AIC First XI cricket’s players to watch named as new wave of talent makes its way through
The AIC First XI cricket returns on Saturday when reigning premiers Iona College host cross-town rivals Marist in an early season blockbuster. Check out the Players to Watch from all eight colleges here.
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The AIC First XI cricket competition will return with a bang on Saturday when reigning premiers Iona College host cross-town rivals Marist College Ashgrove in an early season blockbuster.
Last year Iona College were the team to beat all season and they went on with the job to claim the title. St Peters, who play away at St Patrick’s, also had a strong season and will be looking to maintain that momentum.
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Villanova College will host St Laurence’s College on Andrew Slack Oval while Padua College will play away against St Edmund’s College in the other round one matches.
The www.couriermail.com.au will again be your one stop shop for all things AIC First XI cricket, a competition that will unleash plenty of new faces onto the scene this season.
So, who were some of the fine young cricketers set to spearhead their respective teams? With so much firepower across the competition, expect plenty of twists, match-winning performances, and nail-biting finishes.
JOSH RITCHIE (IONA)
If Iona College is to defend its title, Josh Ritchie will be at the heart of it. A classy top-order batsman, Ritchie smashed 433 runs in the Taverners competition at an average of 36—and already has a First XI century to his name.
The Wynnum Manly ace has also been playing in the under-19s competition. Ritchie’s season haul included a century (135 from 130) against Wests in Taverners, after starting 2024 with a debut century for Iona College.
Ritchie is not a dasher, but he can punish the new ball and hits plenty of boundaries.
TOBY COLLINS (IONA)
Another returning player, Collins warmed his engines playing Taverners as well where he was a hard-hitting middle order batter.
Iona College’s First XI captain this season, Collins has the ability to score quickly but if wickets are tumbling he is also a steady influence.
His handy medium pace bowling also has the potential to snare timely wickets when Iona’s first-choice bowlers need a rest.
JAMES TURNER (IONA)
A sporting all-rounder, Turner can ruffle feathers this season with his masterful leg spin deliveries which last year wielded wickets week-in-week-out.
A fine rugby league dummyhalf, Turner took four wickets in his debut last year and went on to be the competition’s leading wicket taker with 15 in seven matches.
Impressively, Turner’s control for a leggie was sublime - bowled just 13 wides across the 355 balls he bowled - the most by any bowler in 2024.
JOEY LANER (ASHGROVE)
If the Ashgrove captain’s trial form (7-16 against Villanova) is anything to go by then he could be in for a belter of a season.
A seasoned First XI campaigner, Laner looked in fine touch at the weekend, clean bowling three of his rivals and taking three wickets in his seventh over to have Villanova out before reaching triple figures.
The high-achieving Northern Suburbs Taverners talent will also be a go-to with the bat, just as much as with his right arm fast bowling.
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WILL EASTER (ASHGROVE)
Left arm pace bowler Will Easter was a revelation in 2024 taking out Marist College Ashgrove’s bowling award after he took 13 wickets at an average of 8.77.
Having featured for Valley in Queensland Premier Cricket’s Alan Pettigrew Shield (second grade) competition, Easter has got the ball moving both ways at an economical clip.
Watch for the Year 11 to thrive alongside Laner with the new ball.
ARCHER TALLON (ASHGROVE)
Ashgrove will unleash another impressive young gun in wrist spinner Archer Tallon.
The Year 10 student bagged 3-39 from nine overs in his debut last season and picked up nine wickets for Valleys during the Taverners season.
The bowling-all rounder, who can mix power with patience wielding the willow, can utilise his variation to pick up wickets this season.
ALISTER BAUER (PADUA)
A member of News Corp’s Brisbane Metro Cup under-16s Team of the Season, Bauer fitted two seasons into one for The Lakes Cricket Club this summer, hitting two centuries in six innings.
A Year 10 student who oozes x-factor, Bauer bowls a heavy ball and is sure to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
He enters the season with form under his belt having claimed a five-wicket haul and half century in recent trials. His 5-25 (10 overs) against St Laurence’s just last weekend was just the start.
JACK MERCER (PADUA)
While on the topic of good form, Mercer enters the season with an unbeaten 81 delivered in his latest outing against St Laurence’s.
A Valley District club talent, Mercer put away 12 boundaries in that innings in a sign of what is to come from the fast-scoring batter with plenty of First XI and grade cricket experience.
RYAN OUT (PADUA)
Padua will be in contention and leading the way will be spin bowler, Year 11 vice-captain Ryan Out.
A terrific all-round cricketer, Out’s athleticism and energy in the field will set a high standard. He also has the ability to change a game with the bat and ball in hand.
When the pressure is on, Padua will be in good hands.
ISAAC NIXON (PADUA)
Watch for crafty leg spinner Isaac Nixon to contribute heavily with the ball and with the bat.
First glimpsed as a Year 9 First XI player in 2023, Nixon now has the learnings of the past two seasons to draw confidence from. He will spearhead Padua’s campaign as captain.
TOM VASEO (ST LAURENCE’S)
Young Vaseo made his First XI debut as a Year 9 student. Now a Year 11 student, Vaseo will be looked towards to take wickets and add runs as a lower order batsman.
St Laurence’s vice-captain this season, fast bowler Vaseo will want to strike with the ball to put pressure on the opposition.
If he can replicate his efforts last season where he took 11 wickets at 21, St Laurence’s can make a splash.
JACOB BINGHAM (ST LAURENCE’S)
St Laurence’s have a new bowling attack this season and heading it will be debutant Jacob Bingham.
The tall, fast-bowling opener will test batters with the new ball.
NATE BAINBRIGGE (ST LAURENCE’S)
The gutsy No. 4 batter will captain St Laurence’s young and inexperienced First XI this season.
He will have plenty of responsibility in the top order and will also have his chance to make an impact when he opts to give himself a bowl.
FINN THALLON (VILLANOVA)
Four-year First XI all-rounder Finn Thallon has been tasked with leading his teammates into the fray this season as captain.
A fine Taverners performer who can score at will, Thallon’s powerful batting and right arm fast deliveries will aim to give Villanova the edge.
He took two wickets against Ashgrove in the trial match and will play a big role across the season.
SAM PAULI (VILLANOVA)
Pauli won’t feature for Villanova this week as he is recovering from an ankle injury picked up during the pre-season but when he comes back into the line-up, Villanova will receive a huge boost.
Pauli, a bowling all-rounder who bats No. 6, collected 10 wickets for Redlands during the Taverners season with his new-ball outswingers.
LACHLAN WHAITES (VILLANOVA)
Another key player from the bayside will be Lachlan Whaites, who will be a heavy lifter with bat and ball.
A cagey right-arm fast bowler, Whaites challenges the outside edge and can find a consistent length. With the bat, he is at his best taking on bowlers and looking to score.
He can be that guy to get the breakthrough in his third or fourth over.
AUSTIN TSINGOS (ST PATRICK’S)
Northern Suburbs talent Austin Tsingos is an elder statesman of the St Patrick’s squad and will be looking to use his experience to guide his team to big totals this year.
The hard hitting top order batsman has the ability to take games away from the opposition and has an astute cricket brain.
ADAM HOGAN (ST PATRICK’S)
The crafty leg spinner and outstanding fielder is back for his second season in the top team.
Hogan, the younger brother of Australian Under-19s ace Steve, has been on a steep upward trajectory over the past 12 months and looks set for a big season in the green and gold.
He asks plenty of questions and it would not surprise to see his name wedged at the top of the wicket-takers list when it’s all said and done.
CARTER MCSWEENEY (ST PATRICK’S)
McSweeney is entering his final season for St Patrick’s and is primed to make it a memorable one.
The Toombul talent will be a staple at the top order and when he is on, St Patrick’s are on.
Strike bowler Alex Bullock is also set for a big campaign.
ISAAC KRAUSE (ST PETERS)
Year 11 opening batter Isaac Krause will look to keep St Peters at the top after a successful second place finish in 2024.
Krause, an Ipwsich Hornet who attends the Springfield campus, will also offer plenty with his right arm off spin bowling.
Krause was one of the very best in the Brisbane Metro Cup competition, scoring 303 runs at 50 and taking 16 wickets at 10.25 for Ipswich East.
CHARLIE CONWAY (ST PETERS)
Conway was cooking with gas in the trial match against St Edmund’s where he scored 50 not out to steer St Peters to a convincing eight-wicket victory.
The Saints newcomer adds another dimension to a team hungry to go one up on last year’s result, with his right arm fast medium bowling sure to impact matches.
In the trial against St Edmund’s Year 11 student Hugo Kelly, a handy off spin bowler and batter, scored an unbeaten 30 to start the school season on a good note.
LARS SAGORSKI (ST PETERS)
The St Peters First XI captain, Sagorski will again be a big contributor with both the bat and the ball. He was outstanding last season the way he built pressure when he conceded, on average, just 2.4 runs an over.
Sagorski can find a haul of wickets because of his persistence and consistency and will lock horns with St Patrick’s on Saturday having snared a fifer in last weekend’s trial.
RYLAN MCDONALD (ST EDMUND’S)
Northsiders Tigers Cricket Club junior Rylan McDonald was masterful with the ball during the Brisbane Metro Cup under-16s season last year for Ipswich East. Expect more of the same during the school season.
He was the pick of the bowlers for St Edmund’s last year as a Year 10 and he can also contribute valuably with his batting through the middle order.
PATRICK ALBION (ST EDMUND’S)
A fine St Edmund’s College sportsman, Albion plays rugby with distinction in the winter and in the summer is a dynamic middle order batter capable of keeping his team in games.
A third-year player honoured with captaincy duties this season, Albion hits the ball hard to all areas of the ground.
MAX HALLS (ST EDMUND’S)
An elegant top order batter, Halls is eager to get among the runs this season as a No.3.
His technique and temperament will be evident for St Edmund’s against the new ball.
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