Cameron White who’s action is similar in style to Anil Kumble’s, made his debut as 17 year old for Victoria in 2000/01, the wily leg spinner was a just a schoolboy from country Victoria. In his debut season he took 4/65 in the Pura Cup and 5/55 in the ACB Cup ( National Second Xl competition). National selectors saw this and earmarked the 17 year old White and he was chosen in the national under 19 squad and gained a scholarship at the Australian Cricket academy. Before the 2001/02 season White toured with The academy to New Zealand and starred as an all rounder, including a highest score of 75 and taking 6 for 43. He also starred for Victoria in the Institute Challenge taking 11 wickets at 12.27 his best being 4/29, he also scored 57 as his highest score a good lead up for White and it was promising that the 2001/02 season would be even more brighter.
The 2001/02 season was a productive season for White he not only had a triumphant Youth World Cup but caught the eye of the national selectors. White had a modest Pura cup and ING Cup season highlighted by a score of 91 and 3 for 97 .He was chosen for the Prime Ministers xl and starred for them bowling 7 overs and taking 2/42, in a loss to New Zealand. His season was cut short so he could take part in Australia’s triumphant Youth World Cup side which he captained. Whilst his bowling did not shine through at the World Cup his batting certainly did and he headed the international batting average scoring 423 runs at 70.5 with a highest score of 156*. After playing a starring role in the Youth World Cup ,White again starred for the prime Ministers XI against the ATSIC XI bowling 10 over and taking 2 for 44, he then toured India with the Australian academy scoring 42 and 79*, and taking a best bowling effort of 4/58. White again returned to play the Institute series and took 9 wickets at 17.22, his best bowling was 4/25, a good warm up got the 2002/03 season.
The 20002/03 season gave Cameron a full season and White played 9 Pura Cup games taking 28 wickets at 25.03, with 6/66 being his best figures. His batting figures were modest and he averaged 20.08 with a highest score of 56. His ING cup season was extremely disappointing and his best performances were 42 and 2 for 34, however he scored his maiden century 100* in the ACB cup competition. It was for his potential that White was chosen for Australia World Cup squad in 2003, replacing the hapless Stewart MacGill ,although he was not chosen in the final 15,This did however earmark White as a future international one day player White then took part in the Institute Challenge and he captained the Victorian side, White score 307 runs at 51.16 his highest score of 89, and took 7 wickets at 24.57, his best figures being 3/27. This promising performance in the Institute Challenge hinted that there was bigger things in store for whole for the 2003/04 season.
The 2003/04 season saw Cameron White named as the captain of the ING cup side ,and he took Victoria from last placed the year before to 3rd position and they were close to qualifying for Ing final. He also captained the Pura cup side when Darren Berry was unavailable due to injury. Cameron had a encouraging all round season batting at 7 White scored 581 runs at 36.31 with 78 being his highest score and White took 30 wickets at 36.83 with his best bowling being 4 for 27. In the Ing cup White took 10 wickets at 36.60, his best bowling being 3/25 and his best score being 37. Again the selectors rewarded White and he was picked to play for Australia A against the touring Indians, he also played for Australia A against Zimbabwe and bowled 8 overs and took 2 for 28. He also scored 39 and 39 against the Indian side for Victoria and took 4/50 off 18 overs against the Indians. This solid season culminated in White being chosen as the 2nd spinner for the Zimbabwe tour which was called off, he came into the side to replace Stewie Macgill who withdrew from the side, White did play against Zimbabwe A and took 1 wicket for not many runs .Presently White is with the Australian squad in Northern Australia and is acting as a back up to the injury prone Shane Warne.
The doors are opening for Cameron White and he is a willing apprentice, further representative games await White next season and the young 20 year old is tipped to be named Victoria’s state captain. Do not be surprised if Cameron White is Australia’s’ major spinner for the 2007 World cup, and that one day he takes over from Warne when he retires. Whites leg spinning skill as well as his all round and leadership skills mark White as a talented champion in the future, there are many wraps on this young player who could one day fill the berth in the national team not only as its leg spinner but all rounder.
The future awaits all is well.