T20 Max Preview - Gold Coast

MEN

After winning the past three T20 premierships, including the inaugural KFC T20 Max last season, Gold Coast return in season 2023-24 as favourites, and for good reason. Put simply, their squad is extraordinary on paper. A mixture of youth and experience paired with local, interstate and international talent right through the list. The Dolphins will be a tough ask for any team trying to stop their four peat.

Two words: Ben McDermott. One of the rare players with multiple KFC Big Bash centuries and first ever to score three BBL tons, McDermott has torn plenty of bowling attacks a part in his career. A brutal ball striker, he has represented his country in both T20 and One Day cricket, notably scoring a century against Pakistan in 2022.

The Dolphins also welcome a swag of Tasmanian talent in Jake Doran, Mitch Owen, Iain Carslile, and returning local legend Josh Kann. The highly touted Western Australian batter Teague Wyllie will also representing the ‘phins as an impact player. Wyllie captained the Australian U19 side last year, as well as playing for reigning Sheffield Shield champions WA.

If the interstate talent wasn’t enough, their local players certainly will be! The Dolphins will have Michael Neser and Xavier Bartlett to extract any swing out of the Kookaburra, before skipper Matt Kuhnemann will aim to spin through sides. Last year’s find of the tournament Caleb Ziebell will aspire to be at his big hitting best, while Hugo Burdon will again look to steer the Gold Coast innings.

Coach: Simon Belston

Captain: Matt Kuhnemann

Home Ground: Bill Pippen Oval

T20 Premierships: 2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23

2022 Placing: Premiers

Players In:

• Ben McDermott (TAS)
• Iain Carslile (TAS)
• Jake Doran (TAS)
• Nick Kelly (NZ)
• Mitch Owen (TAS)
• Teague Wyllie (WA)

Players Out:

• Max Bryant (Valley)

Players to Watch:

Ben McDermott – In a team full of stars, watch out for the brightest of them all. Ben will go down as one of the greatest BBL players ever and the KFC T20 Max will be a great power-hitting warm-up before his state duties. No ground will be big enough to hold him, so be cautious where you park – note he loves a slog sweep. He’ll be box office.

Matt Kuhnemann – Kuhnemann has morphed from a promising State player to a genuine star pushing hard for more game time in the green and gold. Elite in his Test tour of India, expect Kuhnemann to go to a whole new level this KFC T20 Max. His captaincy and game awareness are also highly undervalued assets. The way he manipulates batters through bowling changes, field placements, and game rhythm is extraordinary. In a format where big hitters get credit for changing games, Kuhnemann’s bowling and captaincy will look to do the same for his side.

WOMEN

The Gold Coast Dolphins are all set to unleash their full potential in the 2023 KFC T20 Max. They are led by the highly regarded Richard Griffiths, as Head Coach, and boast a dynamic mix of young, budding prospects, overflowing with potential and highly accomplished interstate players. This diverse and talented squad is determined to make their mark in the T20 space.

Among the key players to watch out for are Sammy-Jo Johnson, Carly Fuller, Zoe Griffiths, Paris Hall, Alyssa Humphries, and Erica Kershaw, who have shown their ability to shake up the opposition and deliver match-winning performances at the professional level. Alongside this formidable interstate roster, the Dolphins have enlisted the prowess of local stars Olivia Winter, Sarah Walker, and Lucy Neumann, who are eager to prove their mettle on the big stage, while Abigail Godfrey returns after a few seasons away.

Although the team will miss the impactful contributions of Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Grace Parsons and Tara Wheeler from last year's squad, the blend of fresh and seasoned talent brings an unmatched energy to fuel their campaign to greater heights.

Brace yourself for an unforgettable spectacle as the Gold Coast Dolphins aim to conquer the competition and etch their name into KFC T20 Max history. 

Coach: Richard Griffiths

Captain: TBA

Home Ground: Bill Pippen Oval

T20 Premierships: 2018/19

2022 Placing: 7^th

Players In:

• Carly Fuller (VIC Premier)
• Zoe Griffiths (VIC Premier)
• Paris Hall (SA)
• Alyssa Humphries (VIC Premier)
• Sammy-Jo Johnson (NSW)
• Erica Kershaw (VIC)

Players Out:

• Georgia Redmayne (Wests)
• Courtney Sippel (Wests)
• Grace Parsons (Wests)
• Tara Wheeler (UQ)

Players to Watch:

Sammy-Jo Johnson – The Dolphins have pulled off a significant coup with the key recruitment of local legend Sammy-Jo Johnson. Hailing from the Northern Rivers and a former Gold Coast player herself, Sammy-Jo has been a standout performer in the domestic circuit, earning recognition for her fiery pace and all-round abilities with the Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder Her ability to swing the ball at lethal speeds and deliver explosive performances with both bat and ball has made her an undeniable powerhouse. With her immense experience, unmatched skills, and deep-rooted connection to the Gold Coast, Sammy-Jo Johnson's recruitment is set to elevate the team's prospects and set the stage for an electrifying campaign. 

Zoe Griffiths – The threatening left-arm off-spinner who has a knack to quickly settle in against any bowling attack and score big, enters the 2023 KFC T20 Max as a highly anticipated key player for the Dolphins. Griffith’s journey in the cricketing world has been nothing short of promising, having drawn the keen interest of domestic and national selectors, prompting selection in the prestigious Lanning XI representative side, in which she smashed 19 off 9 balls to almost pull off the impossible. With a combination of spin-bowling prowess and confident batting, Griffith’s inclusion brings versatility and balance to the game, creating a crucial dynamic element to the side which has proved vital in her previous endeavours.