UTS North Sydney’s Team of the 2010s

After naming 20 contenders for the UTS North Sydney team of the 2010s the team has been announced and congratulations to all players on this tremendous accolade

UTS North Sydney are proudly sponsored by Access RnD

Here's the team

1. Daniel Hughes

2. Tom Jagot

3. Justin Avendano

4. Adam Crosthwaite

5. Scott Rodgie

6. Rob Aitken

7. Jay Lenton – Wicket Keeper

8. Glenn Aitken – Captain

9. Nic Bills

10. Matt Alexander

11. James Campbell

12. Jaik Mickleburgh

The process of selection

Throughout the first two weeks of June, voting was open for the Bears’ first grade team of the decade.Players needed 20 caps and a minimum of 40 wickets or 1000 runs to automatically qualify for the shortlist. Additional role-specific specialists were included up to the maximum of 20.

All UTS North Sydney members and supporters were all welcome to have their say in selecting the Team of the Decade.

Each voter could select their XI at their discretion and the votes were tallied and calculated by an independent panel. Voters were recommended to lean towards selecting a team to win two or three-day matches (to compete in finals) and only players’ performances for the Bears should be considered. Shortlisted players have not been grouped into categories as many have performed multiple roles over the decade and voters can decide how the team can be best balanced.

The 2010s in brief

The Bears made six first grade finals series in the 2010s (two limited overs and four regular season), with two semi-finals appearances in 2011/12 and 2018/19, as well as winning the 2012/13 limited overs trophy. These finals appearances were stacked at the start and the end of the decade, three in the first three seasons and three in the last two seasons.

Three players earned selection in the NSW Premier Cricket team of the season (introduced in 2012/13), Adam Crosthwaite and Tom Jagot in 2018/19, and Matt Alexander in 2019/20.

The contenders

Rob Aitken

One of only two men in the history of Sydney Grade Cricket to score 11,000 runs and take 600 wickets, and the holder of the first grade games record, Robbie is a remarkable cricketer. A stalwart of the side throughout the decade, he scored the second most runs and took the second most wickets for the Bears during the 2010s. His unorthodox finger-spin is perennially hard to decipher, and with it he claimed 5/17, the Michael Bevan Medal and the first grade limited overs premiership in the 2012/13 grand final.

James Aitken

James started the decade as a rock of the team’s middle-order and ended it tying opposition batsmen in knots with his canny seamers. His consistent batting performance made him one of only five to compile 2000 runs in the decade, and also lifted him to 5^th in the club’s all-time first grade run-scorers. In scoring 113 not out against Hawkesbury in 2017/18, James became one of only 9 players in the competition’s history to score a hundred both before their 20^th birthday, and after their 40^th.

Glenn Aitken

Glenn captained the team during the early part of the decade and again in the middle, and was one of only two players to take 100 wickets and score 1000 runs during the 2010s. A fine off-spinner who sits 10^th on the Bears’ all-time first grade wicket-takers list, Glenn also played important roles with the bat. His rapid scoring at the top of the order was a major reason the team claimed the limited overs premiership in 2012/13, and included a game-high 86 in the low-scoring grand final.

Scott Rodgie

The first grade captain from 2012/13 to 2014/15, Scott’s powerful batting and heavy seamers were crucial to the side in the first half of the decade. Scott sits 13^th on the club’s all-time first grade run-scorers’ list. Against Sutherland in 2011/12 he claimed the critical wickets of Nick Maddinson and Phil Jaques before setting up the challenging chase of 223 with a blistering 62 from 49 balls – securing victory against a side stacked with three former and future internationals.

David Guthrie

A right-arm quick with genuine pace, David was a key component of the attack throughout the beginning and middle of the decade. He was also a powerful batsman, playing a key role with the bat in our successful limited overs campaign of 2012-13 in particular.

Nic Bills

Nick was the team's spearhead for the first four seasons of the decade and his statistics speak for themselves. His several dominant performances included the club's only First-Grade match 10-wicket haul of the 2010s, against Sutherland in 2010-11.

Daniel Hughes

A left-hander of peerless grace, Daniel controlled Bears' innings from the top of the order for the first three seasons of the 2010s, and had a habit of posting big scores when other batsmen could not find their feet.

Jay Lenton

Jay was the team's rock behind the stumps for the first four seasons of the 2010s. A sublime gloveman and a skilled bat, he claimed twice as many dismissals and scored almost 500 runs more than any other Bears First Grade keeper during the decade.

James Campbell 

James is a career Bear and has been a mainstay of the side through much of the decade. James has evolved from a tear-away to a skilful practitioner of pace bowling, and his 221 wickets (all claimed in the 2010s) sees him sit 18th on the club’s all-time first grade wicket-takers list.

Justin Avendano

First Grade captain since 2016/17, Justin Avendano has scored more runs than anyone else for the Bears in the 2010s. Justin now sits 17th on the Bears all-time first grade run-scorers list. A punishing right-handed bat, Justin has played a slew of remarkable innings for the club.

Kurt Neely

Kurt came to the club from Newcastle during the 2012/13 season and established himself in the First Grade side the following season. A sound gloveman and bat capable of opening the innings, Kurt was also a steadying dressing-room influence.

Jaik Mickleburgh

Jaik scored a mountain of runs, and skippered the side, during his two-season stint as overseas pro in the middle of the decade. Capable of batting anywhere in the top 4, 12 of his 24 innings for the club were in excess of 50.

Thomas Jagot 

Thomas became a Bear in 2015/16 and, since then, has gone from strength to strength. A master of technique and focus, Tom has notched up hundreds in each of the the past four seasons, including 3 in 2018/19. His form that season saw him finish joint runner-up in the O’Reilly Medal.

Ben Bryant

Ben joined the club in 2016 and has been a reliable performer with the bat. Ben moved to the top of the order in 2017/18 and his class showed in 2019/20, collecting 449 runs at over 40 and striking his maiden century against Mosman in Round 3.

Olly Knight 

Olly provides value with both his right-arm seamers, and big-hitting left-handed strokeplay. 2019-20 was a career season for Olly, and included 82 from 32 balls (including a scarcely believable 10 sixes) in a T20 against Easts, as well as several mature 2-day innings and strong contributions with the ball.

Anjan Oberai

Anjan was part of the team for two seasons in the middle of the decade. A solid opening bat, when Anjan got in, he went big, as evidenced by an undefeated 166 against Manly in 2016/17 (one half of the club’s record third wicket partnership) and 184* against Fairfield Liverpool the following season.

Toby Lester

Toby’s sharp left-arm pace made him a valuable weapon during his three-season stint as the club’s overseas pro. Even when not in the wickets, Toby applied constant pressure to opposition batting line-ups with unerring accuracy and skilful reverse swing.

Matt Alexander

Matt’s rapid, left-arm pace has proven a handful for opposition bats during his two seasons at the Bears. Matt’s 48 wickets led all comers in 2019/20 and earned him selection in the NSW Premier Cricket team of the season. In Round 1, against a strong Bankstown line-up, Matt collected club limited-overs record figures of 7/38.

Adam Crosthwaite 

Adam played only one season at the Bears, but it was truly remarkable. Adam collected five centuries in the season to finish joint runner-up in the O’Reilly Medal as well as winning our Bradman Medal. Only Scott Hookey in 1994/95 has compiled more runs in a season for the club.

James Crosthwaite

While only at the Bears for a single season, James Crosthwaite’s athletic glove work and dangerous batting was an integral part of the side’s run to the 2018/19 semi-final. James’ lateral quickness often rendered first slip a bystander and his batting was destructive.

You can read more on our club website, voting is now open - UTS North Sydney