gentle nature. Because underneath that there is so much more.
Sam Heazlett is currently making his Big Bash debut for Brisbane Heat debut alongside the other lad to play for Bexley CC, Jimmy Peirson, against Hobart Hurricanes.
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