Santhosh Samuel – An Instinctive Stroke-player
Parramatta District Cricket Club | May 11, 2026
Santhosh Samuel is stylish young batsman endowed with a wide variety of attaching strokes that he unleashes with power and authority once he gets into full stride during an innings.
He has served his apprenticeship with considerable success during his progress through A.W. Green Shield, Poidevin-Gray Shield, and has worked his way up grade ladder with Parramatta and ‘dipped his toe in First grade’ – becoming P.D.C.C. First grade Player Number – 625 in 2024/25.
The Parramatta club holds great hope that this talented batsman is ready to morph into a consistent heavy run-scorer in oncoming seasons, his best cricket is just over the horizon and hopefully he can cement a spot in the First grade top-order and develop into a pillar of that team.
Santosh’s induction into the Parramatta District Cricket Club’s realm came via the tried and trusted A.W. Green Shield pathway. First appearing in 2019/20, made one fruitful appearance in Fifth grade producing a forceful undefeated 89, and with a season’s experience under his belt he ‘announced himself’ as youngster of genuine batting promise in 2020/21 series – topping both the Parramatta and the whole A.W.G. competition’s run-scoring lists with an impressive 355 runs @ 59.17 (best – 89* v. Mosman, 84 v. St. George, 86 v. Sydney University) – coach Luke Dempsey described Santosh’s batting as “imperious.” These exploits earned him the reward of being the CNSW - A.W. Green Shield Player of the Year, selection in the A.W.G. Merit Team, and the Under 16 Metro State Challenge.
Apart from his Green Shield deeds the 2020/21 season brought further accolades to this fine young player. He commenced his senior NSW Premier Cricket career in Fourth grade and starred, taking out the team’s batting aggregate with 374 runs @ 62.33 (best – 53 v. Sydney, 95 v. Penrith, 95* v. Hawkesbury, 45* v. Wests). He also made some appearances in Third grade and topped it all off by winning the John Benaud Award (Rookie of the Year).
Santhosh’s advancement continued in 2021/22 when he played most of the season in Second grade as a 16-year–old and revealed glimpses of his budding batting prowess by scoring a handy 254 runs @ 31.75 (best – 46 v. UNSW, 50* v. Randwick-Petersham, 46 v. Sydney) – an educational season for the young tyro. He also took part in the Under 17 State Challenge.
The 2022/23 season was another step in the young cricketer’s journey in honing his craft as a batsman by gaining more exposure to the challenge of Second grade, team skipper Zac Johns stated in the club’s annual report – “One of the young guns who will carry this club forward. Enjoyed his first full year of Second grade and just keeps improving and developing.” His run tally stood at a modest 294 runs @ 19.60 (best – 60 v. UNSW) – but he featured in two century+ 2nd wicket partnerships during the season – 108 v. Sydney with Andrew Calvert, and 108 v. UNSW with Dhruv Kant.
Like most emerging cricketers Santhosh’s progress suffered a bit of a stumble in the 2023/24 season when a form slump in Second grade (26 runs @ 4.60) saw him demoted back to Third grade, a resurgence in form saw him back in the run-making groove, and with his confidence restored he scored quickly and kept the scoreboard ticking on his way to a commendable 430 runs @ 43.00 (best- 62 v. Fairfield, 74 v. Penrith, 72 v. St. George, 61 v. Easts, 73 v. Blacktown) that assisted the team to make the Qualifying Final.
Younger sibling Nitesh was also a very well performed member of this team (561 runs @ 43.15) and their father Lal was an ever present spectator, under a tree at Old Kings Oval.
Santhosh also took out the ‘Mudgee’ Cranney Batting award (214 runs @ 42.80 [Best – 72* v. Easts) for the Poidevin-Gray Shield team.
He ‘got the train back on the rails’ with a bang in 2024/25 and produced a breakthrough season, he batted with ‘dash and flair’ to collect a career-best 577 runs @ 57.60 (including his maiden Premier Cricket century – 101 v. Fairfield).
This top-class form earned him a First grade debut and become a joint-winner, along with Michael Sullivan and Ryan Hackney, of the club’s much sought after Cumberland Medal Award.
In the just concluded 2025/26 season Santhosh played a mix of top-grade games finishing with an overall run-tally of 393 runs (100 – 1sts, 293 – 2nds) @ 28.00) – highlighted by a bright 113 (125 balls v. Sutherland in Second grade.
The dashing batsman was also in glowing form, making 116 (115 balls) in the Poidevin-Gray Shield v. Manly – sharing a 189 runs 2nd wicket partnership with brother Nitesh.
Parramatta Career Stats (to 2025/26)
By Tom Wood – Parramatta District Cricket Club Historian
