AIC First XI cricket players to watch: Broncos signing, Serbian international and Bayside run machine
A Broncos signing; a Serbian international and a bayside run machine among key Players to Watch in round 1 of the AIC First XI cricket this Saturday. See the round 1 teams here.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE AIC First XI cricket season starts on Saturday and the couriermail.com.au will be there providing coverage of the time honoured competition.
It is a competition which has delivered Queensland Test and Shield champions and now the current generation have their turn to do their school communities proud.
The list is headed by St Patrick’s College’s Steve Hogan who has more than 1500 runs this season playing both in his age group (under 16s) and with the men in the grades.
It also includes a Brisbane Broncos signing, Cameron Bukowski, who will be a third season First XI player at VIllanova College, and the Lord Taverner’s leg spin whiz Matt Harvie (St Peters).
Here we present some key players to watch in Round 1.
IONA COLLEGE
Zayne Thomas. A third season player and 2022 premiership winner, the Iona captain will lead by example when he opens the batting. He has been a state level representative cricketer from Year 7 through to Year 11, a talented stroke maker with a tremendous determination to win.
Around him, up-and-coming players include Year 10 student Liam Johns and Harley Malpass (Year 11).
Iona College Director of sport Keith Harron said the team was “hoping for a solid season that will give them an opportunity to achieve both individual and team goals’’.
PADUA COLLEGE
Braithyn Pecic: The young captain will lead from the front where his vast cricketing experience is sure to bubble to the surface. A third year Firsts player, Pecic will keep wickets and bat at No.3. Not only is he a grade player at Toombul, but also a Serbian international who represented Serbia in the growing European Cricket League Competition. He enjoyed great success, scoring 127 runs at an average of 21.33 and recording the most dismissals for any wicket keeper (six catches, one stumping and three run outs). His team was also successful, becoming the first ever Serbian team to win the ECL Competition. Braithyn’s performance earning him selection for a special training camp for identified European Cricket talent in England in July.
ST LAURENCE’S COLLEGE
Xavier Santos: If the name seems familiar, then it should be. Santos is a third season First XI player who will have lots of responsibility and a big workload. He will bat at No. 3 and contribute some overs by bowling at different stages of the game. He is also the team’s best fielder and his match hardened after a season with Souths in the Lord Tav’s competition.
Mackenzie Douglas: Another in his third season of First XI, Douglas will bat in the middle order and bowl leg spin. It is the start of a busy year for Douglas – he is also the College Captain. Douglas is coming off a season in the Lord Taverners’s University side.
VILLANOVA COLLEGE
Ben Thallon: A top order, left handed batsman, Thallon is in his second season as a First XI cricketer. He will bat anywhere in the top order and showed last season that he can score some important runs. He is potentially an explosive batter who, once he’s set, can score his runs quickly. Ben has a younger brother Finn Thallon, who will also play 1st XI this season.
Connor Maloney: The all-rounder is a veteran of three seasons in the Firsts. The vice-captain, Maloney is a right arm pace bowler who will also bat in the middle order. Maloney has worked hard on his game after coming back from shoulder reconstruction surgery last year. He is a senior player for Villanova who will lead by example with the bat and ball
Cameron Bukowski and Tom Reick: The boys have gone through the grades together playing cricket and find themselves in the Firsts – again. Reick will captain the side, a batting all-rounder similar to his mate Bukowski. Bukowski is some sportsman – he has been a First XV player and is contracted by the Brisbane Broncos.
ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE
Here are 1584 reasons why Steve Hogan is a player to watch. That is how many runs Hogan has scored in club cricket this season. The youngster, who made his debut last year from Year 9, is an absolute run machine. During October and November he scored more than 400 runs in his age group playing Lord Taverners under 16 club cricket for Sandgate-Redcliffe, and has since added another 1000 grade runs. His season average sits at 55.10.
St Patrick’s.
Also lookout for all-rounder Noah James. He is a terrific competitor with both bat and ball who made our News Corp AIC First XI rugby team of the year last season as a winger.
ST PETERS LUTHERAN COLLEGE
Matt Harvie: The St Peters captain, Harvie is a top order right hand batsman and right arm leg spinner who was the top wicket taker in the Lord Taveners under 16 competition.
Prahbi Bachu: An attacking top order right hand bat and off-spinner who will be playing in his third season in the Firsts.
Luke Dyer: Luke is a hard hitting late order bat and right arm medium bowler who is a promising all-rounder.
Harry Barrattand and Ashish Neredimulli: Both right arm fast medium bowlers, the boys will be on debut after Harry displayed consistency pre-season and Ashish a capacity to swing the ball.
ST EDMUND’S COLLEGE
Ben Naish: Ben is returning for his final year of AIC cricket where he has been a member of the 1st XI cricket for three years. He is a vital cog in the wheel batting in the top order and also providing value overs and wickets with the ball.
Sam Morris: Coming in for his first year in the 1st XI as a grade 10 student, Sam will be opening the bowling. He bowls tight lines, making it tough to score runs and will be challenging top order batsmen.
MARIST COLLEGE ASHGROVE
Frank Piper: From the College which was once home to the amazing Matt Hayden (Test great) comes a classy batter who will make his First XI debut after playing 10A’s in 2022. FRank Piper is coming off a great tour of Canberra at the Marist Cricket Carnival and has senior experience for his club side Northern suburbs after playing Lord Taverners (under 16s).
THE TEAMS
MARIST COLLEGE ASHGROVE v VILLANOVA COLLEGE
Marist: James Brandon, Flynn Cleary, Tom Davies, Ben Ferguson, Michael Garske, Joey Laner, Sam Lewis, Harry Marshall, Louis Morris, William Nickelson, Frank Piper, Tom Wex, Joe Whitten, Sam Wilcox.
Villanova: Kieran Michiletti, Cameron Bukowski, Tristan Bailey, Ben Thallon, Tom Reick, Finn Thallon, Connor Maloney, Henrik Frederiksen, Zac Joyce, Larry Clark, Jackson Maloney
PADUA v ST PATRICK’S
Padua: Braithyn Pecic (C), Nathan Black, Harry Smith, Pacey Broadhurst, Isaac Nixon, Henry Ainsworth, Jett Barker, Cameron Plackett, Will Webster, Harry Thornton, Will Tozer
St Patricks: Lachlan Allen, Mitchell Hartshorn, Steven Hogan, Noah James, Ryan Jessep, Henry Moore, Matthew Pereira, Thomas Smith, Jack Todd, Austin Tsingos, James Weedon.
IONA COLLEGE v St LAURENCE’S COLLEGE
Iona: Harley Malpass, Liam Johns, Zayne Thomas, Xander Thierry, Toby Collins, Lachlan McClure, Lachlan Bragger, Adam Richter, Archer Andersen, Harrison Smith, Hamish McKeon, Liam Carter, Darcy Pratten
St Laurence’s College: Aiden Mohr, Patrick Churchwood, Xavier Santos (v-capt), Daniel Gray, Mackenzie Douglas (capt), Thomas Stenhouse, Evan Chamberlin, Samuel Parker, Thomas Vaseo, Lachlan Wigan, Benjamin Stallman
ST PETERS v ST EDMUND’S
St Peters: Matt Harvie, Prahbi Bachu, Noah Johnson, Seb McCormack, Aarav Pant, Bastien Walter, Luke Dyer, Jack Webb, Seb Sinnott, Harry Barratt, Ashish Neredimulli
St Edmunds: Pat Albion, Cooper Read, Ben Naish, Chris Costello, Ryder Rundell, Fletcher Brown, Ethan Ketelhohn, Harry Read, Sam Morris, Lucas O’Connell, Rylan McDonald, Liam Costello
Footnote: Look for our coverage each Saturday late afternoon, and again midweek at couriermail.com.au via the local sport tab.
Club cricket: Ton of fun by first and second grade bats; third grade Team of the Week
Club cricket: The latest 3-2-1 votes from first and second grade men and women, plus the Norm McMahon third grade Team of the Week revealed.
Taverners 3-2-1 top guns highlighted as Valley open their account
Taverners Queensland Under-17s: Who were the 3-2-1 best performers from round 5? The best of the best are revealed here after a drought-breaking win.