Top Queensland school cricket players revealed for 2022
From talented batters who hit the ball out of the park, to scary pace bowlers and masters of spin - see who are Queensland cricket’s top 70 schoolboy and schoolgirl talents. SEE WHO MADE IT
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From talented batters who hit the ball out of the park, to scary pace bowlers and masters of spin - here are Queensland cricket’s top 70 schoolboy and schoolgirl talents.
To celebrate some of the best young cricketers in the state, we have canvassed the Lord’s Taverners, AIC First XI, GPS First XI and club competitions to come up with this list of stars.
There are others, of course, but this list is a guide to the quality of elite school level cricket talent competing in Queensland.
From those who have taken five-wicket hauls in school competitions, to centurions in the club cricket scene and promising prospects who are sounding alarms in first grade, we feature some of the very best schoolboy and schoolgirl cricketers.
THE 70 BEST YOUNG CRICKET PLAYERS
HUGH WEIBGEN (BRISBANE GRAMMAR)
The scorer of the youngest first grade century by a Valley District Cricket Club player, the off-spinning all-rounder will captain Queensland Metro at the national under-19 championships. He has the magic touch after he captained Brisbane Grammar School to the GPS First XI premiership earlier this year.
ANGUS TOLHURST (BRISBANE GRAMMAR)
Together with Hugh Weibgen, Tolhurst was the cornerstone of Brisbane Grammar School’s recovery from a battling First XI outfit in 2020 to the 2022 premiers. He is an exciting middle-order batsman and left arm orthodox spinner, who often took the new ball for Grammar.
TOM CAMPBELL (GREGORY TERRACE)
Tom Campbell was the best batsman in GPS First XI cricket this season, a class above whose wicket was celebrated like no other in the competition. The Terrace Year 12 student was also a handy spinner.
CALLUM VIDLER (BRISBANE GRAMMAR)
Vidler was the fastest bowler in the GPS competition and his genuine pace will be used for Queensland Metro at the under-19 nationals. He and Will Sheedy were the fast bowling enforcers, who helped Brisbane Grammar School to this season’s GPS premiership.
MICHAEL HARPER (GREGORY TERRACE)
The best leg spinner in the GPS competition, where he was a model of consistency for Gregory Terrace. His flight, control and accuracy keep the best of batsmen on their toes.
ZAC MCDERMOTT (TSS)
Watch this space. McDermott made his mark with the ball and bat during an outstanding GPS season and we can’t wait to see him line up for The Southport School again next season. He is the son of former Queensland Test bowling champion Craig McDermott.
RYAN PEMBROKE (PADUA COLLEGE)
Padua’s Ryan Pembroke produced the most extraordinary innings in either AIC or GPS cricket this season, when he took his team from 7/119 chasing 280 to a remarkable win. He scored 165 not out (144 balls) in the victory over Villanova. But it was no fluke, earlier in the summer he hit 80 from 83 balls in another high-class knock.
BEN FINGLAND (VILLANOVA COLLEGE)
Villanova’s Ben Fingland joined Padua’s Ryan Pembroke as the most influential player in the AIC competition. With bat and with ball, the youngster was always in the game, a genuine matchwinner with either skill.
CHARLES MOORE (ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE)
The St Patrick’s College batsman Charles Moore is an impressive young talent, who this club season broke into the Sandgate-Redcliffe’s top senior side. He is a stylish top-order batsman.
JEM RYAN (TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR)
Toowoomba Grammar School’s Jem Ryan, who will also be at the under-19 nationals, capped-off a huge 2022 season by playing two first grade games at Ipswich Logan. Big Jem is tall paceman, who hits the pitch hard and gets bounce.
HAYDEN EVETTS (GREGORY TERRACE)
Evetts is the son of former Wynnum Manly and Souths first grade stalwart Kim Evetts and broke into the Queensland country under-19s side, which were bound for the nationals. He is a former Queensland Schoolboys representative, who bowls right-arm fast and who is a handy middle order batsman.
SAM LEWIS (MARIST COLLEGE ASHGROVE)
Lewis is a Year 10 playing Lord’s Taverners and First XI.
He is finding his feet and it will not be long before he produces a big score but he is extra valuable because of his talents as a spin bowler.
He made the Marist College Ashgrove First XI this year, following in his older brother Darcy’s footsteps, who was a lightning fast pacemen last year for Ashgrove.
BILLY NUSS (MARIST COLLEGE ASHGROVE)
Marist College Ashgrove’s Billy Nuss was an outstanding all-rounder in the First XI cricket competition.
The Valley junior had one haul of six wickets with his leg spin but was also an effective batsman picking up some impressive scores, including a half century.
He is averaging 37 in the Lord’s Taverners competition as well.
STEVE HOGAN (ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE)
The St Patrick’s College top-order batsman hit centuries for fun and easily made our best schoolboy player list.
As a Year 9 student this year, he hit a century in AIC cricket, a notable knock which marked him as an out-of-the-box talent.
Hogan is no amateur with a bat in hand, in fact he looks like a seasoned veteran out in the middle this season for Sandgate-Redcliffe in the Lord’s Taverners competition.
There aren’t many better first change batsmen in the competition right now and you need look no further than his heroic 96-run effort against Valley to earn his team a victory.
CAYMAN POOLE (IONA COLLEGE)
Poole was the Mr Cool of Iona College’s rise to win the AIC First XI premiership this season. As the team captain, he set the highest of standards on the field as the wicketkeeper and always contributed with the bat.
He was a third season AIC Firsts player and it showed.
LACHLAN BRAGGAR (IONA COLLEGE)
Bragger was Iona College’s trigger man, who often fired his side to lighting starts by taking wickets with the new ball.
BEN NALSH (ST EDMUND’S COLLEGE)
Look for Naish to lead the way for St Edmund’s College in 2023.
He will be a third season First XI player, who has natural batting elegance, while also being able to bowl accurate medium-fast seamers.
LUKE MAUGERI (NUDGEE COLLEGE)
The Nudgee College boarder from north Queensland, Maugeri has burst into the Queensland Country under-19s side bound for the nationals. A robust paceman and handy lower-order bat.
HARRISON TZANNES (TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR)
The Toowoomba Grammar School captain will be the gloveman for the Queensland Country under-19s.
He is also an accomplished batsman, so much so that he opened the innings for TGS in GPS First XI cricket.
CHACE OATES (TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR)
Oates is one of those athletes, who could play any sport and somehow make the first team.
He is a First XI and First XV lock for Toowoomba and he performed well in both teams this year.
Last week Oates was named in the Under 16 Australian Development Squad after a sensational campaign in the Under 16 National Rugby Championships but he’s equally as talented on the cricket field.
The Year 11 has countless centuries to his name.
JACKSON EVETTS/LACHLAN HOLMES (IPSWICH GRAMMAR)
Both boys, boarders from north Queensland, were wicket-taking aces for Ipswich Grammar School in the GPS First XI and will be teaming up again in the Queensland Country under-19 side.
ARSHVIR SINGH/REX TOOLEY (TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR)
Toowoomba Grammar School’s top-order batting aces have played their way into the Queensland Country under-19 side.
The dynamic duo were outstanding for TGS this year, no more so than when TGS embarked on mission impossible and ran down The Southport School’s 208, which is almost always a winning total on the Village Green.
Tooley had the distinction of scoring a GPS hundred, an achievement not as common as most people think.
KANE NEILSEN (NUDGEE COLLEGE)
Nudgee’s Nielsen was the GPS First XI batting prime mover against the new ball this season, pushing Terrace’s Tom Campbell for the batsman of the competition title.
In the Lord’s Taverners competition the story was the same, averaging 35 runs with an unbeaten 89 his best.
KORI RAMSDEN (IPSWICH GRAMMAR)
Ipswich Grammar School First XI young gun Kori Ramsden is one talented cricketer.
He is an unbelievable batter and usually for opening batsmen that is all you need to do but he is a wizard with the ball as well.
Here are some Ramsden’s impressive stats:
- 8 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 11.5.
- Bowling economy of 2.7 with 14 maidens and best figures of 4/27
- 185 runs in seven innings at an average of 26.43 opening the batting
- Three fifties
JOSEPH SIPPEL (IPSWICH GRAMMAR)
Sippel is the robin to Ramsden’s batman - He opens up the batting with him and Ipswich are every chance of winning with these two facing the new ball.
In his seven innings this year he has a top score of 70 and is averaging 36.5
SAXON JEH (VALLEY)
Jeh is a spinner you’d rather not face - he has been contained reasonably well this season but a breakout performance is not far away.
He takes a wicket or two every game and his older brother Zanden is also one to keep an eye out for.
BEN BUECHLER (ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE)
A St Patrick’s College student, Buechler was a front foot all-rounder, who takes the game on with both bat and ball.
Only recently he scored 152 not out for the Sandgate Redcliffe’s third grade side and he has established himself as a young man to watch.
NOAH EAST (BRISBANE BOYS’ COLLEGE)
East’s GPS First XI season for Brisbane Boys’ College was highlighted by an impressive innings of 111 from 111 balls, an achievement which should never be taken for granted given how hard earned GPS centuries are.
HAMISH MCDONALD (CHURCHIE)
McDonald was an easy selection in the 2022 GPS First XI team of the season.
He is an aggressive batsman capable of turning matches, while his accurate leg-spinners often took opposing openers out of their comfort zone when he took the new ball.
SAM BELL (BRISBANE BOYS’ COLLEGE)
Bell was in a way a mirror image of McDonald - an excellent leg-spinner and accomplished batsman who was never beaten.
Bell is a fine player who can find runs under pressure.
CALLUM GALVIN (TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR - 12TH MAN)
He may be last on this list but he was one of the first players to come into our minds when assessing the GPS First XI team of the season.
His consistency with the bat and ball made him an easy choice for inclusion.
LACHLAN AITKEN (VICE CAPTAIN - GOLD COAST)
The Hillcrest Christian College Year 12 student has been honoured with the vice-captaincy of the Queensland Metro under-19s.
A Broadbeach Robina junior, Aitken is an outstanding wicketkeeper.
ASHTON GUMM (GOLD COAST)
The Southport Labrador club junior, Gumm has been named in the Metro under-19 side.
The young batsmen and handy bowler has been a regular around representative teams and will see plenty of familiar faces at the nationals.
QUEENSLAND UNDER-17 MALE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS SQUAD
ALEX PROCOPIS (NORTHS)
We present to you the leading run scorer in the Lord’s Taverners competition - Some feat that is and he is 146 runs clear of the next best batsmen in Harry Frost.
Procopis has scored a century this season, is averaging 50 runs a game, strikes at a run-a-ball, has scored five half centuries and has hit 543 runs.
He would have been one of the first picked in the Queensland under-17 squad.
AMITOJ SIDHU (TOOMBUL)
Sidhu is someone you want on your team - a textbook all-rounder, who can take wickets and deliver a timely cameo, who was a lock for the Queensland under-17s.
BAILEY GARNHAM (GOLD COAST)
Garnham is safe as houses opening the batting - he gets his eye in and boy does he look good when he gets going.
He isn’t at the peak of his powers right now but expect a few veteran knocks at the National Championships.
CARTER SIMPSON (SANDGATE-REDCLIFFE)
Simpson has all the value in the world, he takes wickets, bowls economically and has all the tools to score big.
This season he is averaging 30 and has taken 13 wickets with 14 maidens.
He keeps batsmen on their toes and on the other side of the ball can make bowlers pay.
CURTIS MCALLISTER (SUNSHINE COAST)
McAllister will find form in the National Championships just you watch.
He has been a bit out of touch this season but a big score is waiting just around the corner for the No. 4 batsmen, who could steady any ship regardless of the circumstances.
DANIEL SKIPWITH (WESTS)
Skipwith just loves batting, He loves being out there, and he scores steadily too.
He’s averaging 32.36 opening the batting and on Sunday he was at his best with 91.
He gets Wests off to a promising start before Jack Sonter comes in and follows suit with an innings of his own.
ESHWIN KAPOOR/NIKHIL SHARMA (TOOMBUL)
Toombul bowlers Kapoor and Sharma have each picked up 19 wickets so far this season and have both taken five-wicket hauls.
Kapoor’s bowling average of 14.42 has earned him a spot in the Queensland under-17 squad.
GRIFFITH WILLIAMS (GOLD COAST)
Williams is a jack of all trades - give him the bat and a cameo is almost certain.
After 20-30 crucial runs, Williams has you sorted but you also can’t sleep on his bowling ability.
He has taken 19 wickets in 10 games with best figures of 4/17, his bowling average is 13.63 and is the Gold Coast’s best bowler.
JACK BALKIN (TOOMBUL)
The younger brother of elite fast bowling all-rounder Tom Balkin, the Nudgee star is another excellent all-round cricketer, who bowls off spin and bats in the top order.
JACK SONTER (WESTS)
Wests’ Mr Consistent Jack Sonter sure knows how to wield a willow.
He has been seeing them well this season with an average of 33.82.
He’s one of those guys that will score runs for you, He may not go on to triple figures but runs are a given when he is at the crease.
JAMIE ALEXANDER (UQ)
This guy can do it all - not just on the cricket pitch but on the footy field.
This year, he was a scrum half star for the BBC First XV team in the GPS competition but it is cricket where Alexander excels.
He can bowl and he can bat and as such he has made the Queensland under-17 team.
He has taken a five-wicket haul and had an innings of 75 in his 10 games played this season.
SETH MCGINTY (ROVERS) Seth McGinty Rovers Cricket Club (CFN)
From sporting rich Cairns, Rovers Cricket Club product Seth McGinty has been a standout in the regional system for some years now.
He is a well-built fast bowler who has had exposure in the Bulls Masters Under 16 Challenge competition and gets his break here with selection in the Queensland Under 17 squad.
THISAJA SAMARAWICKRAMA (SOUTHS)
Samarawickrama is a sourcerist with the ball, he keeps it tight, takes wickets and applies pressure.
Look no further than his bowling average of 9.58 to see how good he is.
NON-TRAVELLING RESERVES IN CASE OF INJURIES
JACKSON STEINHARDT (WYNNUM MANLY)
Steinhardt could not have done more to gain selection in the Queensland under-17 team.
He is averaging 28 with the bat and 13.13 with the ball, he has a five-wicket haul to his name this season, along with seven maidens and 23 wickets.
He has been a staple in our team of the week’s all year.
BRAYDEN MEEGAMA (UQ)
Is Meegama the best bowler in the Lord Taverner’s competition? He’d have to be close.
He has taken 26 wickets at an average of 8.27 and he will not go a game without a dismissal or two.
TALON REICHERT (SUNSHINE COAST)
Let’s just say Queensland will be in good hands if any injuries occur for the selected team. Reichert will be ready and it will be with ball in hand where he will stamp his mark on the Championships.
He has had a brilliant season in the Lord’s Taverners, a consistent customer for the Sunshine Coast.
FERGUS MCFADYEN (NORTHS)
McFadyen compliments the batting prowess of his Norths teammate Alex Procopis with his bowling efforts.
His best figures on the year are 4/19 and he hasn’t even hit his stride yet - there are more wickets to come from this young gun.
WILDCARD WATCH
HARRY SHEPPARD (IPSWICH GRAMMAR)
Calm under pressure, the Ipswich Grammar School top order batsman Harry Sheppard was a class act in 2022.
JACK GELDARD (TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR)
All-rounder Geldard was a spinner and gun fielder who was always in the game for Toowoomba Grammar School.
CALLUM REIDY
An all-rounder who batted high in the order and took the new ball, while also setting a high standard in the field.
CURTIS BEEVERS (ST PETERS LUTHERAN COLLEGE)
Beevers was a model of consistency throughout his time in the St Peters Lutheran College program, the squad’s best all-round performance for consistency with both bat and ball.
JOHN JOYCE (GREGORY TERRACE)
Terrace’s John Joyce and young Churchie’s JS Draper were two excellent glovemen in the GPS First XI competition and their progress will be eagerly watched.
HARRY FROST (VALLEY)
Frost needs a fire extinguisher to put him out once he gets his eye in.
That was the case on Sunday when the young gun scored 114 runs against Sandgate-Redcliffe. If Valley want to make a push for the premiership, they’ll need their main man Frost to fire.
SUPER SCHOOLGIRLS
SIANNA GINGER (VALLEY, KEDRON STATE HIGH)
A talented all-rounder, who bats in the top order and bowls right-arm medium fast - the Townsville product is already a standout in the Katherine Raymont Shield women’s first grade competition and was invited to train alongside the WBBL Brisbane Heat recently.
Will lead the way in the Queensland Under-19 team later this summer.
LUCY HAMILTON (SUNSHINE COAST, ACROSS THE WAVES, SHALOM COLLEGE)
A rising star of Queensland Cricket, the tall left-arm pace bowler has already tasted senior cricket in the WNCL for the Queensland Fire and the WBBL Brisbane Heat despite being one of the youngest players on this list.
Set to be a key performer in the Queensland Under-19 team later this summer.
TARA STAINES (SUNSHINE COAST, ACROSS THE WAVES, MONTO STATE HIGH)
Another of the emerging players who hails from a regional background.
A talented off-spinner who also bats in the top order for the Sunshine Coast Scorchers.
AMY HUNTER (SUNSHINE COAST, ATHERTON CC, ATHERTON STATE HIGH)
Rated one of the quickest bowlers to emerge in this age bracket, the Atherton State High student will gain valuable exposure in the national under-19 titles in January.
Has played in the men’s grade competition in Cairns.
BONNIE BERRY (SUNSHINE COAST, EMERALD BROTHERS, MARIST COLLEGE EMERALD)
An athletic central Queensland quick who is in her second year in the Queensland women’s youth program.
She was a member of the Maroons squad that won the title last season and has spent time training with the Queensland Fire and the WBBL Brisbane Heat.
DARCY JOHNSON (SANDGATE-REDCLIFFE, ST RITA’S COLLEGE)
A promising leg-spinner who has caught the eye of state selectors.
The St Rita’s student will take her game to the next level as part of the Queensland under-19 squad.
TAYLOR STUMER (SANDGATE-REDCLIFFE, ACROSS THE WAVES, KEPNOCK STATE HIGH)
Another fine Wide Bay prospect, Stumer is a talented batter with Sandgate-Redcliffe who can also keep wickets.
REBECCA KUITERS (SANDGATE-REDCLIFFE, MT ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE)
Kuiters has emerged from underage competitions like the Paul Pink Shield and Kirby Short Cup.
A right-hand bat and right-arm medium pacer, she has been included in the Queensland under-19 squad following consistent efforts for Sandgate-Redcliffe in the Katherine Raymont Shield.
LUCY BOURKE (VALLEY, ST MARGARET’S)
Hailing from Warwick, Bourke is First XI player with St Margaret’s in the QGSSSA competition and a first grade player with Valley.
Bourke was chosen in an Australia under-15 development squad in 2020 after being part of the Queensland Under-15 team.
NAIYA VARIDEL (WESTS, ST AIDAN’S ANGLICAN GIRLS SCHOOL)
Varidel recently brought up 100 premier grade matches for Wests.
The all-rounder has captained Metropolitan South West in schools cricket and played for the Queensland Under-15 team that won the nationals in 2020.
She also writes and produces content for the Wests club website.
TRINITY DOYLE (IPSWICH, WMAC)
The left-arm pace bowler is cutting her teeth in first grade with the Ipswich Hornets after starring with bat and ball in underage competitions in the past two years.
GRACE COLLINS (WYNNUM MANLY, XAVIER CATHOLIC COLLEGE)
Another of the young guns, the talented batter hails from Beth Mooney territory in Hervey Bay and is building her game with Wynnum Manly in Premier Cricket.
She was the 2021-2022 recipient of the Jodie Purves Young Cricketer Development Scholarship.
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