Revealing the five local cricket stars snubbed by North Queensland selectors
North Queensland selectors have omitted some of the brightest stars from the Open Zone Men’s Championships from the representative side. Find out who we rated and who missed the cut.
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North Queensland has finalised its senior representative cricket squads for the summer following the conclusion of the NQCA Open Zone Championships.
While selectors have gone with a team of representative regulars, their faith in North Queensland’s reliable performers has led to a number of standouts missing the cut.
Mackay-Whitsunday wicketkeeper Sam Vassallo has deservedly made the NQCA squad but he will have to watch his back after a terrific tournament by Ingham teenager Pierce Carrara, who claimed 10 catches across the four fixtures.
Carrara also impressed during his limited batting opportunities, hitting 50 runs off 48 balls in two innings – losing his bails on just one occasion.
See the recently announced NQCA Open Zone Championships rep squads below our team of the tournament
TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
1. Aidan Firman (FNQ)
Firman has continued his red hot 2024 with a decent tournament finishing second-leading runscorer with 137 runs at 34.25.
The young opener smashed his way to 89 off 80 balls in the round 1 match against Mackay-Whitsunday but struggled after that to get starts with a 16, 19 and 13 but didn’t go on with it as Far North Queensland finished second with three wins and one loss.
2. Callum McMahon (CQ)
McMahon was the competition’s leading runscorer with 148 runs at a 49.33 average and although he didn’t open the batting for Central Queensland we have promoted him up the order to start the innings with a bang.
The talented all-rounder also contributed with the ball in hand, taking seven wickets across the tournament to match his teammate Riley McDonald’s efforts.
3. Sam Lowry (NQ)
Lowry didn’t quite have the batting impact many expected during this year’s tournament but the Queensland Country mainstay made sure to make his presence felt in each game.
An impressive 66 runs off 62 balls in a big round 4 win over Far North Queensland’s was Lowry’s finest innings however he was forced to retire early and give his teammates a swing.
Lowry also has the ability to take a wicket, claiming four.
4. Ryan Eaton (NQ)
Widely regarded as one of Townsville’s top all-rounders, though Eaton’s role with North Queensland was purely with the bat.
Eaton finished fourth overall in the batting standings with 123 runs at a 61.5 average, always making sure to have a big impact with the bat.
5. Justin Reid (FNQ)
Far North Queensland’s captain didn’t have the tournament or impact he said he would like to have had but still managed to finish inside the top 10 leading run scorers, finishing with 107 runs at 26.75.
Reid blasted 73 off 56 balls in the opening match against Mackay-Whitsunday but struggled to back it up, finishing with seven, nine and 18 in his next three innings.
6. Lachlan Ford (NQ)
Ford was consistently one of North Queensland’s best, taking at least two wickets in each of his four games to lead the competition with 11 scalps.
Ford was also economic with his bowling at a rate of just 8.36, while also contributing 75 runs for the loss of just one wicket.
Already regarded on of regional Queensland’s finest fielders, Ford took at least one catch in every game and threw a memorable unassisted run-out.
7. + Pierce Carrara (NQ)
While he only had limited opportunities with the bat, teenage wicketkeeper Carrara had the safest hands north of Rockhampton.
The rising star of Ingham took 10 catches across the tournament and was explosive when called upon, hitting 50 runs off 48 balls in two innings – losing his bails on one occasion.
8. Will Robertson (FNQ
Far North Queensland’s front line spinner finished equal sixth in the leading bowling tally, and was Cairns’ leading wicket taker, surprisingly ahead of young gun Seth McGinty and Queensland Rep Jake Roach.
Robertson finished with five wickets at an average of 21, only missing out on a wicket in their loss to North Queensland on the final Sunday.
Robertson claimed 2-34 from nine overs and 2-21 from three overs (T20) against Mackay-Whitsunday on the opening weekend, then picked up 1-30 from seven overs against Central Queensland.
9. Travis Busch (NQ)
Busch took more wickets than any player bar Lachlan Ford, collecting nine scalps across the tournament.
The young gun from Townsville doesn’t know how to have a bad game, taking at least two wickets every game with some terrific figures.
10. Riley McDonald (CQ)
McDonald led Central Queensland bowling with seven wickets to his name at an economic 14.29 average.
His impressive performance in round 4 against Mackay-Whitsunday when he took 3-24 during a 10-over spell was a highlight.
11. Joe McGahan (CQ)
The Central Queensland skipper was a menace with the ball, taking six wickets across the tournament at a decent clip of 24.33.
While McGahan will be disappointed with some of his batting performances he still found ways to make a big impact for his team.
2024 NORTH QUEENSLAND REP SQUADS
2024 NCQA OPEN MEN
Joe McGahan
Logan Whitfield
Jeff Case
Callum McMahon
Lachlan Ford
Sam Lowry
Travis Busch
Men McCartney
Aidan Firman
Jake Roach
Matthew Wilkins
Marcus Berryman
Sam Vassallo
Coach: Wade Fraser
Manager: Glenn Bauer
2024 NQCA OPEN WOMEN
Elisha Holdsworth
Keiryn Lenoy
Phoebe Murphy
Taylor Schutt
Meg McCartney
Grace Abdy
Aleisha Middleton
Mahli Rea
Kiana Dunn
Brooke Morrish
Matilda Faulkner
Lila Aitkinson
Abbey Harvey
Coach: Shane Dunn
Manager: Michelle Harvey
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