Sunshine Coast cricketers ready to hit pitch for opening one-day fixtures

Sunshine Coast’s division one cricketers will shift gear this weekend as they look to stamp their mark early in the opening one-day fixtures of the season.

Caloundra’s Jack Cockram bowls. Picture: John McCutcheon

Twenty20 cricket takes a backseat this weekend as the Sunshine Coast Division 1 moves into the first games of the one day competition, occupying the next seven Saturdays.

In the meantime, the final T20 round is on Sunday week, October 10, then the finals on the 17th at Caboolture.

All eyes will be on Henzell Oval, where a rejuvenated Caloundra hosts longtime powerhouse Caboolture, and the home side has the opportunity to make a mark as a genuine contender.

Last year’s leader Wally Wright has moved on from a top order lifted by the addition of Brendan Kelly in the second half of the season, a loss compensated by the presence of Rod Gibbs, David Hill and Sam Underhill.

Caboolture has a formidable top four in Batticciotto, White, Coffin and Schubert, who could easily dominate on the run-friendly Lighthouse strip, though the predicted rainfall may make things tricky for both sides.

The return of Jack Cockram brings a quality wicket-taker back for the home side, and the Snakes’ Preston White may need to revive the magic of three seasons past, where just nine stints with the ball brought 35 wickets.

Caloundra’s Jack Cockram bowls. Picture: John McCutcheon

Tewantin-Noosa has had a dominant T20 outing, strong with bat and ball after acquiring some top order grit in Lewis Waugh with the bat.

This has given proven reliability, needed badly in a flighty top order that often under-rewarded the bowlers.

The absence of Tom Freshwater, last season’s top wicket-taker has been compensated by the development of Tom Stewart with the new ball, plus the skills of Scott Aufderheide and the mere presence of Ben Laughlin.

Bowling has never really been the problem in a squad that now has an air of confidence.

Gympie hosts the Thunder with a question mark on the squad’s over-reliance on runs from too few at the top.

Steve Brady, Lewis Waugh and Andy Batten produced 56 per cent of the Gold’s runs last season, and now the middle member is not there.

Josh Brady can add that special something, but his skills need to be present to be effective, and with the bowling, Brycen Mitchell needs to combine with the big heart of Kelvin Cochrane to produce the new ball pairing any side would want.

Glasshouse lacks the benefits of Steve Heise and Heath Fischer with the ball until Christmas, and Joel Owen temporarily, but the batting is also a worry, with only Dan Cahill and the ageless Jeremy Schultz totalling three figures after six appearances.

The Rangers have a developing young bowling troupe which will definitely mature, and now needs some runs to bowl to.

Against visitors Maroochydore, who have power both with strokes and ball in Callum Stitt, Luke McInnes and Reid Anderson, Glasshouse has to keep the lid on early runs.

The Swans bowling depth with Blaine Schloss, Mark Jackson and Zane Gilder can send batsmen to sleep, setting the Rangers the challenge of aggression.

Coolum and Nambour complete the contest for the first one-dayers, which have been washed out four times in the last decade.

On a dry Nambour Showgrounds the opening overs will be vital in each innings, as it appears Nambour’s Steve Ledger and the Shark’s Sam Curtis will be the early wickets needed.

The Cutters have greater depth, going on their T20 clash, but both sides are capable of good and bad in an early search for points.