By Nick Creely
Rising cricket talent Evan Allaway and determination go hand-in-hand.
The Casey-South Melbourne and Korumburra product knows no other way but to strive hard in everything he does, remain loyal and humble to those around him, and to never forget where he came from.
It’s why the country kid with an abundance of raw talent is one to well and truly keep an eye on.
The left arm quick has been selected for Vic Country’s Under 17 squad at this year’s Under 17 National Championships in Mackay, Queensland, and beginning on Monday 30 September.
The youngster – while proud of his achievements so far as one of 28 kids in the entire state selected for both the Country and Metro squads – knows that up until he is to depart, it’s about hard work, staying grounded and focusing on things within his control.
“For me it’s more mentally preparing to play different conditions, but ill focus on me and keep my self-belief, and do what I can for the team,” he said.
“I’ll focus on my skill and try and bring my peak performance for the team and the tournament.”
Allaway explained that the process of making the squad was incredibly difficult, but he was proud he was able to experience all that a professional cricket environment has to offer.
“I said to Mum right after the first training session after I shook Michael Beer’s hand, and got my name tag from him, ‘I just realised I shook Michael Beer’s hand, who played for the Melbourne Stars’, and you’re weighing up those things, and I walked in, and it was so professional, everything was centimetre perfect, and it was good for my development,” he said.
“As much as it was agonisingly long, it was rewarding for me, and even if I didn’t make it, it was rewarding to just be in that environment and learn from those coaches.
“When I looked at the squad, I saw a few kids that I played in the Academy team with, and you look at the talent, and think ‘why’s my name here?’ but you realise, I’m part of this.”
Allaway – who prides himself on consistency and a game modelled around being as team orientated as possible – has risen through the Casey-South Melbourne ranks in the last two years after wrestling with his love for football.
“I gave up footy about two years ago, that was the year after I didn’t make the Under 15 squad, and I said to Mum and Dad that I wanted to give it up and focus on my cricket, and a guy from Casey, the bowling coach at the time, got me to do personal training, so that started out, and now 18 months later, made the squad for Vic,” he said.
“I knew where most of passions where and that with cricket, and I was weighing it up, and a guy at the cricket club told me ‘footy grounds are getting harder these days, and knee injuries are so common’, so it was a hard decision because I liked playing footy with my mates on a Sunday morning, but for the future me, it was beneficial to leave.
“I started in the Damien Fleming Academy about three years ago, so I got selected for Under 14 Gippsland Pride, and the coaches there told me to come down to Casey for this academy, and just kind of got into the system down there.
“When I first got there it’s probably hard to explain, I found it really professional, because country cricket you have your good days and your bad, but at Casey it’s about little moments, winning those in games and that’s what I found really challenging, but also really exciting.”
Allaway said he – and his family – absolutely love the environment created down at Casey Fields, describing it as being like a family.
“The club culture and how they welcomed me is great, whenever you walk in there, everyone asks how I’m going, and always talk to Mum and Dad, it’s a welcoming club, and that’s what’s happened in the last couple of years with coaches and that,” he said.
“When I first joined the main group, you just feel part of the club, it’s just great to be there.”
For Evan, he believes a lot of his development over recent years into an eye-catching young quick with plenty of scope from improvement comes down to the unwavering support of his coaches and teammates down at Casey.
“The thirds captain (Mat Pearson), I leant on him a fair bit last year getting to know him, not just with the skills of the game, but the mental side of it, and he has supported me – 12 months ago, I would be really struggling, but now I feel mentally stronger, and able to withstand things in Premier Cricket,” he said.
“When I first came in, I was an Under 16 cricketer and played just a few A Grade games for Korumburra, so I didn’t have much experience playing adults, and playing under extreme pressure, so I’ve become stronger.
“I’ve had a lot to do with Brian (Keogh), he went to the trial days for Victoria, and gave me some great support us Casey kids – I’ve been talking with him about the season, and what goals we’re looking towards for me which has been great.”
The quick showed glimpses of his talent last season in the lower grades for the Swans, taking 4/18 against St Kilda in the thirds. He hopes, that it can really be a catalyst for pushing up the grades this season.
“It was really good, that whole week leading into that St Kilda game, I was unsure whether I’d play because I was sure I was leaving on the Sunday for Gippsland Pride, and I ended up playing it, I didn’t want to let the team down,” he said.
“The reason why I took four wasn’t because I had the abilities, it was because I had the support from those guys, those leaders in the club – there’s no one individual that leads our club, it’s a group that strive to get better, which is a great club culture.
“This year, I’m looking to push into the twos and start to push getting into the higher grades, because I’ve been bowling all pre-season in the ones nets, and I enjoy the higher standard of cricket to better batsman.
“My goal is to play twos cricket and perform at that level, not just make the team and play, I want to perform as well.”
But wherever Evan’s cricket travels take him, he will never forget where he came from. He’s a Korumburra boy, and ticked off one of his lifelong goals only last year, captaining his home club to a memorable Under 16 premiership with mates he grew up with.
“One thing I wanted to do before I left my home club, because I knew I was going to go somewhere when I went to Casey, was leave my mark on the club, so everyone can look at it, and say this kid is from Korumburra,” he said.
“My goal was to win the Under 16 flag, because we’d been waiting three years and lost three semi-finals, but it was more to have that in my own back pocket, and for the club to look back on it.
“When I first walked in, they were a group of football players, and we’ve had this good group of kids come through and we focused on it, and I knew last year was our year, and I wanted to be the leader.”
