BRENDAN LINES
FROM playing cricket on the sidelines of Monash oval with his mum, to batting alongside Australian Test vice-captain Travis Head, Evan Gregoric is a Riverland cricket star on the rise.
Evan’s first grade cricket debut with Tea Tree Gully in February makes him the first Riverland product to play at the top level in near 20 years.
On his grade cricket debut, Evan said spending time at the crease with Head was invaluable experience.
“I wasn’t expecting it coming into the year,” he said
“It was a childhood dream along with playing for the Redbacks or Australia.
“It was a great experience that gave me a lot of knowledge, he made it look effortless out there.”
With a half-century and taking 3/20 against Adelaide University in January, Evan’s form was on song for a first-grade debut.
The opportunity to step up came against quality opposition in East Torrens, which included Adelaide Strikers’ and Redbacks’ batsman Jake Lehmann.
In the first innings of the game, Evan claimed the breakthrough wicket of Lehmann on 144, finishing with bowling figures of 1/29.
Gregoric later partnered Travis Head at the crease, playing a supporting role in Head’s unbeaten 108 not out, helping take a two-wicket win.
Evan backed up his debut performance taking figures of 1/9 against Port Adelaide the following week, claiming the wicket of another Redback, Tom Cooper.
Riverland Test cricket player and former state selector Rick Darling told the Murray Pioneer club cricket is “the only pathway” available for Riverland players to progress.
It’s a path not many Riverlanders have taken in recent years, but Evan has managed to put his best foot forward – while playing a pretty straight bat.
Evan’s father David, a former star Monash cricket player, said his son had a natural ability from a young age.
“He played with a very straight bat when he was all of four years old,” Mr Gregoric said.
“We’d coach him, straight bat, straight bat. Over and over again.”
Mr Gregoric said Evan would often play on the sidelines during games at Monash.
“I used to play a lot of cricket and he used to come and watch,” he said.
“Mum and Evan would play on the sideline of the oval pretty well non-stop.
“He gave my wife a good workout. She was probably his main coach when he was a kid. You couldn’t get a cricket bat out of his hand.”
Rising through the Riverland grades, Evan’s ability enabled him to play among older age groups.
“He first played at Monash when he was seven years old playing under 14s, then he went on to play under 16 at 10 years old,” Mr Gregoric said.
“Then when Monash (juniors) folded he went and played for Berri in under 16s.”
It was while playing for Berri, Evan caught the eye of the Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club.
“When Evan was about 12 he got poached…,” Mr Gregoric said.
“He played in the Ray Sutton Shield as a 12-year-old and then went on to play through the ranks at Tea Tree Gully.”
Evan’s rise through the grades has been helped by his ability as an all-rounder.
Tea Tree Gully president Ian Graham said the presence of Head is of great influence among the club’s developing players.
“He (Head) doesn’t come in with any airs and graces, he’s one of the lads,” he said.
“With four of the boys including Evan being able to go out and bat with him, you couldn’t ask for anything better really, especially when Travis is scoring a ton.
“But, to see these young lads coming down and playing at this level is fantastic.”
Evan has been picked to train in the state under 19 squad, from which a team will be selected to travel Victoria.