Meet the Selection Panel for the VECL JT20 Team Selections!

Earning a place in a VECL JT20 squad means being assessed by people who genuinely know what elite talent looks like. For the upcoming tryouts, every aspiring player will be seen by a selection panel that brings together first-class playing pedigree, state-pathway coaching and decades of talent identification across two cricketing nations.

All four panel members are Level 2 Cricket Australia certified, and between them they carry more than 100 years of combined cricket coaching experience. Together they will oversee the VECL program — setting the standard, identifying potential and giving every child a fair, expert evaluation.

The Selection & Coaching Panel

George Shaw

Director of Coaching, Elite Cricket Academy. George leads the coaching direction of Elite Cricket Academy and sits at the heart of Victoria’s talent pathway. He serves as Talent ID for Footscray Premier Cricket Club and as a Senior Coach at Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies Premier Cricket Club, giving him a sharp, current eye for players capable of progressing to the highest levels of the junior and women’s game. Level 2 Cricket Australia certified.

Dhana Murugavel

Managing Director & Senior Coach, Elite Cricket Academy. As the driving force behind Elite Cricket Academy, Dhana combines hands-on senior coaching with the leadership that built the VECL program from the ground up. His focus on player development and competitive standards shapes the philosophy the entire panel brings to the tryouts. Level 2 Cricket Australia certified.

Anil Bhardwaj

Senior Coach & Former First-Class Cricketer. Anil brings genuine first-class pedigree to the panel. He played 40 first-class matches, turning out in the Ranji Trophy for Delhi, Bihar and Orissa, and represented East Zone in five Duleep Trophy matches — including two finals. He also played against touring international sides, top-scoring for his zone against England, and featured in the Deodhar and C.K. Nayudu trophies.

His selection and coaching credentials are equally deep: a Senior Selector for the Delhi & District Cricket Association’s Ranji Trophy and Under-23 teams (2019–20 and 2022–23), Chairman of Selectors and coach of the Delhi Under-14 side that won the North Zone championship, and Cricket Manager of Delhi’s Ranji Trophy T20 team in their North Zone title run. BCCI Level-1 and Cricket Australia Level-2 qualified, he has coached Melbourne juniors through to Victorian U13 and U16 representation, and has guided Williams Landing’s senior teams to three consecutive premierships.

Shan Siva

Senior Coach & Current Regional Team Coach. Shan is a Senior Coach at Elite Cricket Academy and a current Regional team coach, working with representative players week in, week out. That live connection to the rep system keeps the panel’s benchmarks aligned with exactly what selectors at the next level are looking for. Level 2 Cricket Australia certified.

Why It Matters

For parents and players alike, the panel is a guarantee of quality. Every child who tries out for the VECL JT20 program is seen by coaches who have played first-class cricket, selected state-level teams, identified talent for Premier clubs and developed players all the way to representative honours. It’s a level of expertise rarely available to junior cricketers — and it’s exactly what makes VECL an elite pathway, not just another competition.

Ready to Test Yourself?

Tryouts for the next VECL JT20 season are coming up. Put your child in front of a panel that knows what elite looks like — register your interest at vecl.au.