Queensland cricket’s best team - 10 Shield games or less

Best Queensland cricket team from players who played 10 Shield games. The strength of the side may surprise you.

They may have only played a handful of matches for Queensland, but we come up with a bumper Bulls side made up of players who competed in 10 Sheffield Shield matches over the last 50 years.

The side would be captained by Scott Prestwidge and coached by John Buchanan and would feature high class players, some of whom represented Australia in short form cricket.

The team is named from players who represented the state over the last 50 years.

I have excluded overseas recruits Viv Richards, Alvin Kallicharran and Majid Khan, elite Test batsmen who had limited success in their brief appearances in the Maroons cap.

Former NSW Test player Ian Davis was also not considered given his brief stay in Brisbane.

Gavin Fitness pictured with Chris Lynn. Fitness has been Lynn’s personal coach and is a former Bulls gloveman. Pictures: Jack Tran

Valley all-rounder Tony Brown, the well creditionalled Keith de Jong (Norths), Gavin Fitness (Sandgate Redcliffe), junior prodigy Glen Batticciotto, Nick Stevens were considered, along with schoolboy superstar Don Regeling and Alec Parker (Souths).

The bowling stocks are so strong that country boy George Brabon, Matthew Gale, Toombul lion-heart Bob McGhee, Norths stalwart Michael Mainhardt and Uni slow bowler Michael Philipson just missed out.

We omitted from contention current day players - including Wests batting stars Sam Truloff and Steve Paulsen, and Toombul’s modern day bowling marvel Ronan McDonald - because they may yet play more than 10 Shield games.

Luke Pomersbach hits a six for Heat. Pic Mark Evans

THE SIDE

1. LUKE POMERSBACH (Nine games)

Blessed with raw ability, he scored 674 runs (average 37.44) during his two season stint, including a withering 159

2. WAYNE MORGAN (Five games)

A prolific scorer in grade cricket and part of a South Brisbane all-star side which included Greg Chappell, John Maclean, Alec Parker and Sam Trimble. He consistently got starts in his five matches (274 runs at 39.14).

A young Ben McDermott with his dad Craig McDermott. Photo: David Thomas

3. BEN McDERMOTT (One game)

The son of bowling champion Craig, McDermott is a short form Australian player who once scored 114 runs (52 balls) in T20, and who has scored a first class century.

Norths slips fielder Alexander Machin is congratulated by wicketkeeper Ben Dunk after catching Lord Taverners opening batter Jason Johnston.

4. BEN DUNK (Six games)

North Queenslander Dunk played six Shield games before moving to Tasmania where he shone as a 50 over and T20 batsman and gloveman. He once scored 229 not out against Queensland in the domestic one-day competition, surpassing the previous highest score in that format.

RELATED LINKS

VOLL, SIPPEL AMONG OUR TOP SPORTING YOUNG GUNS OF 2021

IN PICTURES: PREMIER GRADE SUBBIES CRICKET SEASON GALLERY

QUEENSLAND’S FORGOTTEN TEST XI PLAYERS

5. BRAD INWOOD (Seven games)

The moustached Northern Suburbs middle order bat who also bowled an effective slow swing and was ideal if a captain was looking to change ends with his bowling attack. He averaged a respectable 33.14 in his seven Shield games.

Scott Prestwidge with two of his children Georgia Prestwidge and Jack Prestwidge.. (AAP Image/Josh Woning)

6. SCOTT PRESTWIDGE (One game)

The father of Georgia, Jack and Will, Prestwidge was a fixture in the Bulls one-day team which won multiple short form titles. But the Wynnum Manly all-rounder only played one Shield match due to the strength of the Queensland fast bowling unit of his era.

SCOTT PRESTWIDGE GETS HUG FROM JIM MAHER..

7. PETER DRINNEN (Five games)

The boy from Bundaberg via Valley District won the hotly contested wicket keeping position from a host of contenders, including John Bell, Gavin Fitness (who deputised for an injured Wade Seccombe in the lead-up to Queensland historic first ever Shield win in 1994-95) and touch football guru Gary Madders who was not dismissed in his three innings. Drinnen also averaged 32.80 in his five Shield games before NSW rep Ray Phillips moved from Sydney to Brisbane.

RELATED LINKS

STUNNING DEBUT BY VALLEY ROOKIE

PICTURE GALLERY: Community, KFC Premier Cricket

QUEENSLAND’S GREATEST LEFT HANDERS

Peter Drinnen of PD Cricket is a junior coach, including coach of the Churchie First XI. Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail

8. SCOTT BRANT (Eight games)

A class act, left arm swing bowler Brant played just eight Shield games due to the state’s bowling depth and also injury. A Northern Suburbs player and Nudgee College old boy, he took 24 wickets at just 18.46

Scott Brant bowling.

9. DAMIEN McKENZIE (Five games)

Like a number of fast bowlers from his era, the boy from bayside Brisbane was forced interstate in search of greener pastures - such was the strength of Queensland fast bowling. Before his departure he took 13 wickets at 23.71

Ben Laughlin playing superman for the Heat.(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

10. BEN LAUGHLIN (Six games)

Because of his outstanding career in Tasmania, some forget Ben Laughlin is a Queenslander. But the Wynnum Manly junior made his first class debut here before moving interstate where was an elite short form player - including playing for Australia.

Ben Laughlin as a Wynnum player in 2005.

11. STEVE MAGOFFIN (Six games)

Magoffin book-ended his outstanding first class career with Western Australia by starting in the state squad as a junior, and finishing his career by helping his home state claim the Shield title. He took 23 wickets at just 16.61 in his farewell season.

12. LEN BALCALM (Five games)

An excellent left arm swing bowler who would bustle to the crease. In five games took 15 wickets at 23.

Shane Jurgensen celebrates taking a wicket. Pic James Kerr. Cricket F/L

13. SHANE JURGENSEN (Four games)

Jurgensen was hard done by not making the 12. A swing bowler, he was forced to move interstate due to Queensland’s fast bowling depth. An outstanding coach, he had a nice playing career which included a hat-trick against New South Wales and a record 11 wicket haul in the 2002-03 final for Tasmania.

John Buchanan studies a batting wagon wheel and plots a plan using "The Cricket Analyst", software program on computer. Cricket P/R

COACH JOHN BUCHANAN (Seven games)

As a University of Queensland all-rounder, Buchanan was twice Radio 4IP Player of the Season in club cricket, leading to his seven matches for Queensland.

But of course he was even more successful as a coach, taking Queensland to its first two Sheffield Shield titles (1994-95 and 1996-97) before coaching Australia in its most successful period.