Blizzard, a player of the future

Ben Carbonaro reports about a Victorian youngster who has been tipped to dominate the Australian first-class scene.

For Aiden Blizzard, his dream of playing AFL football was shattered four years ago but, at the age of 21 he has decided that Melbourne life offers him another dream: first-class cricket for Victoria.

Since moving from the regional centre of Shepparton to Melbourne, Victorian squad member Blizzard has taken the Premier Cricket and Cricket Australia Cup competitions by storm with his explosive hitting and general enthusiasm for cricket.

Blizzard, who made his first XI debut for Richmond during the 2002/03 season has done nothing but impress his coaches and those in the cricketing world that he has come into contact with.

He first caught the eye of many cricket buffs when he smashed 133 out of a winning total of 260 for the Victorian Premier’s XI against a Country side, who had recently returned from Mount Gambier after being crowned Australian Country Cricket champions for season 2003/04.

Blizzard was captain that day for the Premier’s XI which included recent ING Cup debutant Peter Siddle and fellow Bushrangers' rookie all-rounder Clint McKay.

Ian Frazer, a former first-class player and now a respected coach, has played an important part in Blizzard’s development through his involvement with the Crusaders, a group of former fist-class and grade cricketers who aim to develop talented junior cricketers.

The following are some extracts from a player report written by Frazer for the www.chappellway.com.au website.

"He displays inner confidence and also has a quiet assurance."

"Aiden was able to play his first full season for the Richmond Cricket Club last summer, batting at number three he scored more than 700 runs."

Blizzard has taken to Second XI, with his highest score of 101 against the Queensland Academy of Sport, the same match that featured Shane Warne, who was returning to the game after his year long ban for drug use.

A prolific scorer of runs through square leg it comes as no surprise, after examining wagon wheels, that his drives down the ground are less proficient.

His talent were acknowledged when he was selected in the Victorian Emerging Player’s Squad that tour the United Kingdom earlier this year. The squad was captained by all-rounder and Australia A representative Andrew McDonald.

If he continues to make plenty of runs for Richmond in Premier Cricket and continues to perform well with the bat for the Second XI, we may very well see the name Aiden Blizzard playing Pura or ING Cup Cricket before the end of this season.

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