Tom O’Donnell, son of Victoria captain and Test player Simon, could play for his state

The Vics’ selectors are considering giving a debut to paceman Tom O’Donnell, the son of the state’s Sheffield Shield-winning captain and all-rounder Simon O’Donnell.

Tom, 26, plays Premier Cricket at Essendon and has captured 29 wickets at an average of 16.9 this season, including a bag of 7-57 against Geelong in January.

The haul included a hat-trick.

O’Donnell has been playing with the Bombers’ firsts since 2015-16.

That same season the Melbourne Renegades signed him as a development rookie.

Victoria gave him a rookie contract in 2016-17 but stress fractures and then soft-tissue injuries have checked his progress.

But the tall left-armer, Essendon’s vice-captain, has proven his fitness in the past year.

The Bombers say he’s a cussed competitor with the ability to take wickets in a hurry and turn matches.

This week O’Donnell played for the Victorian Second XI against ACT/NSW Country at the Merv Hughes Oval, taking 3-55 off 23 overs, 10 of them maidens, in the first innings.

His batting has also come on in the past year or two: He strikes the ball cleanly in the middle and lower-orders.

Simon O’Donnell played six Test matches and 87 ODIs for Australia after having a stint in league football with St Kilda.

Three weeks ago he was included in the hall of fame at Essendon Cricket Club, where was captain for two seasons, a club champion and topped the bowling averages.

He played 83 first-class matches, hitting 4603 runs at 39.34 and grabbing 151 wickets at 37.36.

Simon O’Donnell’s youngest son, James, is also with the Bombers, but has taken time away from cricket to train with the Footscray Bulldogs VFL squad.