Sport
9 May, 2024
Three more years for exciting young Maryborough bowler Cam McClure at Victoria
It’s been a big week for Victorian cricketer Cam McClure, with the Maryborough product earning a three-year contract extension with the state squad. It comes as the 28-man contracted squad was revealed last Friday, with McClure joined by the likes...
It’s been a big week for Victorian cricketer Cam McClure, with the Maryborough product earning a three-year contract extension with the state squad.
It comes as the 28-man contracted squad was revealed last Friday, with McClure joined by the likes of Australian Test cricketers Scott Boland, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Glenn Maxwell, Todd Murphy and Will Pucovski, experienced heads such as Peter Siddle and young talents, including Will Sutherland, Mitch Perry and new recruit Josh Brown, who arrives from Queensland.
McClure’s new deal helped Victoria stave away interest from other states, with the man himself saying Victoria was the only place he wanted to stay in.
“It’s been really exciting to receive that three-year extension, and I’m excited to build a strong culture at Victoria,” he said.
“There’s a lot of young guys around that I’m close with, so it was a pretty good decision to stay, and that comes with a few opportunities in the next few years with a few older guys leaving as well. It was nice to sign that contract in the end.
“There was interest from a few other states, but I always wanted to stay in Victoria. It was nice to have that interest and have that reassurance that I was wanted, but it’s great to stay on with the Vics and sign on for another three years in the end.”
It’s been a big couple of years for McClure.
After earning his breakthrough on the state scene, McClure was able to earn a contract with Big Bash League (BBL) team Melbourne Stars for the 2022/23 season.
While he didn’t earn a BBL contract for the 2023/24 season, McClure still had a good campaign as he looked to build on his technique with the ball, as well as starting a new buisness venture off the field with great mate, and Victorian teammate, Perry in Fortuna Streetwear.
McClure says he’s never bowled more balls than he did last season, between playing in Victoria’s first XI, second XI and Victorian Premier League cricket for Essendon Cricket Club, which yielded 48 wickets across all forms of cricket last season.
“All the conversations I’ve had has been really positive. The last year, I’ve changed a bit in terms of my (bowling) action and I’ve worked closely with Adam Griffiths, who came across as our bowling coach,” he said.
“He’s been awesome for me, tinkering with a few things. It does take time for those things to flourish, and getting confident with it, and throughout the back end of last season I felt like I definitely got the rewards from that.
“It was good to get some good performances, but it was nice being able to play a lot more cricket than I have previously. It was the highest amount of balls I bowled in a season, which held me in good stead.”
That included a game for the Victorian second XI against South Australia at Bendigo’s Queen Elizabeth Oval, which felt like a true home game, according to McClure.
“It was special. It almost felt like it was a home game, being out in the country with a few city boys, which is fun, but it was good to see so many familiar faces and people from Maryborough watching as well,” he said.
McClure says he has had positive conversations with Melbourne Stars as he looks to regain a list spot in the BBL for 2024/25.
“With the Stars, there’s always going to be opportunities for young guys, there’s a couple of spots that are left when internationals get signed,” he said.
“I’ve been having positive conversations with them as well, so I’m hoping to get that again over the Big Bash period, which is an exciting period for everyone in Australian cricket.”
McClure believes Victoria has enough young talent to trouble reigning champions Western Australia this upcoming season, with the grind of pre-season fast approaching Victoria’s best cricketers.
“It’s going to be tough losing Nic Maddinson and Charlie Dean, but we have so many talented young guys who are stepping up, such as Will Sutherland, Mitch Perry and Fergus O’Neill stepping up and getting the job done week-in, week-out,” he said.
“I think we have a really exciting squad and we’re close to knocking off WA. We’ve had some really good battles with them over the last few years, and we’re as hungry as ever. We want to knock them off at some stage during the year and make it into the final again.
“Us young guys have been in the wings for a while. We’ve been fast-tracked a lot, and we’re seeing in the performances that we’re starting to stand up when they need to. It’s rewarding for them to get opportunities.”