Glenbrook native Jordan Silk, 20, celebrates scoring a century for Tasmania on day four of the Tigers' crucial Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at Blundstone Arena, Hobart on March 17. Photo: Mark Nolan/Getty Images.
When Glenbrook cricketer Jordan Silk moved to Hobart last June to ply his trade on a rookie contract with Cricket Tasmania, he never imagined he’d be preparing to open the batting for the Tigers in next week’s Sheffield Shield final against Queensland at Blundstone Arena.
But in only his second Shield game last week, he helped steer the Tasmanians to a crucial 111-run victory over front-runners Victoria in a man-of-the-match performance. The 20-year-old scored 52 runs in the first innings and a mighty 127 in his second dig, joining Ricky Ponting (86) in a 142-run stand scored at almost five runs per over.
Silk told the Gazette on Monday the chance to play in a Sheffield Shield final in a team boasting the likes of Ponting, George Bailey, James Faulkner and Tim Paine probably hasn’t sunk in yet.
“Even though there was a lot riding on that game, I tried to relax and not think too much about the occasion,” he said.
“Ponting was probably the reason I got to 100 — he kept me nice and relaxed and he was just so happy for me.
“It was one of those days you dream about when you are a kid.”
Silk first showed his potential with the bat in 2009 when he became the youngest player to score a century in Sydney A Grade cricket for Penrith.
A year later he filled in for Australia as 12th man during a memorable Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground — a role he filled again this summer on the third day of Australia’s opening Test against Sri Lanka in Hobart.
He has also notched up two appearances for Tasmania in the Ryobi Cup in the one-day format of the game.
Silk said his move to Tasmania was due to feeling there was more of an opportunity for his cricket to develop there.
“I never thought I really deserved a spot at NSW, I always enjoyed Tasmania’s style of play, the calibre of its players enticed me and I just thought the whole setup would be really good.
Such a quick rise to the top in Tasmanian cricket sometimes stumps Silk.
“I was not even thinking of making the Tasmanian team in my first year down here and I certainly never made that a goal.
“I was really happy to bide my time, play great cricket for North Hobart and do my best and whatever else happened would be a bonus.
“When I think about it that’s probably one of the reason’s I’m playing so well.
“I’m really enjoying riding this wave — I’ve just got a lot of momentum at the moment.”