Adelaide’s top junior cricketers to watch in 2025-26 revealed
The cricket season is in full swing and SA’s suburban competitions have been packed with young stars, so we’ve drawn from every competition to reveal Adelaide’s top junior boys to watch. See who made the cut.
SA’s cricket season is in full swing and a number of young junior stars have already impressed.
We’ve consulted local clubs from SACA junior competitions, the Adelaide Turf Cricket Association and the Adelaide and Suburban Cricket Association to list the junior boys aged 11-17 to watch.
Stay tuned next week for our top junior girls to watch.
If there is a junior boy you know who deserves to be recognised, email details and a photo to daniel.renfrey@news.com.au
Here is our list in alphabetical order.
JACK APPLETON
(Adelaide)
Undoubtedly a star on the rise, Appleton’s performances with the bat for Adelaide and the SA U17s this year have impressed many.
He made 79 against Victoria earlier in the year at U17 nationals before being selected for the SA U19s and can also impress with the ball as a handy contributor.
HAYDEN BARBULOVIC
(Tea Tree Gully)
Tea Tree Gully product Barbulovic has emerged as one of the state’s stars of the future.
Barbulovic is a talented batter and can also chip in with the ball or produce in the field when needed and currently competes for both the Bulls and SA’s U17s.
LACHLAN BIRD
(Sturt)
A talented 17-year-old fast bowling all-rounder who is also dynamic in the field, Bird is making his return from a number of injuries.
He has impacted games well with both the bat and ball at senior level so far this year and was recently selected for his red ball debut for Sturt’s first grade team.
MAX BLAIRS
(Grange)
A young gun wicketkeeper and batter for the Dolphins, Blairs has continued to impress for his club.
Last season he scored over 750 runs for Grange, West Torrens and St Michael’s and currently plays First XI for St Michael’s as a Year 8.
TAITE BROOK
(Kensington)
A classy top order batter who has impressed for his club as well as SA.
Also part of SACA’s pathways academy, is a fluent and hard-hitting right handed bat who consistently produces big totals for the Browns and his state.
TEJVEER SINGH GHOTRA
(Woodville)
A gifted batter at the U13s level for Woodville, Ghotra has shown major promise for his club.
Highly skilled player who plays a number of effective shots and can produce big innings, he recently scored 103 not out off of 45 balls against Port Adelaide.
CONNOR GREGORY
(Sturt)
A promising left-arm leg spinner, smart batter and athletic fielder, Gregory recently made his A grade white ball debut for Sturt as a 15-year-old and has been selected for Sturt’s first grade.
The budding all-rounder also played for SA in the U17 nationals earlier this year as a bottom ager.
HEYMAN GURU
(Grange, Port Adelaide)
A talented all-rounder for Grange and Port Adelaide, Guru will be one to keep an eye on in SA cricket.
Is a consistent batter and bowler who can bowl left arm seam or orthodox spin, Guru is consistent for his clubs and plays for the second grade at Port Adelaide at just 15 years of age.
HARVEY IREDALE
(Prospect)
A young leader with a high IQ and poise at the crease, Iredale has played a full third grade season while still being eligible for U15s.
Is a consistent high order batter who can make big totals at any level and has also been selected in SACA’s U15 and U17 pathway program.
KYLE JONES
(West Torrens)
Jones has been dominant for the Eagles’ U13s and has also been part of the SA U12s team as a dangerous bowler and top order batter.
Bowls consistent leg spin, taking 22 wickets for his club last year while also delivering with the bat.
TOM LAUBE
(Prospect)
A young gun for Prospect’s U15.5s side, Laube has shown promise as a potential all-rounder.
The U15.5s captain made 372 runs last season while also taking 20 wickets for 11 runs and has been improving his game this season with the potential of making more U17s appearances.
ARCHIE LITTLE
(Gepps Cross)
A talented young gun for Gepps Cross’ U17s in the Adelaide Turf CA.
Little can do it all for the Rams from making valuable totals as a middle order batter to taking multiple wickets with the ball and even producing in the field.
NATHANIEL MCCLEARY
(Sturt)
A consistent batter for the Blues and for SA’s U15s this year.
McCleary was a standout at nationals with his ability to produce at the crease through his elegant style and impressive composure.
TANISHQ MOR
(Port Adelaide)
A talented batter for Port Adelaide’s U15.5s.
Mor is one of his club’s most consistent young players and produces a number of important innings, recently scoring 114 off of 81 deliveries against Northern Districts which included 10 fours and eight sixes.
JARRAH REIDY
(Glenelg)
Left-arm speed demon is one of Australia’s most exciting young fast bowlers.
Hailing from Port Lincoln, Reidy is the vice-captain of Glenelg’s U17s this year and has competed for the SACA U17s side.
Reidy took 50 wickets in all competitions last season.
ARCHIE ROBERTSON
(West Torrens)
Talented 17-year-old leg spinner for West Torrens and SA’s U17s, Robertson is one to keep an eye on for the future.
Consistently testing batters with his delivery, Robertson led the Eagles’ second grade in wickets last year and is one of the hardest workers at the club.
MANTRA PATEL
(Northern Districts)
A dominant all-rounder for Northern Districts at the U14 level, Patel has emerged as a player to watch in SA cricket.
Can produce with the bat and take big wickets with the ball and demonstrated this to open the 25-26 season with a 70-run total as an opener against Port Adelaide as well as three wickets for 14 runs.
TOMMY SINCOCK
(West Torrens)
An U13s player for West Torrens who has been selected for SA’s U12s side, Sincock is a top order batter who can make big totals.
Also capable with the ball, the young gun has become a promising all-rounder for his state and club.
JAIKAR SINGH
(Adelaide)
A starring right-handed batter who has performed strongly for both the Adelaide CC and SA’s state sides.
One of the top performers at last year’s School Sport Australia U15 cricket championships, Singh has continued his form into this season and is one to keep an eye on for the future.
SAMAVEER SINGH
(Prospect)
A powerful top order bat who can dominate a game, Singh is one to watch for Prospect’s U15.5s.
The competition’s leading run scorer last season with 428 total runs, Singh can also chip in as a handy seamer.
YUVRAJ SINGH
(Morphettville Park)
At just 11 years of age, Singh has had a dazzling start to his cricket journey for Morphettville Park.
Singh has developed strong foundations in batting, bowling and fielding and has represented SA’s U12s while also being awarded the best batter trophy at the SACA U12 carnival.
SNEH THAKKAR
(Kensington)
A skilled all-rounder who has produced with the bat and ball for the Browns and the SA U15s.
Can take big wickets with consistent delivery or make big totals as a top or middle order bat and was a standout at this year’s nationals.
JUDE THOMAS
(Sturt)
A 16-year-old left handed batter at the top order, Thomas has become a rising star for the Blues.
Thomas is composed at the crease and has excellent fundamentals, making him a consistent producer of big totals.
Also plays First XI for Prince Alfred College.
ZIGGY WADSWORTH
(Brighton)
A talented U14s bowler for Brighton who could be set to make his mark for years to come.
Consistently keeps batters second guessing with his delivery and recently took 5-23 against Goodwood.
MARK WENZ
(West Torrens)
A 16-year-old elegant top order batter who splits time between college cricket at Immanuel College and premier cricket with West Torrens playing in second grade and captaining the U17s side.
Can produce big innings with his ability to remain composed at the crease and play big shots.
JONAH WILLIAMS
More Coverage
(Prospect)
Williams is a talented, hard-hitting left hand batter and high quality wicket keeper who is one to keep an eye on.
He was a captain of the U15.5s and is captain of the U17s this season while having also participated in SACA’s junior pathways program.
Originally published as Adelaide’s top junior cricketers to watch in 2025-26 revealed
