QUEENSLAND YOUTH TEAMS NAMED
Famous lineages and returning talent dominate the Queensland Cricket Youth representative teams announced today.
The Australia Post Queensland Under-19 and Under-17 men's teams and the Konica Minolta Queensland Under-19 and Under-17 women's teams released today will compete in their respective championships next month and in January.
The Under-19 men's team contains Norths top order batsman Wally Wright, the grandson of the late Wally Grout, Valley batsman Andrew Greig, the nephew of former England Test captain Tony Greig and son of former England Test player Ian Greig, while the Under-17 men's team will be captained by Adam O Sullivan, a nephew of former Queensland pace bowler Dirk Tazelaar.
Also included in the Under-17 team is Gold Coast product Ryan Simpkins, the son of former South Sydney and Gold Coast first grade rugby league player Robert Simpkins. Simpkins, a right-hand batsman who also bowls right-arm medium pace, has been sounded out by the Gold Coast Titans NRL franchise for their 2006 debut season.
Toowoomba allrounder Craig Smith is another to excel in a sport in addition to cricket, representing Australia at Under-19 hockey level.
Beenleigh/Logan fast bowler Worrin Williams was a member of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander XI that was undefeated in winning the Imparja Cup last season.
Williams, who turns 19 during the championships, forms part of a strong pace bowling contingent along with Australian Youth squad member Darren Clark and his Souths first grade teammate Ben Cutting.
Queensland will be captained by Australian Under-19 wicket-keeper Ben Gledhill for the second season in a row. Gledhill and right-hand batsman Graeme Skennar toured India during the off-season with the Australian team.
Queensland finished third last season, losing just the one game to eventual winners NSW.
Queensland has warmed up for the titles with matches this week against the visiting East-Asia Pacific representative squad that has been training at the Centre of Excellence for the past 10 days.
Norths left-hander Ben Dunk stood out in the two-day match, hitting 140.
There are seven players with first grade experience in the Under-19 team Gledhill, Skennar, Clark, Cutting, Williams and Sandgate-Redcliffe batsman Daniel Pearce and Redlands Adam Pearson. The team will be coached by David Bannister, who had a stint as Malaysian national coach two years ago, and former Australian Country wicket-keeper Steven Baker.
The Under-17 team contains just two members from last year's team that finished eighth last year and will base their resurgence around the regionally based pace attack of Lindon March (Cairns), Byron Thick (Bundaberg) and Isaac Ling (Townsville) and off-spinner Andrew Martel (Townsville) and leg-spinner Matthew Gregory (Gold Coast).
The team will be coached by former Queensland batsman and one-time Canadian national coach Jeff Thomas and former Queensland pace bowler Brett Stephensen.
The Under-17s will play a match against the Queensland Country Under-19 prior to embarking on its championship campaign.
The Konica Minolta Queensland Under-19 team will be led by Queensland 2nd XI vice-captain Melissa Lewis, with the Beenleigh/Logan leg-spinner returning for her fourth championships.
Queensland Fire rookie Kirby Short and pace bowler Lacey Hinze, who made her Fire debut last season before suffering an injury, are also returning for the second time.
Sandgate-Redcliffe batter Sarah Harris and Wests pace bowler Jess Rowlands will compete at their third Under-19 titles.
Sandgate-Redcliffe allrounder Casey Reibelt, 16, the player of the championships at last year s Under-17 titles, moves up to play in the next age group despite being eligible for Under-17s.
Beenleigh/Logan wicket-keeper Fran Whittaker, 15, will play in both the Under-17 and Under-19 teams, as will 16-year-old Wests allrounder Jo-Ann Verrall.
Warwick's Delissa Kimmince and Wynnum-Manly's Alice Nicklin will make their fourth appearance at the National Under-17 titles, with the 16-year-old duo originally making their debuts as 13-year-olds.
Dalby's Shaye Easton, 13, is embarking on a similar course, making her debut at this year's titles.
Australia Post Queensland Under-19 men's team for the National titles in Perth, December 4-15:
Ben Gledhill (c, Sandgate-Redcliffe), Darren Clark (South Brisbane), Ben Cutting (South Brisbane), Ben Dunk (Norths), Andrew Greig (Valley), Dominic Michael (Norths), Daniel Pearce (Sandgate-Redcliffe), Adam Pearson (Redlands), Mitch Russell (Sandgate-Redcliffe), Graeme Skennar (University of Queensland), Craig Smith (Brothers-Diggers, Toowoomba), Worrin Williams (Beenleigh/Logan), Wally Wright (Norths). Coaches: David Bannister, Steven Baker.
Australia Post Queensland Under-17 men's team for the National titles in Sydney, January 9-20:
Adam O Sullivan (c, Wests), Timothy Beadle (Souths), Matthew Gregory (Gold Coast), Alex Kemp (Redlands), Isaac Ling (Wanderers, Townsville), Linden March (Cairns United), Andrew Martel (Wanderers, Townsville), Nathan Mazzeo (Redlands), Rodney McIntosh (Wests), Haydn Murray (Wests), Dominic O Brien (South Brisbane), Ryan Simpkins (Gold Coast), Byron Thick (Bundaberg). Coaches: Jeff Thomas, Brett Stephensen.
Konica Minolta Queensland Under-19 women's team for the National titles in Canberra, January 4-11:
Melissa Lewis (c, Beenleigh/Logan), Natalia Banks (Wynnum-Manly), Sarah Harris (Sandgate-Redcliffe), Lacey Hinze (Beenleigh/Logan), Jessica Keneally (Wests), Laura Kidd (Wynnum-Manly), Lauren McQueen (Beenleigh/Logan), Casey Reibelt (Sandgate-Redcliffe), Sara Rodgers (Beenleigh/Logan), Jessica Rowlands (Wests), Kirby Short (Wests), Zoe Springate (Wynnum-Manly), Jo-Ann Verrall (Wests), Fran Whittaker (Beenleigh/Logan). Coach: Brendan Wild.
Konica Minolta Queensland Under-17 women's team for the National titles in Adelaide, January 18-25:
Stephanie Baldwin (c, Norths Townsville), Shaye Easton (Dalby), Lesley Frampton (Wests), Elise Hackett (Gladstone), Delissa Kimmince (Beenleigh/Logan), Melissa Mayers (Beenleigh/Logan), Rochelle Milne (Dalby), Alice Nicklin (Wynnum-Manly), Nicole Quinn Wynnum-Manly), Selena Tainton (Wests), Jo-ann Verrall (Wests), Fran Whittaker (Beenleigh/Logan). Coach: Cameron Garnham. Manager: Heather Williamson.