Who are the biggest hitters and most dedicated cricketers in the Taverners, Premier Women and Men’s grade competitions? Find out here.
Queensland Premier Cricket: The biggest hitters and most dedicated players in the Taverners, Premier Women and Men’s grade competitions uncovered here. FULL LIST
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They hit far and they train harder than anyone.
These are the biggest hitters, and most dedicated players in Queensland Premier Cricket.
From the Taverners Under-17 Boys, to the Premier Women and Men’s grade competitions here is a list of the players clearing the ropes and inspiring teammates with their work-ethic.
This follows on from our revelation of club cricket’s unsung heroes, discovery players and fastest bowlers and best fielders.
QUEENSLAND PREMIER CRICKET’S BIGGEST HITTERS, MOST DEDICATED PLAYERS REVEALED
PREMIER WOMEN
Wests
Wests’ standout performers include well-known figures such as Grace Harris, but one emerging talent that keeps turning heads is Lily Bassingthwaighte. This young sensation from All Hallows’ School consistently earns a spot in junior representative teams, showcasing her prowess as a fast bowling all-rounder.
Ruby Strange, who struggled last season at University, has enjoyed a fresh start at Wests and is in fine form.
The decision proved to be transformative for Strange. The coaching staff at Wests, who had previously worked with her through the Southern Rockets in the BPL, were familiar with her character and capabilities.
Strange took the initiative to kickstart her pre-season early at Holland Park Junior Cricket Club, training alongside other talented girls from Holland Park who were playing premier cricket at Wests. This group included Bassingthwaighte, Chelsea Sonter, Rebecca Storrs, and Filippa Suesee among others.
Ahead of the 2023/24 season, Strange was entrusted with the captaincy of Wests whenever Georgia Redmayne was on State duties.
This responsibility was not just a title; the Wests team squad wholeheartedly embraced her leadership. The early signs (711 runs at 41.82) suggest that Strange’s move to the Western Surburbs has rejuvenated her cricketing journey and positioned her as a pivotal figure within the team.
At this point of the summer, Strange is the competition’s leading run scorer and is 56 runs clear of Tess Cooper of Sandate-Redcliffe.
Strange, who opens the batting, has been crucial to Wests’ overall success this sumer and will continue to be on the Queensland Cricket radar with her six hitting ability (11 sixes, 73 fours in 19 innings this season) a standout of her game.
Sandgate-Redcliffe
Sandgate-Redcliffe District Cricket Club’s aggressive opener Georgia Voll has shown her class with the bat in the women’s first grade competition this season.
The elite opener is known for her power-hitting having scored 322 runs in just five matches while averaging more than 64 at a strike rate of 125.
Tess Cooper and Meagan Dixon can regularly clear the picket fence and have hit 133 boundaries this season.
Gators off-spinner Darcey Johnson is the most dedicated player with her commitment to her playing process.
“She would train and play 25 hours a day if she could,” Gators Women’s coach Nathan Maddox said.
“Great work ethic, listens to feedback and implements changes.
“She always seeks out ways to improve.”
Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast Scorchers batter Georgie Boyce is the most dedicated player in the team in her preparation for the game, resulting in impressive statistics.
Boyce, who comes from England, has a strong desire to represent her home country and has played very well in the middle order for the Scorchers in all formats.
South Brisbane
South Brisbane Cricket Club big hitter Abbey Curness has a destructive approach in her game.
She has the ability to up the run rate in a flash and quickly move the game around.
Meanwhile South Brisbane batter Alison Henschke is the best trainer in the squad and can always be relied upon to bring 110 per cent to training and games.
A team player, Henschke is constantly trying to improve her game and give a hand to other players.
Wynnum-Manly
Wynnum Manly’s fast bowler Holly Barr and teammate Ellie Johnstone have shown their dedication, strength, technique and power to hit boundaries with ease this season.
Barr has hit seven sixes so far using her power-hitting ability, and Johnstone has scored 250 runs in 10 games.
Amerren Kahlon, Jenna Cowell, Clodagh Ryall and Barr rarely miss a training session and have led the way with their training attendance and intensity.
“Amy and Rebecca Riddell were terrific for travelling three hours each way from Casino (northern NSW) for matches,” coach Harsha Desilva praised.
Gold Coast
Biggest hitter: Leah Dobson
Dolphins batter Leah Dobson has scored 238 runs at 23.8 for the Gold Coast this season.
Her first two scoring shots at the club were a four and a six, and can do both - score at rapid pace and show temperament and play slow to build or save an innings.
“We will see big things from her as she settles into Australian conditions,” the Gold Coast coach said.
Most dedicated: Jemma Savill
Gold Coast all-rounder Jemma Savill is a versatile player with outstanding skills as a top-order batsman and spin bowler.
Savill’s technique and temperament is awe-inspiring and she can spin the ball as effectively as anyone.
Savill consistently gives her all in every aspect of the game, setting high standards for the entire club, especially with in warm-ups.
Despite overcoming several injuries, she diligently returns to peak fitness.
Keep an eye on her when she’s fully fit, as she promises to be a force to be reckoned with.
Ipswich
Biggest hitter: Jess McFadyen
Ipswich batter Jess McFadyen, the club’s Kiwi international player, and has hit 30 boundaries in five games this season with her sheer power.
McFayden has added up 248 runs in just five innings at a staggering average of 62.
Ipswich opener Hannah Freiberg has also mastered the art of timing the ball, hitting it at the bat’s sweet spot.
Freiberg has shown a strong performance this season with 144 runs, giving the team crucial starts.
Her best form is just around the corner.
Most dedicated: Trinity Doyle
Cricket Ipswich’s first-grade captain, Trinity Doyle, exemplifies her dedication to her game week-in-week-out and had been rewarded with Queensland Under-19 team selection.
The West Moreotn Anglican College student trains hard, puts in the work, and gets the results by dedicating herself to her teammates and club.
The middle-order batter has scored 235 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 67, acting like a glue holding the batting order together.
Anlo van Deventer and Emma Jackson (University)
Van Deventer and Jackson have been University’s most consistent this season along with Tara Wheeler.
The pair of them continuously score, with Jackson averaging 18.26 and Deventer 25.36.
Both players are scoring at run-a-ball pace.
Kira Holmes (Valley)
Valley’s batter Holmes has scored 357 runs at 22.31 this season in 16 innings.
She scores quickly and is the rock of the Valley batting order.
MEN’S GRADE
Jack Cooper (Sandgate-Redcliffe)
Sandgate-Redcliffe Gators batter Jack Cooper is the season’s find, being the club’s highest run scorer in Mens first grade during the season thus far.
The right-hander has racked up 512 runs in 14 matches, hitting three 50s using his tall and strong physique, cleanly hitting the cricket ball.
Cooper’s versatility at No. 5 and opener gives the team an extra cushion, with a consistent strike rate of 131.62.
Tyler Skelson (Sandgate-Redcliffe)
Gators all-rounder Tyler Skelson is the most dedicated player, proving his worth to the team by performing well with both bat and ball.
The bowling all-rounder made valuable contributions down the batting order by scoring 112 runs in five matches and scalping 10 wickets with a four wicket haul last weekend.
Skelson has a great work ethic, the Gator constantly training early, hitting balls, bowling and helping clubmates improve their skills.
Ben Thallon (Wynnum Manly)
Wynnum Manly’s destructive top-order batter Ben Thallon has been in the limelight with his powerful six-hitting ability in the lower grades.
The left-handed batter is an entertaining player with his strong contributions in the middle order this season for Wynnum-Manly’s fifth grade side the proof.
Club president Graham Mapri said Thallon is a team player and very passionate about the sport.
“His passion for the club shows, and he feels every win and every loss.”
“He is always around to join in the banter.”
Norths
The Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club first-grade squad has a variety of power hitting and depth, with Josh Brown and Co looking to attack from the first ball.
The pool of players at the Norths Club is absolutely mind-boggling, with Josh Brown at the start, behind him left-hander Connor Carroll, Scott Palombo, Blake Maher, Sam Neale, Kendal Fleming, Will Prestwidge, Connor Sully and Nikhil Chaudhary.
Nikhil Chaudhary has received a lot of appreciation for his dedicated run in the season, scoring 526 runs off 16 matches, hitting a big 100 and two 50s in the process.
Eli Brain would be a close second behind Chaudhary.
University
University of Queensland Cricket Club’s dynamic batter Angus Lovell is considered the biggest hitter in the club with his absolute spot-on timing.
Lovell is well placed in the top 10 run-getters in the Mens first grade competition with his consistent power hitting helping him score 651 runs with a fantastic average of 46.5, with two 100s and three 50s in the season.
University of Queensland Cricket Club Coach Peter Clarke praised Lovell’s long hands, swivelling around the crease to hit shots.
Jack Clayton and Bryce Street are the most dedicated players, with their passion and commitment towards the team and the game they love always on show.
Coach Clarke shared a story about the commitment of both players to play a match the next day after playing a shield game and getting no sleep in the process, leading the team to the Grand Final.
Redlands
Redlands Tigers Dylan Kritzinger has shown potential in hitting the ball out of the park.
However, Kritzinger has been unable to leave a mark in this season, with injury hindering his ability to hit those big shots.
“Dylan got caught up in the white game and loves whacking it, but he plays to win, backing his ability,” the Redlands Tigers Cricket Club coach said.
Kritzinger is one of the most dedicated players in the club, with two hard-workers, Stefan Muller and Carter Pearson, also a coaches dream player.
Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast Scorchers middle order batter Brendan Schultz made headlines with his scintillating unbeaten 149 against Toombul’s first grade side in his second match.
Schultz is a clean striker of the ball who looks like he is playing backyard cricket every weekend.
His stats support his reputation, scoring 170 runs in three innings with an average of 85.
Young gun Will Noffke also hits them a long way, perhaps even further than his old man Ashley used to.
South Brisbane
South Brisbane Cricket Club opener Matthew Love is the club’s most dedicated player, reflected in his performance.
The 17-year-old has shown immense ability to improve himself and shows maturity while working on his methods.
Love has started well, nearing 200 runs in the first grade competition with an average of 49.25 and two 50s under his belt.
Valley
Brisbane Heat batter Max Bryant is one of the highest run-getters of the season and Valley’s are lucky to have him.
Bryant is an aggressive opener who can turn the game in a session, making it an absolute carnage for the opposition team.
The 24-year-old has scored 675 runs in 14 matches with an average above 50 and consistently gets scores with six half-centuries and a century to show so far this summer.
His teammate Dylan Mclachlan is just a short distance behind him and is the most dedicated player in the club.
Mclachlan has racked up impressive stats with the bat this season and is working on his wicketkeeping skills.
He is always in the nets.
Wests
Western Suburbs District Cricket Club’s Rex Tooley is the biggest hitter in the team with his fantastic reach to the ball.
Tooley was recently selected for the Queensland U19 team that made the grand final in the National Championships, and started the season with a matchwinning knock against Toombul which featured five sixes.
The most dedicated players at Wests are Isaiah Snell and Tom Campbell. The pair of them work incredibly hard and adopt a professional mindset in their preparation.
Toombul
Toombul District Cricket Club’s legendary player Preston White has returned to Toombul after two seasons playing for Caboolture.
White continued from where he left off two seasons ago and is the highest run-scorer in the first grade competition with 808 runs under his belt in 16 matches, hitting five half-centuries and two centuries.
Also, his hard six-hitting ability has made him the player with the most sixes this season.
At 33 years of age, he keeps getting better. Indeed he is the player responsible for hitting a car last season that was caught on video and went viral.
Griff Thomson, a second-grade wicketkeeper and Hayden Bidgood, a third-grade bowler, are the most committed young cricket players at Toombul.
Both of them have excellent work ethics and are consistently arriving at training first and departing last.
Jack Wood (Ipswich)
If you park near a field Wood is playing on, regardless of the format, you are putting you car in danger.
Wood, who wins T20 competitions in his sleep, has embarked on his first full BBL season this summer with the Brisbane Heat who are off to a hot start.
TAVERNERS BIG HITTERS
Will Noffke (Sunshine Coast)
“Will Noffke is by far our biggest hitter,” Scorchers Taverners coach Wayne Anderson concluded.
Noffke is a strong bowler who like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, can hit sixes and hit them far.
During the Taverners season Noffke feasted off both pace bowlers and spinners and won games with his power hitting.
Isaac Lutz (Wide Bay)
The No. 5 batter for Wide Bay is 204cm tall and has big levers so when he hits it, they stay hit.
Lutz, from the Sunshine Coast playing for Yandina, is a right hander who wields an MRF blade and can clear the rope with ease.
Will Tozer (Valley)
The Valley all-rounder can effortlessly hit large sixes and is one of those player who takes wickets, and can score runs quick in the middle to lower order.
Angus Storen and Blake Armstrong (University)
Churchie student Storen takes the game on, while aggressive opening batter Armstrong looks classy and just keeps getting half centuries.
From Churchie and BBC respectively, the pair of them do not wait for the loose ball but rather go for it as soon as they feel slightly comfortable at the crease - and even when not.
Armstrong has been the king of taking bowlers on so far this season and his average of 41.64 is the proof.
He is in the form of his life.
Nicholas Bragger (Wynnum-Manly)
The Sea Eagles Taverners and fourth grade player is a natural big-hitter with potential to unlock.
A right-handed batter in Year 11 at Iona College, Bragger likes going maximum and has promise.
He will benefit from training with men, more often.
Wests
Rushi Kakkad and Jacob Cibulka are constantly adding cherries to their bat, both in the nets and on the weekends.
Kakkad has been batting brilliantly at the Under 16 Boys Metro Championships.
Eddie Comer (South Brisbane)
The Souths skipper can hit sixes and fours with ease and would excel in the short format of the game.
He hit 23 fours and five sixes in eight innings during the Taverners season, where he scored 179 runs from 230 balls.
Cruz Baker (Norths)
North’s captain Cruz Baker averaged 23.67 with the bat this season opening the batting.
22 fours, seven sixes and a strike rate of over 100 made the Hervey Bay product an easy option for biggest-hitter.
Hayden Farnsworth (Toombul)
Farnsworth can score in bunches very quickly, especially when his top order batters set a platform and allow him to play his game.
For the Sandgate-Redcliffe Gators Angus McLean had their biggest six hit of the season and can score efficiently in the lower order.
Aayan Latif and Ryan Hines (Ipswich)
Latif and Hines showed glimpses of their capabilities when getting into a groove and proving destructive strikers of the ball throughout the Taverners season.
TAVERNERS MOST DEDICATED PLAYERS
Noah Maguire, Hayden Hamilton, Finn Thallon (Wynnum-Manly)
This trio are in the nets at clubland at least three times a week. Don’t forget they play on Saturday’s and Sunday’s, and have school training five times a week.
Nathan Reardon coaches Thallon and Hamilton, while first grade batter Ruben Burger coaches Maguire.
Xavier Santos (South Brisbane)
The St Laurence’s College sportsmen “is a very hardworker who always shows up” said Souths coach Nick Perera.
A third year Taverners player, Santos was dropped for round one and returned in round two where he hit the winning runs.
The Laurie’s First XV and First XI talent went on to play all nine games throughout the season.
University
Cooper Beachy-Head, Sean Hansen and Christian Alexander
These three work hard and work hard again to perfect their skills.
You will catch them at the University nets multiple times a week, adding cherries to their bats ahead of the weekend.
Their work ethic clearly rubbed off on others, with University crowned Taverners premiers earlier in the month.
Sohaan Sharma (Wests)
Sharma opened the batting for Wests this season and while he is an under-16s player, he was selected in the Queensland under-17 squad.
Nobody bats more than Sharma, who scored a century in fourth grade to bump himself up into second grade at the club.
Rohan Brady (Ipswich)
You could have guessed Brady before seeing his name.
He is a batter who looks locked in as soon as he steps foot on the field on the way out to the middle, and remains in the zone the entire innings as if it were his last.
In his second season at the Hornets, Brady made a 2.5 hour commute to training twice a week from Stanthorpe.
Despite living so far away, you won’t catch Brady missing a session and he is seeing the rewards for his effort with recent selection in the Queensland Under 17 skills development squad.
Henry Mercer and Ted Challenor (Valley)
Mercer and Challenor put in 100 per cent every session and are always looking to better themselves.
Mercer has improved his leg spin and is bowling with a good understanding of his game while Challenor had a big pre-season which has allowed him to bowl overs on both Saturdays in Grade and Sundays in Taverners with success.
Dan Desmet (Sunshine Coast)
We could have mentioned the entire Sunshine Coast team here but it as Desmet who took the chocolates.
A very mature 14-year-old, Desmet thinks about his game on another level and is one of those cricketers who is always dialled in.
Aryan Sanjay, Elijah Welsh, Malakai Pearce, Zac Robinson and Ben Gordon also live and breathe cricket, much like the whole Scorchers team.
Toby Lamond, Isaac Lutz and Lachlan Heycox (Wide Bay)
This terrific trio of hardworkers led the charge for the Wide Bay team this season.
Talking about putting in work outside of training and game hours, then you will be talking about these three, who set the example in the field.
They enjoyed their final season of Taverners cricket this summer.
Shravanth Reddy (Toombul)
Reddy is an “outstanding young man with terrific leadership qualities” according to coach Daine McDonald.
He is always looking to get better by putting in hours of work and asking questions to improve his game.
Steve Hogan and Lakshdeep Singh (Sandgate-Redcliffe)
It’s hard to image anyone works harder than these two.
Hogan (852 runs at 94.67) was the highest run-scorer and Singh (30 wickets at 9.87) the leading wicket taker this season and it is because of how hard they work behind the scenes.
Originally published as Who are the biggest hitters and most dedicated cricketers in the Taverners, Premier Women and Men’s grade competitions? Find out here.
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