Only weeks after his sensational catch in the Big Bash League made headlines around the world, Glenbrook’s Jordan Silk was named Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year in Sydney on Monday night.
Silk easily edged out South Australian batsman Travis Head and Western Australia’s Ashes Test hero Ashton Agar in the voting to claim the honour at the Allan Border Medal Presentation.
The 21-year-old said being part of the Sheffield Shield-winning Tasmanian side last year was his cricketing highlight from the last 12 months.
“I don’t think anything really gets close to that so far,” he told Cricket Australia’s website. “Obviously scoring 100 in that game too [the Shield final] was pretty special so it was a nice match to be a part of.”
His most recent moment in the spotlight — his spectacular catch for the Sydney Sixers on January 2 to dismiss Brisbane Heat’s Craig Kieswetter — is still a talking point.
“It was obviously a great feeling to take a catch like that. It’s something I work very hard at, my fielding, so for something like that to come off was very special. To go on and win the game was even better,” he said.
Silk said it was an honour to receive the award in front of his cricketing idols like Mark Waugh — who was inducted into the Cricket Hall of Fame on Monday night — and former Australian captain Ricky Ponting.
“I idolised someone like Mark Waugh so it was great to see his highlights package [at the awards ceremony]... Someone like Ricky Ponting, I grew up admiring his fielding as well. They are two players that stand out in my childhood.”
Silk also spoke admiringly of Australian coach Darren Lehmann who he got to know while playing for the Australia A side when Lehmann was assistant coach of the team.
“That was a great experience to see how he operates. It doesn’t sound like he's changed too much in his Australian job. It’s great to see him having a lot of success there. I’m very happy for him,” he said.
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.
He moved to Tasmania to take advantage of the opportunities to further his career.
“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,” he told the Gazette in March last year.
Now a spot in the Test side is firmly in his sights.
“Absolutely, that’s every person’s dream [to play Test cricket]. Every person in my position playing domestic cricket wants to get to that next level so whether it takes 24 months or 10 years I’ll be working very hard to make sure I hopefully get there one day and [keep] doing my best,” he said.