FRASER Hay is only 20 but the gifted youngster is on the verge of becoming a Premier Cricket star with his record-breaking 116 further proof that he is a talent on the rise.
The powerful right-hander showed maturity beyond his years as he hammered the Wanneroo bowling line-up all over the ground, compiling a remarkable nine sixes during his 74-ball stay.
The former Trinity College student is part of the new generation of players and the chance to bat freely alongside some of the game’s elite performers has been a catalyst for his success.
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READ NOW“Most of the time my natural instinct is to be quite aggressive,” Hay said.
“I know when I start I can be patient enough to build an innings, that’s how I have played since I was young.”
Adam Voges was Hay’s unlikely batting partner on Saturday and the youngster lapped up the opportunity to bat with the Australian representative.
“You don’t get to bat with Vogesy all that often, so I took that all in and went about rebuilding the innings,” he said.
“I was pretty slow to start. It took me 10 balls to get off the mark but with 12 or 13 overs to go it was time to get a couple away.”
The Melville product believes his father has been the biggest influence on his cricketing career but also found a mentor in Ashton Agar during his time with Hay’s family.
“My dad was pretty big helping me out when I was a kid, he got me into the game and spent plenty of time throwing me balls in the nets,” Hay said.
“I have also been helped by having that sort of relationship with Ashton dating my sister.
“To have someone that has been there at that level as a role-model so to speak.
“Over the past few years he has been good to talk to, he has helped me out a fair bit in terms of my cricket.”
The multi-talented sportsman had plenty of options after finishing school but settled on cricket as his chosen sport, with the prospect of travel too exciting to pass up.
“I always played a number of different sports at school but I always had the opportunity to head over to England in the back of my mind,” Hay said.
“I’ve got an English passport so that has allowed me to be involved with Hampshire overseas.
“That’s helped me a lot being involved with a professional setup and coaching staff, I have learnt a lot from that.”
Hay’s future is bright but the grounded star is taking his career one-step at a time, the opportunity to learn and grow his number one priority.
“You’ve got to be realistic about what your ambitions are,” he said
“At this stage of my life I am just trying to take every opportunity I am given to try and learn from people who have an influence on me and my cricket and see where that takes me.”