CS Team of the Century | From Shepparton to Mumbai, Aiden Blizzard looks back on a memorable career

By Daniel Webb

Oct 27, 2022

True talent: Shepparton’s Aiden Blizzard makes a run for South Australia against England. Photo: AAP/David Mariuz

Few ― if any ― Shepparton cricket exports can claim to have had as successful of a career as Aiden Blizzard.

The left-handed batsman travelled Australia and the world playing the game he loves, forging a path from Shepparton Youth Club to the Mumbai Indians.

“It’s quite humbling to be honest,” Blizzard said regarding his nomination for Cricket Shepparton’s Team of the Century.

“Growing up in Shepparton, being able to play A-grade cricket when I was quite young was something that I never really thought too much about, it was a privilege to be able to be playing at a young age.

"To be recognised as a potential player in the Team of the Century is phenomenal.“

Early years: Aiden Blizzard in action at Shepparton’s Princess Park.

Quickly rising through the ranks at SYC (now known as Shepparton United), Blizzard ― who was also a talented footballer ― moved to Richmond Cricket Club in Melbourne in 2002.

Playing six games in the seconds before a call up to the firsts, the now 38-year-old averaged 31.87 in his first season at the club and was soon brought into the Victorian system.

Making his state debut in a one-dayer against South Australia in December 2005, Blizzard mirrored his SYC debut knock by scoring a duck.

His white ball form would have him make his Twenty-20 debut in January of 2007, before making his Sheffield Shield debut in December of that year.

While continuing his first-class career at Tasmania and South Australia after departing his home state, it was in the shortest form of the game Blizzard found the most success.

Global stage: Aiden Blizzard’s impressive batting skills earned him a call up to the Indian Premier League. Photo by AAP

Making 89 off 38 balls in his T20 debut for Victoria against South Australia, Blizzard would go on to win his first state-based title in the format in 2007, before putting in a player of the match 47 (20) in the competition’s final a year later to win his second title.

In 2010 Blizzard would once again be named player of the match in the big dance, leading Victoria to another Twenty20 Big Bash title, before the rising star took his talents to South Australia, where he would win his fourth Big Bash title the next season.

This form had him picked up by Mumbai Indians in the Indian Super League, with the boy from Shepparton opening the batting in the world’s richest cricket competition.

“I opened the batting with Sachin Tendulkar at Wankhede Stadium with a capacity crowd roaring Sachin’s name,” Blizzard said.

“For me that was something I could never imagine, having gone to plenty of Boxing Day Tests and capacity crowds at AFL and that sort of thing, to be in the middle there with the absolute legend of world cricket.

“Being there beside him was something I’ll never forget and it’s been amazing to be able to reflect on that moment.”

A year after his success with South Australia, the state-based T20 competition would transform into the modern Big Bash League format, with Blizzard playing for the Adelaide Strikers before a move to Tasmania where he pulled on the Hobart Hurricanes shirt.

Warming up: Aiden Blizzard and Shane Warne prepare to play for Victoria’s second XI in 2004.

After his spell in Hobart, Blizzard moved to Sydney, where he secured another Big Bash title with Sydney Thunder.

“I fell short of representing Australia, but to have IPL, five Big Bash titles and to be able to travel the world has been quite phenomenal, so that journey in itself it has a lot of challenges,” he said.

“It definitely wasn’t glamorous, but to be able to reflect on it now and having been out of the system for a few years it’s actually really humbling to be able to reflect and to be recognised by Cricket Shepparton as well.”

Blizzard said his first game at each new level was a memorable experience ― with the lessons he learned in Shepparton holding him in good stead throughout the journey.

He said the teachings of Peter Whitelock and Rob Douloudis among others helped him become the player he was.

“I don’t believe there were any fairy-tales along the journey, it was a lot of hard work and a lot of lessons through mistakes or through resilience,” he said.

“I don’t necessarily think growing up in the city I would’ve had those opportunities to be able to grow mentally on the cricket field.

Good times: Aiden Blizzard embraces teammate Arjun Nair after winning a game for the Sydney Thunder in 2017. Photo: AAP Image/David Moir

“When I was playing in Shepparton I never really had aspirations or thought it was possible to play for Victoria and then getting down there I realised I can perform at this level and asked myself what can I do to get better.

“I was really proud to be a Victorian cricketer, when I had that opportunity, but similarly when I chose to peruse opportunities interstate.”

Not leaving anything in the tank, Blizzard also played for Rajshai Division in Bangladesh, Canterbury in New Zealand and Marylebone Cricket Club in England.

“I think a number of times throughout my career I was the only player in the team that hadn’t represented Australia,” he said.

“I think I’m just grateful to have been able to grow up in Shepparton to be honest.

“With all the opportunities in cricket and sport in particular, the quality people that I was able to interact with from a young age really shaped who I became as a cricketer.

“I’ve got nothing but gratitude for the association and people I was involved with at country week and at club level have been great support and I’m grateful to have this opportunity to be nominated.”