Theo Doropoulos has been promoted to a full state contract by South Australia the 2011/12 summer.
The contract covers all three forms of the game – 4 day, 1 day & T20 Big Bash. Last season Doropoulos made 672 runs and took 25 wickets for Northcote in Victorian Premier Cricket, topped the club’s 1st XI batting averages and won the Ryder Medal for the competition’s best player.
“Theo is a batting all-rounder who has excelled at this level, and deserves this opportunity,” said SA’s cricket coach Darren Berry.
Speaking to Neos Kosmos, 26 year-old Theo said that he was excited at the prospect. “It’s an amazing opportunity and it’s something I didn’t expect,” said the all-rounder who was previously awarded a state contract with WA. Doropoulos got the call whilst he was in Greece assisting the Greek national team in their preparations for last month’s ICC European tournament. Chris Harris, Game Development Manager for Cricket Australia said: “Theo has been a fantastic ambassador for his club and for the Greek community. We hope to see him play for Australia one day.”
Northcote’s General Manager, Peter Simpson echoed the comments of Australia’s top cricketing body. “This is great news for Theo in kick-starting his first class career again. It was off the field that Theo also won a host of admirers and gained a truckload of respect for the way he went about his cricket, as well as being a very active part of the club’s community. We will miss him sorely.
“If you were to make a template of your highest expectations for what a professional recruit would do for your club in their very first season, it would have Theo Doropoulos’ name on it. We look forward maybe to the day he hits a ton in a test match at the Adelaide Oval or even better the MCG and know we have played a small part in it.”
