THE name of former Woodford batsman Tommy Jackson has been thrust into the spotlight after the teenager produced the performance of his life on the weekend.
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Making his Victorian Premier Cricket first grade debut for Geelong on Saturday, Jackson made a brilliant 107 in a one-day game against Northcote.
His innings came off 133 balls and included seven boundaries and a six.
Jackson was run out in the last over, with the Cats falling just five runs short of victory.
The modest 18-year-old said team goals meant the personal milestone was pushed to the background in the heat of the battle.
“It was mixed emotions, we needed 10 off the last over and I was pretty disappointed we couldn’t get them,” Jackson said.
“I wasn’t really thinking about individual stuff, making the 100 didn’t really sink in until the Sunday morning.”
Jackson said the task of doing his bit to chase down the Northcote score of 259, and the calming influence of an experienced batting partner, meant any apprehension about his first time batting in the top grade passed quickly.
“I was nervous walking out to bat but I was lucky because Eamonn Vines was at the crease and he is really relaxed and calm and that helped me settle in,” he said.
“Then it was just about keeping up the run rate we needed, there was no focus on what I was on.”
In his second season at Geelong, Jackson earnt his place in the first grade team after a solid start to the season in second grade. His debut comes a year after it was first derailed.
“I was picked to play first grade just before Christmas last year but I dislocated my knee on the Tuesday before,” Jackson said.
“I have just kept working as hard as I can and it was great to get this opportunity.”
There are plenty of familiar faces at Geelong, with former Nirranda star Brody Couch having played all eight games this season as a bowler in the first grade team. Another former Nirranda player, Tim Ludeman, is also playing for the Cats.
