Jonah jumps into national squad

SYDNEY teenager Jonah Trope has enjoyed his best cricket season yet, and it’s only getting better.

On the back of big contributions with the bat for NSW at the National Youth Championships in February – where he scored 286 runs at an average of 71.5 – the year 10 Emanuel School student and NSW Premier Cricket third grade batsman for Eastern Suburbs gained selection in a 20-man Australian U16 boys’ squad. He will then get to attend a training camp at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane in July.

Trope, who also shone for NSW Metro at the NSW U16 championships in January and for Easts in the prestigious NSW U16 Green Shield competition, said, “I’m extremely proud to have the opportunity.

“After coming so close [to Australian selection] last year, the satisfaction of hearing my name called this time was immense,” he said.

In third grade, Trope has scored 293 runs in 13 matches for Easts, including a fine knock of 57 against UTS-North Sydney on February 29.

“My coach told me at the start of the season that if I was patient and able to last for a long time at the crease, I could build a solid platform and make a big contribution to my team, so that was a big motivation to keep improving.”

Trope added he feels excited at the prospect of being coached by the likes of former Australian Test opening batsman Chris Rogers at the Australian U16 boys’ camp.

“I hope to learn a lot. Then the squad will be cut down to 14, and get to play at the U17 nationals in September against state teams with players aged a year older than us.”