Daniel Drew - Australia - Bowling Allrounder

A batting all-rounder who is known to tweak off-breaks, Daniel Drew's ticket to fame came when he won the 2016-17 Bradman Gold Medal for his brilliant performances in Under-17 Shield Cricket. Drew was first Eagles player to receive the coveted award in 29 years which makes the feat all the more laudable. His exploits in the middle order were the cornerstone of the Western Eagles' success across all formats. Apart from putting up a few vital contributions with the bat, especially in the shortest formats, Drew was also effective with the ball.

Drew's average as a bowler in first grade cricket is a shade above 17 - exceptional numbers for a bowler, let alone an all-rounder. He also has a 6-fer to his name. He also excelled in the Futures League for South Australia, boasting of a batting average in the 40s and a bowling average in the early 20s. The excellent performances in both departments across formats tempted South Australia to hand him a rookie contract for the 2017-18 season. Contract elevation for Travis Head and Adam Zampa to Cricket Australia meant that the State could afford to include a few faces and Drew was among the three newbies picked. He has also been picked by the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL. An excellent find, Drew is predicted to be a star in the making.

By Hariprasad Sadanandan