North Sydney: Team of the 2010s
UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club | May 28, 2025
In the winter of 2020, the Bears held a poll to determine the Team of the 2010s, resulting in a powerful XII which would strike fear into the heart of any opposition line-up.
It is a powerful team with a strong batting line-up and six versatile frontline bowling options.
The right/left hand opening pairing of Tom Jagot and Daniel Hughes would be a nightmare for opposition attacks. Get through them and run-machines Justin Avendano and Adam Crosthwaite await at numbers 3 and 4. All-rounders Scott Rodgie, Rob Aitken, Jay Lenton and Glenn Aitken provide flexibility through the middle order and would ensure the run rate keeps rattling along. 400-run days would be the norm given that 3 of the top 7 have strike rates north of 75 in the decade (excluding T20s) with all the top nine boasting strike rates over 55.
Skipper Glenn Aitken has a wide array of bowling options to choose from. The new ball could go to the two tearaways-turned-technicians Jimmy Campbell and Nic Bills, or the slingy pace and movement of Matt Alexander. Scott Rodgie would provide movement off the pitch with his heavy seamers and the contrasting spin options of Glenn’s traditional off-spin and Rob’s inimitable bag of tricks would challenge any opposition line-up.
Jay Lenton provides class with the gloves behind the stumps and the fight for spots in the slips cordon would be fierce.
Player profiles of the 12 from the winter of 2020 are provided below.
Votes were spread, however Justin Avendano proved the most popular inclusion with 96% of voters including him in their side. Rob Aitken, Adam Crosthwaite, James Campbell, Daniel Hughes, Jay Lenton, Nic Bills and Tom Jagot all featured in over 75% of the voted sides as well. Jaik Mickleburgh and James Aitken were unlucky to miss out on the final XI given their fine performances for the Bears and their inclusion in over 40% of the voted sides.
The voting for captain was incredibly tight with five players receiving 10% or more of the vote. Ultimately Glenn Aitken won the nod for his tactical nous and uncompromising leadership.
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. Daniel had a habit of posting big scores when other batsmen could not find their feet. In 2011/12 he struck 125 against Sydney to set up a win in a match where no other bat, including three others who represented their state, passed 50. In 2010/11, he also pillaged Blacktown for 174 after they had been routed for just 91 in the morning session.
Tom Jagot
Since becoming a Bear in 2015/16, Tom has gone from strength to strength. A master of technique and focus, Tom has notched up hundreds in each of the of the past four seasons, including 3 in 2018/19. His form that season saw him finish joint runner-up in the O’Reilly Medal, and included innings such as an undefeated 125 against Sydney as he and Adam Crosthwaite shared a club-record fourth wicket partnership of 261 and chased down 380. He followed it up with another 130 as the Bears piled 348 against Parramatta in a one-dayer two rounds later.
Justin Avendano
First grade captain since 2016/17, Justin 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. His 176 against Manly-Warringah in in 2016/17 was part of a club-record, 303-run third wicket partnership with Anjan Oberai, and formed the backbone of a monumental chase of 444. His finest innings was an undefeated 143 against Penrith in 2018/19’s semi-final that allowed his team a chance in a rain-shortened match.
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 with Tom. Only Scott Hookey in 1994/95 has compiled more runs in a season for the club. It is hard to pick a standout innings, however his undefeated 126 against Blacktown in round one (his first appearance for the Bears) saw the team home in a tough chase on a day where only he and Jordan Gauci got past 50.
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 13th 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.
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.
Jay Lenton (wk)
Jay was the team’s rock behind the stumps for the first four seasons of the decade. A sublime gloveman and a skilled bat, Jay claimed twice as many dismissals and scored almost 500 runs more than any other keeper for the Bears in the 2010s. Jay’s 88 against Penrith in 2013/14 set up a total of 301, which proved 215 too many for the opposition.
Glenn Aitken (c)
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 10th 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.
Nic Bills
Nic’s 167 wickets at a tick over 20 runs apiece speak for themselves. He was the team’s spearhead for the first four seasons of the decade and produced a number of dominant performances. A 10-wicket match (including 6/17) against Sutherland in 2010/11 to secure an outright, 6/29 against Penrith in 2013/14, and 5/60 in a tough semi-final loss to Sydney Uni in 2011/12 all speak to his skill and pace. He also struck four fifties in the top grade, including an undefeated 96 in a club-record last wicket partnership with James Campbell against Bankstown in 2012/13. Nic coached the Bears in 2024/25 leading them to their first finals appearance in six years during this year's First Grade T20 campaign. He also highly contributed to three players going on to be selected to play NSW Metro U19s and one Australian age group player in Addison Sherriff. A great achievement in a short space of time at the helm.
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 first grade in 2019/20 and earned him selection in the NSW Premier Cricket team of the season. In round one of 2019/20 against a strong Bankstown line-up, Matt collected a club limited-overs record of 7/38. The figures were also the 10th best in the competition’s history, and the best for the club against Bankstown (besting Glenn Aitken’s 7/66).
James Campbell
James is a career Bear from juniors onwards, 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 and more than any other bowler for the club in the decade) sees him sit 18th on the club’s all-time first grade wicket-takers list. James’ 5/40 in Hawkesbury’s second innings in 2019 allowed the Bears to claim an outright victory that proved crucial in the race for finals.
Jaik Mickleburgh (12th)
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. His first class experience showed during his stay, culminating in an unbeaten 142 (from 138 balls) against Wests in 2014/15 which saw the team canter to victory chasing 356.
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