Vote for Queensland Cricket’s most underrated player for season 2021-22
From quietly going about their business to performing in the biggest games, over 80 of Queensland’s most underrated cricketers were nominated for the title – but there can only be one winner. FULL RESULTS
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IPSWICH Hornets paceman Adam Smith has been crowned Queensland’s most underrated grassroots cricketer and he may soon have a Queensland Premier Cricket premiership to go with it.
News Corp has been on the hunt for the unsung heroes of Queensland cricket, the men who are key to their team’s premiership chances but don’t typically get the limelight like some of their star teammates.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FINAL POLL RESULTS
Smith was shocked to discover he took out the number one position from a list of over 80 nominees.
“It is really unexpected,” Smith said.
“I hadn’t thought about it much but it is pretty cool. I am really chuffed to be honest.”
Smith, 26, moulded his game at Ipswich Grammar School and was part of the inaugural Ipswich-Logan Hornets side.
He was never identified as a prodigy and didn’t play in state schoolboy teams but has worked alongside the likes of former Australia representative Andy Bichel to become one of the best bowlers in Queensland.
“I hit my straps about four years ago with my bowling,” he said.
“That is when I really started to develop my skills and harness that ability. I spent a couple of years in and out of first grade and that is when you really learn your lessons about your trade.”
Ipswich will play Western Suburbs in the grand final of the Queensland Premier Cricket competition from Saturday in what will be a four-day game split across two weekends at Ivor Marsden Memorial Park.
CAIRNS
Sean Prior (Barron): 1%
A quality spinner who often gets lost among the big names of Cricket Far North bowling, Prior has proven a more than capable batter in Barron’s order.
The all-rounder took an impressive 7-65 in the opening two matches of the CFN one day series.
Gerhard Labuschagne (Barron): 1%
He’s no Marnus, but Gerhard Labuschagne has carved out many solid innings for Barron at the crease with plenty of half-centuries to his name.
He’s also had commendable time with the ball, including a five-for against Mulgrave in round 13 of first grade CFN.
Matt Wilkins (Mulgrave): 6%
With major bigwig batters such as Jake Roach, Justin Reid and Will Robertson on deck, it can be easy to look over one of Mulgrave’s most reliable, and deadly, batsmen.
Wilkins hasn’t lost a step in his time with the club, ranking behind Roach with aggregate runs on the one-day season with 314.
Blake Raper (Mulgrave): 1%
Ranked third in Mulgrave for wickets taken in the one-day season with 18 wickets, Raper is a formidable force to face on the pitch.
The Far North Fusion bowler’s best CFN performance came in the form of a 5-32 innings against Rovers.
Aiden Firman (Norths): 3%
The young batting machine has whacked more than 500 runs across three grades in CFN this season.
Firman’s work at the crease earned him a spot on Norths’ first grade order in 2022, and so far he’s impressed his piers with his continued growth.
Connor Punshon (Norths): 0%
Across Norths’ first and second grade squads, Punshon has been a consistent all-rounder for his club.
He ranks 11th in his club by way of wickets taken with 19-153.
Aaron Lock (Rovers): 2%
As consistent as they come, Lock suits up for both Rovers’ second and first grade teams.
Lock knows how to lock it down when it comes to T20 bowling, going 7-100 across the five rounds of the season late last year.
Finn Churchward (Rovers): 3%
When called upon, Churchward can bat among the best of them.
Rarely leaving a game without doing some damage, the batsman has multiple 30-plus innings for Rovers across one-day and T20 games.
This includes two 40-run games against the juggernaut Mulgrave, which is notorious for its destructively stingy bowling.
Harrison Ryan (Cassowary Coast Cyclones): 1%
You’ll be lucky to get more than 30 runs past Ryan, who routinely limits opposing batsmen to low totals.
Ryan has 16 wickets across appearances with the Cyclones’ first and third grade one day and T20 matches.
Christo van Vuuren (Cassowary Coast Cyclones): 1%
An up and comer, van Vuuren continues to build as a Cyclone batter with a lot left in the tank.
Van Vuuren has a handful of great batting performances under his belt, including a 60-run innings against Norths.
Mason Blaney (Atherton): 4%
The Blaneys are known for their cricketing skill, and that certainly applies to Mason.
While predominantly batting in the tail end, Blaney had himself a solid innings at the crease, including a 65-run haul against Rovers.
Caleb Constant (Atherton): 1%
Keeping can often be a thankless task, however Constant has shown constantly he’s a key piece of his club’s first grade squad.
Aside from serving as his team’s gloveman, Constant has helped his team’s total many a time with a few quality batting innings.
GOLD COAST
Brent Anderson (Palm Beach Currumbin): 1%
Anderson bats fairly low down the order, often at seventh or eighth, but he is a powerful hitter of the ball.
He has all the attributes of a quality batsman and, although he hasn’t quite fired in the 2021-22 season yet, he shapes as a potential matchwinner in finals.
Canning Mason (Palm Beach Currumbin): 1%
He has only bowled a few overs so far this season and has spent most of his time behind the stumps with the gloves on but he may change ends in the coming weeks.
Manning bowls tricky medium-pace and could catch many off-guard.
Talha Abbasi (Mudgeeraba Nerang & Districts): 1%
A super aggressive batsman who strikes the ball clean and can single-handedly change the game.
Rhys Finn (Mudgeeraba Nerang & Districts): 6%
He has taken 19 wickets at 12.11 over 10 games this season while bowling medium-pace.
Steven Graham (Runaway Bay): 1%
Often spoken about for his ability with the ball because he is the leading wicket taker with 40 scalps this season, Graham is also a formidable opponent with the willow.
Graham has the 14th highest runs, 306, for the season and is averaging an impressive 76.5.
Jared Austin (Runaway Bay): 1%
The second highest wicket taker last season, Austin may only have 19 scalps to his name this season but it isn’t because of any drop in form.
Openers Steve Graham and Matt Madeley have been doing the bulk of the damage but Austin is incredibly tight with his bowling and an economical medium-pacer.
Steven van der Walt (Surfers Paradise): 1%
A man who scores his runs when his side needs them most.
Van der Walt usually bats about sixth in the order and has three half-centuries to his name this season.
Michael Waldren (Surfers Paradise): 1%
He has taken more than 100 wickets for the club and has only failed to take a scalp in a handful of games over the past five years.
Waldren is as reliable as they come and led his team’s bowling last season.
Sam Lickiss (Helensvale Pacific Pines): 1%
Don’t be fooled by his happy-go-lucky demeanour, it disguises an incredible ability to turn a game on its head quickly.
Lickiss has scored 327 runs this season, with a top score of 103.
Jack Baird (Helensvale Pacific Pines): 1%
A bowler who keeps fronting up and getting the job done. He has been overlooked at the next level but there is no doubting his ability.
Jordan Ryan (Burleigh): 1%
He has scored some matchwinning knocks for Burleigh, combining with Michael Spargo in the middle order to form one of the strongest partnerships in Gold Coast cricket.
Jack Tate (Burleigh): 0%
Tate has consistently taken wickets for Burleigh and his haul of 29 so far this season is the fourth-best of any bowler in the competition. He is highly underrated because he is deceptively quick and catches many batsmen by surprise.
Luc Hart de Keating (Southport Labrador): 0%
The team’s opening batsman is still a teenager at 17 but he more than holds his own in Cricket Gold Coast’s first grade competition.
De Keating has scored 199 runs already this season and is one of Southport Labrador’s most reliable with the bat.
Mitchell Johnson (Southport Labrador): 2%
He opened the bowling for his team in the one-day games and did a great job.
It came as a shock as Johnson struggled with the ball in the first few games but came into his own when the shorter format rolled around.
Will Hudgson (Alberton Ormeau): 1%
He doesn’t get many plaudits but Hudgson is one of his side’s better bowlers.
He is a paceman who took 5-18 in the first innings against Southport Labrador in Round 2.
Keegan Armstrong (Broadbeach Robina): 0%
A gritty player who fights for every run he gets. Armstrong floats around the batting order, opening some weeks while appearing in the middle-order on others.
Conan Sternberg (Broadbeach Robina): 1%
A crafty medium-pacer who has 21 wickets to his name this season.
Kyle Brockley and Reece McDonald usually lead the attack but it is Sternberg who quite often gets the breakthrough, partly because the batsman think they can get after him.
Sternberg has a few variations up his sleeve and moves the ball around well.
Darren Collis (Coomera Hope Island): 2%
A batsman who has an enormous will to win and wants to get the best out of everyone around him.
After scoring a couple of centuries in New Zealand, Collis returned to Australia to link back up with Coomera Hope Island where he often stands tall when the team is under the pump.
Benji Lee (Coomera Hope Island): 0%
A leg-spinner who has claimed the scalp of some of the best batsman in the competition. A long-time first grade player who often goes unnoticed.
Ned Hanrahan (Queens): 0%
A player who comes from The Southport School. With a top score of 57 for Queens’ first grade side, Hanrahan has been the team’s surprise packet this season. He has come on in leaps and bounds.
Alastair Philp (Queens): 0%
Another who hails from The Southport School, Philp is a young leg-spinner who has proven to be a gem this season for Queens. He doesn‘t rate himself highly but his opponents are starting to become very wary of him.
TOOWOOMBA
Jacob Maroske (Western Districts): 0%
The talented off-spinner knows how to tie up an end – averaging 17.60 with the ball in hand this season and claiming 11 wickets from 12 matches.
Maroske adds a great deal of experience to already talent-laden Western Districts.
A real effort player, Maroske can be relied on to do whatever is asked of him when he’s bought into the attack.
Matthew Spanner (Western Districts): 0%
At just 16 years of age Spanner is the young gun making his mark in one Toowoomba cricket’s best sides.
Spanner has a had a few lean innings in his second year of A-grade but he’s also had some good knocks with scores with scores of 43, 54 and 61. He is definitely a player to watch.
Andrew Johnston (University): 0%
Johnston has been a club stalwart for a number of years and is relishing his opportunities in A-grade this season.
The pace bowler isn’t the quickest but he can hit a spot consistently and picked his first five- wicket haul this season.
Averaging 14.0 with the ball in his four two-day matches he’s also chipped in with 140 runs.
Mitchell Bourke (University): 1%
Bourke can be a diamond or coal type of player but when he’s a diamond he’s almost unstoppable. Hasn’t had the best season to date but always shows glimpses of his talent.
Todd Martin (Northern Brothers Diggers): 0%
The fast bowler has played a lot of Reserve Grade in past seasons but only because of the strength of Diggers A-grade side.
John Schmaker (Northern Brother Diggers): 0%
Another reserve grader stepping up, Schmaker is good for a handful of runs every innings and can bat in just about any role.
Matthew Budden (Southern District Magpies): 2%
The medium to fast pace bowler has bags of experience, ability and a great work ethic. He knows how to hit the spot and has taken 21 wickets in nine matches this season.
Nicholas Morgan (Southern Districts Magpies): 0%
Morgan hasn’t had a lot of game time this season but in just four matches he’s shown what he can do with 81 runs in that time. When he’s fit he’s a consistent run-scorer.
Angus Kelly (Highfields-Railways): 0%
A young spinner who isn’t afraid to toss the ball up. Highfields-Railways have turned to their youth in recent seasons and with some experience under his belt Kelly will be a star of the future.
Zachary Bichel (Highfields-Railways): 0%
Another of the club’s young guns, Bichel is yet to rack up a big score but the signs are there. Bichel is a student of the game and a gutsy player at the same time.
BRISBANE
Liam Hope-Shackley (Wynnum): 2%
This is a great nomination for under rated.
Liam Hope-Shackley channels the legendary West Indian great Sir Garry Sobers by batting No. 4 and opening the bowling.
His runs have ballooned beyond 700 this season and he has more than 33 wickets.
We did not know whether to put him in the bowling or batting category, so good is he at both.
Grayson Jones (Wynnum): 0%
What is it with Wynnum and all-rounders? Grayson Jones bats No. 5 where he has scored about 650 runs, and bowls handy off-spin – 15 wickets at 37.27.
Addy Grewal (Norths): 0%
Not as high profile as some of the young guns in the Vikings line-up in the KFC Queensland Premier Cricket competition but the first-year batter has made every post a winner so far. The teenager scored a determined hundred in round 3 and has added a further four half centuries.
Scott Palombo (Gold Coast): 0%
The Southport School Old Boy won a GPS premiership with TSS and made his first grade debut for Gold Coast in the Queensland Premier Cricket competition in 2018. A dashing batter who can do the job anywhere in the order, it is no surprise he has featured in the Dolphins’ recent run of championships.
Ash Renouf (Sunshine Coast): 1%
The strapping paceman did a fine job as coach of the Scorchers’ women’s team last year on the way to their maiden Katherine Raymont Shield title. A Queensland and Australian Indigenous representative in recent years, he continues to give good service in second and first grade.
Jack Webster (Toombul): 0%
Quick, guess who the leading runs-scorer is at Toombul? If you were fumbling with names like Chris Lynn or Matt Renshaw, put your mind at ease.
Jack Webster (a smidgen ahead of rising talent Harry McNeilly), has more than 600 runs for far this season, with a century, a 96 and two half centuries.
Webster, who is also the social secretary for the club, is a former Queensland Under 19 player who joined Toombul from Wynnum-Manly. He’s also snared 13 catches.
Ash Sims (Wests): 0%
The Wests spinner has gone about her work without fuss or bother over the past few seasons, although last summer’s record season haul of 46 wickets in the Katherine Raymont Shield lifted her into the spotlight. Continues to push her claims for higher honours.
Ben Davis (University of Qld): 1%
Clubs looking to bolster their First-Grade teams with a ready-made starter next season should be beating a path to St Lucia to see if Ben Davis would like a change of scenery.
The all-rounder has shone in the Alan Pettigrew Shield for UQ.
He has claimed 44 wickets at 13.57 to be leading wicket-taker in second grade as well as scoring 553 runs.
Emmanuel Peterson (South Brisbane): 1%
A classy No 3 that has amassed more than 492 runs at 50-plus in two-day cricket this season in first grade.
Lucky has lead the Souths batting line up now for the best part of the past decade.
He is a performer renowned for batting a long time and wearing down bowling attacks.
James Eccles (South Brisbane): 0%
Meet Mr Consistent, Jamie Eccles, who bats No. 4 for the club and has been a mainstay of Souths batting line up. He also has an pushing 50 Premier Grade Cricket.
The under rated Eccles is also a handy medium pace bowler that provides regular back up to Souths attack.
Adam Smith (Ipswich): 8%
The influence of Queensland pace bowling legend Andy Bichel has helped unsung paceman Adam Smith emerge from the pack out west.
A local junior who attended Ipswich Grammar School, he has taken 28 wickets at 24.29 to help the Hornets up the ladder in the Sci-Fleet First Grade competition.
Donal Whyte (Valley): 2%
Right-arm paceman Donal Whyte has taken 35 wickets at 25.6 for Valley so far this season.
A product of Marist Brothers Ashgrove and a former Queensland Youth representative, the Cairns-born quick has also played Premier Cricket with Parramatta in Sydney.
Now 22, he made his Queensland 2nd XI debut last week in the washed-out game against ACT/NSW Country.
Greg Morton (Redlands): 0%
One from left-field, although no-one at this club would dare underrate Greg Morton. Combines Veterans Cricket (where he is a Queensland over-55 representative) with Premier Cricket where he helps emerging Tigers talent with their first touches in senior cricket.
The sixth-grade captain won a premiership last year in the WEP Harris Shield and went past 3000 grade runs.
He’s added another 412 runs this season for the Tigers.
Chathura Kaluthanthri (Sandgate-Redcliffe): 2%
Kaluthanthri has been a revelation for Sandgate-Redcliffe this season, where he is miles in front as the Gators’ leading wicket-taker.
The medium-pacer has taken 35 wickets at 17.97 in the top grade after breaking through from second grade (where he has a further 10 wickets).
SUNSHINE COAST
Jayden Coffin (Caboolture): 0%
Can sneak under the radar in Caboolture’s elite batting attack but after some ongoing injury troubles Coffin is still regarded as a solid option for the snakes.
Coffin is a much, much better player than his numbers show.
Jack Connew (Caboolture): 0%
Connew is known to be a crafty left arm orthodox spinner which is already a rare form in his league.
His work with the ball is crucial especially with his limited overs and can really hold his opposition to limited run chances.
Angus Douglas (Nambour): 0%
A first grade veteran that has proven himself as a reliable batsman for the already attacking Nambour unit.
Douglas’s effort to grind out innings and create partnerships with his teammates is a credit to his performances with the bat.
Jatinder Singh (Nambour): 1%
A leg spinner that bounced onto the first grade scene midway through the year and is yet to look back.
Singh is no doubt still learning his craft but his skill with the ball can’t be questioned because when he’s on song, he‘s one of the competition’s more craftier wicket takers.
Matt Watson (Maroochydore): 1%
Already regarded as one of the competition‘s best wicketkeepers, Watson’s talent with the bat has highly contributed to his eye-catching performances this season.
Putting together a few solid innings with the bat. Watson doesn‘t mind finding the gap in the field hitting a cool 36 boundaries from 14 innings this season.
Blaine Scholes (Maroochydore): 0%
Revealed as a player to watch earlier in the year, Scholes has taken that in his stride picking up 23 wickets for the season.
Maroochydore is one of the competition’s strongest teams but Scholes still finds a way to contribute week-in, week-out.
Tom Stewart (Tewantin-Noosa): 0%
A dark horse heading into the season given the class and experience of Tewantin-Noosa’s bowling attack, Stewart has gone ‘the big lift’ as he’s taken the fourth most wickets across the entire Sunshine Coast this season.
Ben Laughlin (Tewantin-Noosa): 0%
Known for his work with the ball in hand, former Brisbane Heat and Queensland Bulls paceman Ben Laughlin hasn’t taken a backwards step at the crease this season.
Averaging a calm 28.6 across the season, Laughlin has continued to climb the batting order for his team each week.
Tiaan Scheepers (Coolum): 0%
A newbie for the Coolum first grade team and someone that has continued to sneak under the radar of opposition players when he comes to the crease.
Proving his work with the ball, he wanted to be regarded as more of an all rounder and has delivered on that promise on a few occasions for his team this season.
Brayden Simpson (Coolum): 0%
Another Coolum player that is fresh on the scene but has used that to his advantage this season.
The rare but exciting first grade left arm unorthodox has collected a few surprising wickets this season against some of the region‘s better players.
Ricky Sawyer (Glasshouse): 0%
Sawyer is one player that can get the scoreboard ticking over once he’s set himself at the crease.
He’s known to be very underrated at just how fast he can move the ball along if those first few balls are wasted.
Matthew Diggles (Glasshouse): 0%
Someone who has climbed the grades for Glasshouse and it’s easy to understand why.
With a solid line and length and a very good change of pace, he can be a surprise packet in any grade at any time of the match.
MACKAY
Ted Roker (Souths Sharks): 6%
Roker is a gifted wicketkeeper, but his recent form with both the bat and ball has helped the Sharks to an impressive late-season run.
He moved from the middle order to opening, and has averaged 35.75 since the change.
The Sharks struggled to find a consistent partner for captain Shaun Austin, but Roker has been unearthed as a genuine long-term option.
He has also taken two wickets in limited overs.
Peter Blaik (Walkerston): 5%
Blaik is known as a big-hitting batter, but he is just as damaging with the ball in hand.
He has only bowled 21.3 overs for the season, with eight wickets at an average of 16.5.
Blaik also took 4/29 against Mackay Magpies. He has also scored 653 runs for the season, with four scores more than 70 and a top score of 119.
Jack Dwyer (Mackay Brothers): 2%
Sitting behind Matthew Wicks and Michael Dalrymple can be a tough ask for any bowler, but Jack Dwyer has been a great third option for the Brothers this season.
He has taken 10 wickets across his 47 overs in the season, which is at least 19 overs fewer than the two star bowlers of the finals-bound side.
Lane Kohler (Norths Devils): 2%
Any batter in the Norths side will be overshadowed by Darryn Dyer, but Kohler has been a fantastic option in the dominant Devils line up.
The top-order batter has averaged 37 runs an innings, with a top score of 84 against Magpies a highlight. Also a handy bowler, Kohler has taken 17 wickets for the season.
ROCKHAMPTON
Riley Connor (Rockhampton Brothers): 1%
A talented all-rounder, Connor may not get the most wickets or runs but he is always contributing to his team’s performance, be it with bat, ball or in the field.
His consistency with the ball doesn’t always result in the most wickets but the pressure he builds allows wickets to fall at the other end.
He is also a solid batter who can line up anywhere that is required in the order.
Adam Van Bael (Gracemere): 2%
The left-arm off-spinner might not be the most high-profile of players in the Rockhampton competition but he always gets the job done for Gracemere.
Van Beal has taken his game to the next level this season. He is handed the ball in the middle overs to tighten up the run rate.
He bowls tight and always manages to snare a wicket or two.
Travis Applewaite (Frenchville): 3%
Applewaite comes in at seven or eight in the batting order, producing some aggressive stroke play and hitting unique gaps which keeps the opposition guessing.
A versatile batter, he is a whippet between the wickets which allows him to turn ones into twos and twos in threes. He can really make the opposition pay when he comes to the crease with five to 10 overs to go.
Connor Jacobs (Frenchville): 7%
The right-arm medium pacer is playing his first A-grade season with Frenchville in the Rockhampton competition and is really making his mark.
Coming into the attack at first or second change, he has the ability to skid the ball on and make it hard to play.
He can make batsmen pay if they try to attack him. Jacobs took a hat-trick against The Glen in a T20 game last year and again in the Northside versus Southside Charity match earlier this year.
Brendan Schonknecht (The Glen): 2%
A right-arm off-spinner, Schonknecht manages to snare some valuable wickets for his team. He generally bowls in the middle of the innings and tightens up an end.
He coaxes batters into costly mistakes when they think they can go after him.
Harry Mulville (Cap Coast Parkana): 0%
A right-arm medium pacer, Mulville usually opens for Cap Coast Parkana or comes on first change.
A consistent performer, he bowls a great line and length which makes him hard for batsmen to put away.
He has a great attitude and work ethic and is keen to learn and at just 17, has a big future in front of him.
Townsville
Gareth Sim (Norths): 0%
Sim hasn’t made a rep team but has been one of Townsville cricket’s quietest overachievers. Over the last three seasons Sim has scored at least 300 runs per year and last year averaged more than 50.
A keen off-season hockey player, Sim’s limited availability for representative trials has cost him opportunities but teammates know he would thrive in that arena should the call come.
Gary Friend (Brothers): 1%
Friend’s five-wicket haul against minor premiers Sub Parks over the weekend could have delivered his side into the finals.
The tall timber medium pacer has been taken lightly by opposition batsmen all season but Brothers players have plenty of respect for his talent nipping the ball off the seam.
Phil Angel (Wanderers): 0%
Angel is Wanderers leading runscorer in 2021/2022 and second leading wicket-taker but has been the definition of a quiet achiever.
When gameplanning against Wanderers few teams would put a prize on his wicket but before you know it the toiling opener has reached 30 or 40. One of Townsville’s most efficient, effective batsmen with economical bowling a bonus.
Trent Walsh (Sub Parks): 1%
The left-arm orthodox spinner is Sub’s fourth or fifth bowling option, and oppositions can be lulled into a false sense of security that the appearance of Walsh at the other end means it is time to score.
With good natural variations in spin and pace that is exactly the time Walsh tends to strike, flipping momentum back to his side.
Kyle Dearness (Wests): 1%
Dearness has taken 30 wickets for the season in his first year as an outdoor cricketer, having made his name in the game’s indoor cousin.
An unfamiliar face to the rest of the competition, Dearness has quickly built up a reputation for being a wicket threat.
Let us know what you think of the list in the comments section.
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