GPS First XI cricket’s Team of the Season
Four unlucky players have been just been edged out of our GPS First XI cricket team of the season, but among those who made the cut is a potential Brisbane Heat and Bulls rising talent.
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To celebrate another bumper GPS First XI season, we present our annual First XI Team of the Season.
Entering the last round we had 16 players for 12 roles and in the end had to squeeze an unlucky four players out of the side.
GPS FIRST XI CRICKET’S GRAND FINAL DAY, ROUND 8
CLUB CRICKET’S BEST 3-2-1 PLAYERS ACROSS EIGHT FINALS
Players like Jack Sonter, Jack Balkin, Jamie Alexander, Zac McDermott and Callum Vidler were among the first picked, but several came down to the wire and were only decided upon after round 9 on Saturday.
We have come up with a squad full of all-rounders, and with deep bowling depth.
TEAM OF THE SEASON
1. BLAKE ARMSTRONG (BBC)
The scorer of 97 during the season, Armstrong opened the batting and bowling for the high achieving BBC side. It was not just his batting numbers, but the manner in which he shared in early partnerships against the new ball. His spin bowling complemented new ball pace bowling ace James Alexander, building pressure as he rushed through his overs. He took 10 wickets at 19 with his spin and scored 198 runs at 24.75 but consistently got a start and shared in handy opening stands.
2. MATTHEW FIELDING (Nudgee)
Fielding earned the hotly contested keeper-batsman position for his success against the new ball. Both Jayden Draper (Churchie) and Ryan Atley (BBC) were in the frame, but Fielding’s 255 runs at 31.84 put him third on the season averages list and aggregate for the season.
He deserves his place.
3. JACK SONTER (BSHS)
It would have been a pity if Sonter had not garnished a great summer with a coveted GPS First XI century. The Queensland under 17 national championship winner was slow to start in the school competition, but once he got rolling, he was a class act in the competition.
He made 265 runs at 37.88.
4. JACK BALKIN (Nudgee)
Balkin was magnificent with the bat, building pressure in the field as well. He was Mr Reliable with the willow, while his off spinners built pressure for the bowler at the other end and also for his ring field.
Balkin scored 274 runs at 54.80, and took wickets with handy off spin that always tied the batsmen down.
He also took six catches.
5. JAMES ALEXANDER (BBC)
The BBC captain returned from the under 17 national championships on the crest of a wave and he stayed aloft through the GPS season. He took the new ball with his medium-fast swing bowling, then was a batting mainstay at No.4.
Alexander moved heaven and earth for his team this season. He took 19 wickets at 13 and scored 244 runs at 34.86.
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6. CHACE OATES (TGS)
Oates is a First XV rugby ace so talented, the ARU had him in their Australian under 16s training squad. But he was also a sensation with the bat, always scoring at a run-a-ball or better, which put opposition attacks under pressure while lifting his team’s confidence in the dressing room. He made runs both as a front runner and while batting under pressure – which was the case on Saturday.
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7. GRIFFITH WILLIAMS (TSS)
After taking an impressive 24 wickets at just 12 before Christmas in the under 16 Lord Taverners club competition, his GPS season best bowling 10-4-8-3 against Nudgee in last Saturday’s grand final ensured his place in the side.
Aside from his economical team bowling, he also aided TSS’ premiership push wit the bat, scoring 160 runs at 26.67.
8. CALLUM VILDER (BGS)
The competition’s fast bowler – and a handy bat to boot – Vidler was a late comer to the competition because of duties with the Australian under 19 team. But he made an impact, installing an element of fear into batting line-ups with his pace. He took wickets on his own, but also built pressure when batsmen focused on survival, not scoring runs, which in turn helped his bowling partners.
9. ZAC McDERMOTT (TSS)
He may be the son of Queensland and Test champion Craig McDermott, but this kid is a headline grabber all on his own after grabbing 22 wickets at just 6.64. That is unheard of. The competition’s best bowler, McDermott’s control and swing caused no end of trouble across the season.
He always struck with the new ball, and no batsmen got on top of him this season as he also built pressure for his bowling teammates and energetic fieldsmen.
Of course we did not see his batting at its best in this competition, but when you took as many wickets as he did, that was irrelevant.
10. TED WATERMAN (TSS)
The right arm outswing bowler was a bit of an unsung hero, but we just had to squeeze him into our squad. He bowled line and length like no other bowler in the competition, and his pressure at the bowling crease surely lifted his fielding teammates who would have been inspired to support their toiling paceman.
He finished with 12 wickets at an extraordinary average of just 6.80.
11. EWALD KRUGER (TGS)
Another TGS rugby young gun, Kruger makes our team as a left arm orthodox spinner. Twice Kruger won matches for TGS with stunning six wicket hauls – and then again last Saturday he took 5-20. That is the equal of a batsman making three hundreds. In between those masterly performances, he kept things tight, and chipped in with a wicket here and there. In all he finished with 19 wickets at 9.11.
12. SANE SOHAM (BGS)
With 18 wickets at 15, he just had to be in our side. In the pre-season few would have picked Soham to make our Team of the Season, but you just could not deny Soham who spearheaded the attack from start to finish.
How he would have enjoyed having Callum Vidler all summer at the other end.
13TH MAN: RYAN ATLEY (BBC)
Gosh he was unlucky not to make our side. We tried to think of inventive ways to get him into the 12, but couldn’t. Atley was one of the competition’s elite all-rounders, with his work behind the stumps coupled with his match changing batting at No.5. He scored 244 runs at 34.86, and was fifth on the batting averages. Then why didn’t he make it? Because Nudgee’s Matt Fielding was an opener – who was just as impressive with the bat.
UNLUCKY OMISSIONS
DUSHYANT THAMAN (TSS)
For such a young left arm orthodox spinner, Thaman’s control is just as impressive as his wickets. While the Year 10 student snared 12 wickets at just 9 he went for just 2.20 runs per over, building pressure for his bowling mate at the other end.
JAYDEN DRAPER (Churchie)
Draper narrowly missed our starting XI but watch for him to impact next season. An outstanding young gloveman, he finished the season on a high when he opened the batting and was last man out for 77 over the weekend.
THISAJA SAMARAWICKRAMA (TGS)
He was a brave leader who led from the front with the new ball, taking nine wickets at 17.56 and averaging just under 20 with the bat. He was seriously considered for our Team of the Season.
DANIEL STATHAM (TSS)
The Surfers Paradise Cricket Club junior fulfilled a dream by captaining TSS to the premiership. Since he was a tiny tot at the school, Statham has always played cricket and last Saturday’s premiership win was a moment in time he will never forget. It is something he can cherish for the rest of his life – being a GPS First XI premiership winning captain. Now that is some achievement.
CONNER WALKER (TGS)
Walker scored a memorable GPS century and they don’t just fall from the trees. Walker was a part of a spirited TGS premiership campaign in a season where every TGS player had a milestone moment.
CARTER CORLESS (Nudgee)
Corless had a magnificent summer with 15 wickets at 15 and was on the cusp of making the Team of the Season. He bowled his heart for Nudgee, going up a gear after a fine summer last season as a support bowler. This year, as the summer progressed, he became more of the main man.
DANIEL BOREHAM (Churchie)
In partnership with left arm spinner Henry Hillier, leg spinner Charlie Moore and fellow quick Ed Storen (Churchie), Boreham was outstanding for Churchie. He was the team’s grunt man. Churchie had an excellent attack, and none better were Boreham – although his fellow bowlers contributed to his success. He finished with 15 wickets at 15 and in another season, would have been a shoe-in for the Team of the Season.
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JOE SIPPEL (TGS)
The TGS season was full of personal best moments for the squad and Sippel was one of those high achievers. He scored a couple of hundred run innings opening up for TGS, including a high class 92. It was a good, solid season considering the quality of the bowling.
TOM STUBBINS (TERRACE)
Stubbins finished the season with a wet sail, scoring 51 and taking 1-24 as Terrace claimed a thrilling win over Churchie. He was Mr Reliable at the bowling crease, finishing the season with 15 wickets.
He would have been well pleased to finish the summer with a half century in a narrow win.
DINEK KINIGAMA (IGS)
Kinigama and Kori Ramsden were outstanding for IGS, doing a great job across the summer for IGS with both bat and ball. Raw statistics do not always tell the whole story and they were better than their stats.
HENRY HILLIER (CHURCHIE)
Left arm orthodox spinner Hiller was a serious contender for our Team of the Season. He would take the new ball, build pressure and also snare wickets. He finished with 11 wickets at 19, but of course he had a greater impact than those raw figures.
OLIVER SPENCER (BGS)
Spencer played his part in BGS’s recovery from a slow start to the season, with 14 wickets at 16. He went for some runs, but his guile often lured batsmen into taking a chance.
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FERGUS MCFADYEN (Nudgee)
Fadyen was a consistent performer, solid with the ball and handy with the bat. He also had two run out assists which highlighted his value. With his medium pace he took eight wickets at 26 and averaged 20 with the bat.
RYAN SUMMERS (TSS)
A little like McFadyen, Summers did a terrific job in support of his elite, premiership winning bowling attack. He also snared six catches.
JACOB BATH (TSS)
He was not a headline grabber but wasn’t TSS lucky to have him. He was a thorough professional, the type of player who would give teammates confidence by just being on the field with him.
CHARLIE BIGNALL (TGS)
Bignall was another consistent performer across the season with a TGS team which went within a whisker of winning the title. He made runs last Saturday in a grand final pressure-cooker and finished with 197 runs at 24.80.
ETHAN DU PAYNE (BGS)
Du Payne was a quiet achiever who never let BGS down, the young gun deserving recognition for his 188 runs this summer.
DU JEM (BSHS)
The poor old BSHS attack had few runs to play with across the first month of the season until Jack Sonter came good. But regardless the bowlers fought hard and the leader of the pack was Jem.
WILDCARD WATCH:
WILL ILLOT (Terrace)
The young spinner finished with a five wicket haul to garnish an excellent summer. He ended with 13 wickets at 18. Both he and James Eustance (13 wickets at 19) were success stories.
COOPER WEBSTER (TGS)
This kid just keeps getting better and better, contributing with the bat, ball and in the field.
DUSHYANT THAMAN (TSS)
As mentioned above, Thaman moved mountains this season with his left arm orthodox and will benefit so much from the season when he returns to the Firsts next year. He was desperately close to our Team of the Season.
THEODORE BACALAKIS (Terrace)
He was a late bloomer with bat and ball and was a big reason for Terrace’s improvement across the summer.
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