New academy highlights burgeoning talent in Queensland cricket

Two elite Queensland cricket teenagers have been named in the Australian under-19 squad, while a Super 17 players were announced as inaugural inductees into a new Queensland Cricket Academy. Read here.

Valley bowler Zanden Jeh Premier grade cricket between Valley and Souths Saturday January 21, 2023. Picture, John Gass

The door has been flung open for 17 elite players from outside the Bulls 2024-25 squad following the launch of a new Queensland Cricket Academy.

The academy’s emphasis will be on providing specialist coaching to promising young male and female players, but was not exclusively for youth talent as emphasised by the selection of later bloomers like Steve McGiffin, 27, and Dylan McLachlan, 25.

Valley gloveman and Marist College Ashgrove old boy Dylan McLachlan made his Queensland Bulls debut in the Marsh One Day Cup last season.. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

And in another exciting off-season development which highlights Queensland cricket’s talent pool, the state’s two best youth players, Alex Procopis and Steve Hogan, have been named in the Australian under-19 training squad.

MORE LOCAL SPORT HERE

Hogan, a St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe student, is Australia’s No.1 youth batsman who made his first grade debut for Sandgate-Redcliffe last November as a Year 10 student.

The diminutive right hander was named in the Australian under 17 Merit side in January after scoring three centuries (106, 103 and 102) for Queensland on his way to amassing 417 runs.

The 16-year-old first played AIC First XI cricket as a Year 9 student in 2022.

Northern Suburbs cricketer, Sunshine Coast’s Alex Procopis in action.

Norths all-rounder Alex Procopis, originally from the Maroochydore and Glasshouse clubs, is another elite youth player who has led the charge for Queensland under age teams while attending Chancellor State College.

He was the premier player when Queensland’s under-17s won the 2023 national championship in January, 2023.

He was a leading player when Queensland won the nationals

The Australian under-19 squad will train next month at the National Cricket Centre.

St Patrick's College student Steve Hogan representing the Queensland under 17s - he was named player of the national championships.

Meanwhile, Queensland Cricket Head of Elite Cricket Joe Dawes said the inaugural Queensland Cricket Academy would cater for players in contention for selection in the Toyota 2nd XI, Marsh Sheffield Shield, Marsh One Day Cup, women’s T20 and KFC Big Bash League level.

Steve Hogan from Sandgate Redcliffe and St Partrick's College.

Brisbane Heat all-rounder and Ipswich Grammar School old boy Jack Wood, Australian Under-19 World Cup batter and Terrace old boy Tom Campbell, his experienced Wests teammate McGiffin and Valley wicketkeeper McLachlan were among inductees.

Wood is from the Ipswich Grammar School and Hornets’ nest, a hotbed of young cricketing talent.

The style of Wests batsman Isaiah Snell - a Terrace old boy. Picture, John Gass

Campbell was arguably the best batsman in GPS cricket in 2021, and had a break through club season last summer when he switched to Wests.

McGiffin has previously played matches for the Brisbane Heat and Queensland Bulls while McLachlan, a Queensland and Australian indigenous representative, made his Marsh One Day Cup debut last summer for Queensland.

The Southport School and Gold Coast Dolphins pace bowler Zac McDermott, a Queensland under-19 rep last summer, is in the squad. He is the son of former Test quick Craig and younger brother to Alister and Ben McDermott.

Zac McDermott playing GPS First XI or The Southport School. Picture, John Gass

Joining the academy is BBC old boy and University of Queensland left arm paceman Matt Willans, a former Australian under-19 representative whose career was halted by shoulder injury three years ago.

Valley bowler Zanden. Picture, John Gass

Valley junior and left arm orthodox spinner Zanden Jeh, thrilling fast bowling talent and Nudgee old boy Tom Balkin, The Southport School product Ashton Gumm and BSHS past student Sam Geyer were young high achievers in the squad.

Balkin is a rip-roaring quick who has that x-factor and it is great to see him recognised here.

Toombul bowler Tom Balkin. Picture, John Gass

Snell is a fabulous cricketer from Wests, a seasoned campaigner who you always sense has that extra something that could see him play A List Bulls matches.

There are four female players from outside the Queensland Fire squad, including two-time Kath Smith Medallist Ruby Strange, Queensland Under-19 player Naiya Varidel, Queensland Country all-rounder Tarah Staines, and Ipswich pace bowler Erin Moran.

Sam Geyer playing for Brisbane State High School in 2020.

Staines, from Monto, plays Premier Cricket for the Sunshine Coast while Gladstone product Strange has also been a strong Premier Cricket performer in the Katherine Raymont Shield and KFC T20 Max competitions.

The four female players are set to play a role around the new second tier women’s T20 competition in October that will take place prior to the Weber Women’s Big Bash League.

The Academy squads will be reviewed regularly during the season, with players added as appropriate.

Proud Hornets product, Ipswich Grammar School old boy Jack Wood as a Brisbane Heat player - Picture Brisbane Heat

“The Academy program will initially enable us to further strengthen the connections between Premier Cricket, including the KFC T20 Max, and State teams,” Dawes said.

“As well as player development, the Academy program also enables us to address coaching development and help us to grow the skills and experience of our future coaches.”

2024-25 Queensland Academy squad:

Male: Steve McGiffin (Western Suburbs), Tom Campbell (Western Suburbs), Sam Geyer (South Brisbane), Jack Wood (Ipswich Hornets), Ashton Gumm (Gold Coast), Scott Palombo (Northern Suburbs), Matt Willans (University of Qld), Tom Balkin (Toombul), Zac McDermott (Gold Coast), Marcus Bean (Northern Suburbs), Dylan McLachlan (Valley), Isaiah Snell (Western Suburbs), Zanden Jeh (South Brisbane).

Female: Erin Moran (Ipswich Hornets), Tarah Staines (Sunshine Coast), Ruby Strange (Western Suburbs), Naiya Varidel (Western Suburbs).

Tarah Stainer playing for the Scorchers.

Ex-Victorian Women’s coach Jarrad Loughman has been appointed as the inaugural Academy lead, with former Queensland wicketkeeper and coaching identity Gavin Fitness among the coaching staff.

Former New Zealand paceman and recent Australian Under-19 assistant coach Hamish Bennett will be the Academy fast-bowling coach while current BBL spinner Cameron Boyce will work as a spin coach with the Academy and Queensland Fire squads.

Naiya Varidel as a junior in 2019 at Wests - she has come a long way. Picture AAPImage/ David Clark

Meanwhile, other Elite Cricket appointments for the 2024-25 season include the male State selection panel headed by incumbent chair Chris Hartley and featuring former Queensland players Greg Moller and Luke Feldman.

Dylan McLachlan earlier in his career.(AAP Image/Richard Walker)

Moller will also continue in his role as Elite Player Development Manager and coach – Male.

New appointments in the Strength and Sports Science Medicine area will see Bulls and Brisbane Heat Strength & Conditioning manager Paul Chapman take on the lead role as Head of Elite Physical Performance.

Former NSW and WA pace bowler Burt Cockley has joined Queensland Cricket as an Elite Physical Performance Coach after previously being the Head of Physical Performance at USA Cricket in their lead-up to the ICC Cricket World Cup.

Toombul pace bowler Ronan McDonald, a former Bulls and Heat player, also comes on board as an Elite Physical Performance Coach after previously working as a Strength and Conditioning coach with QC.