AIC First XI cricket Players to Watch; Round 1 one teams revealed
Australia’s No.1 junior cricketer comes from the AIC First XI competition. Read about him here, along with key Players to Watch ahead of competition starting on Saturday.
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St Patrick’s College schoolboy Steve Hogan is now the most exciting junior batting talent in Australia - and his grounding has been AIC cricket.
Hogan, who is currently playing each Saturday for Sandgate Redcliffe in first grade, was unrivalled as the Player of the Carnival at this month’s national under 17 carnival staged in Ballarat.
MORE AIC SPORT - HERE’S THE AFL FOOTY PLAYERS TO WATCH
The diminutive right hander from the Sandgate Redcliffe club was named in the Australian under 17 Merit side last week after scoring three centuries (106, 103 and 102) for Queensland on his way to amassing 417 runs.
All this from a youngster who turned 16 late last year, and who first played AIC First XI cricket as a Year 9 student in 2022.
Hogan played for St Patrick’s in pre-season matches over the school holidays but could remain in the Gators A grade in the weeks ahead.
Remarkably Hogan made his first grade debut for the Sandgate Redcliffe in November as a Year 10 student.
He did not make a notable score on first grade debut, but the next day returned to his age group competition - the under 17 Taverner’s - where he peeled off successive scores of 57 and 114.
Hogan’s top score in first grade so far has been 68 after making 774 runs at an average of 86.
Former Test and Queensland wicketkeeper John Maclean, who also made his first grade debut for South Brisbane as a Year 10 student, said hard work was the key for Hogan.
“The kid will be realising playing first grade is a lot harder than Taverner’s (under 17s), but he just has to adjust to each level as the bowling gets better,’’ said Maclean, the former state captain who played 86 matches between 1969 and 1979.
“He just has to work hard and be prepared to work hard each level you work up toward.’’
His selection as player of the national under 17 championships confirmed him as the No.1 cricket junior in Australia.
While Hogan is an obvious standout in terms of AIC cricketers, he is not the only elite player currently involved in the AIC First XI competition which starts on Saturday.
There were plenty of outstanding players, including Padua’s Will Tozer, Iona’s Harley Malpass, Ashgrove’s Will Nicholson and St Laurence’s Xavier Santos who will be entering his fourth season of First XI cricket.
We will again be covering the competition.
In a bumper round 1, a northside derby looms between St Patricks and Padua College, while traditional rivals Villanova and Marist College Ashgrove lock horns.
Iona College will host old foe St Laurence’s, while St Edmund’s will be laying in wait when they host St Peters in a south western battle.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
IONA
Lachlan McClure: Iona’s College captain, McClure will also be the First XI skipper. He is a genuine all-rounder who will open the bowling and bat in Iona’s top six. He currently plays club cricket for Redlands District cricket Club and captained their Taverners team this year, as well as playing in their Under 19 team.
Harley Malpass: Malpass is a class all-rounder who bowls medium pace and who will bat at No.3 averaging 129.33 last season. Recently selected in the Queensland under 17 team, he is a Wynnum-Manly District Cricket Club junior where he captained the club’s Taverner’s team. He also plays under 19s for the Sea Eagles.
Adam Richter: A third season First XI player, Richter will open the bowling for Iona.
A multi-talented sportsman who excels across a range of sports, Richter is also a handy lower order bat who strikes the ball well.
Team: Josh Ritchie, Liam Carter, Harley Malpass, Nick Bragger, 5 Lachlan McClure, Liam Johns, Toby Collins, Clancy Muniandy, Adam Richter, Lachlan Smith, James Turner.
PADUA
Will Tozer: The team captain, Tozer is a veteran of First XI cricket. An all-rounder who plays grade cricket and Taverner’s at Valley, he will aim to build upon his previous three seasons with the side. He made our Team of the Season last year.
Will Webster: Another all-rounder, Webster plays grade cricket at Toombul. He will look to build on valuable experience gained at this last season.
Cameron Plackett: Padua is blessed with all-rounders and Plackett is another returning First XI player. A Taverner’s player at Valleys, he made the Met North under 19 side which attended the state championships.
VILLANOVA
Mitchell Francis: Francis is playing in his second season of 1st XI Cricket.
A middle order batter who can also bowl some handy off spin when required, Francis is a Year 12 student who is an important cog of the Villanova team.
Francis is renowned for bringing a cool, level head in the big pressure moments and will look for some strong performances across his final year of representing Villanova College.
Henrik Frederiksen: The team’s vice-captain, he is also a second year First XI player who contributed last season with some strong individual performances.
Frederiksen is an opening pace bowler who will spearhead the Villanova attack, while also being a handy lower order batter. Frederiksen was in Year 12.
ST LAURENCE’S COLLEGE
Xavier Santos: No, you were not reading a story from 2023 or 2022. Yes, his name is familiar, and that is because Santos is a four season veteran of AIC First XI cricket who will bat at No.3 and bowl off spin.
The team captain, Santos has performed well in pre-season games
Dan Gray: Gray’s versatility will come in handy, giving the side greater depth.
He will be the gloveman and No.4 bat where his hitting power will be a threat.
Evan Chamberlin: Another fine allrounder who gives Laurie’s flexibility. Chamberlin is a first change bowler, but also a handy No.7 batsman.
ST PETERS LUTHERAN COLLEGE
Ashish Neredumilli: The returning First XI player made an impression last season with his new ball fast bowling and at times aggressive late order batting. He supplements those skills in the field where he is a reliable team member.
Noah Johnson: Johnson, the Saints captain, will lead from the front batting at No.3. He is another second season First XI player who is a rock solid team man.
Jamie Nelson: Nelson gained valuable experience in First XI cricket last season when he opened the batting, and he will look to give St Peters a solid foundation in 2024.
The St Peters Team is: Jamie Nelson, Liam Bahemia, Noah Johnson, Lars Sagorski, Hugo Kelly, Isaac Krause, Ashish Neredumilli, Jacob Thomas, Jacob Mcintosh, Austin Croll, Sritam Vytla
ST EDMUND’S COLLEGE
Pat Albion: An attacking batsman, Albion will look to get the scoreboard ticking over.
Sam Morris: Morris is a tall, right arm fast bowler who generates some good pace and bounce
Rylan McDonald: A young developing fast bowler, McDonald bowls bowls stump to stump and can skid them through.
MARIST COLLEGE ASHGROVE
Will Nicholson: Ashgrove’s No.3, he is coming off a bumper 2023 when he scored 429 runs at 107.25. Nicholson will be Ashgrove’s wicketkeeper and captain.
Louis Morris: The competition’s most prolific wicket taker last season, Morris is a left arm spinner who builds pressure and takes wickets. He is also an aggressive lower order batsman.
Frank Piper: Piper will give extra dimensions to the balance of the Ashgrove side by opening the batting and bowling handy medium pacers
Sam Lewis: One half of the spin spin twins - the other is Louis Morris - Lewis is renowned for being difficult to get away. He made our 2023 Team of the Season.
ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE
Matthew Pereira: One of last season’s best players where he was St Patrick’s leading wicket taker and second overall in the AIC, Pereira will also provide good lower order batting. He has been appointed College Captain of Cricket.
Mitch Hartshorn: Another fine player last season who was Paddies’ second best batsman, he will captain the side this season and bowl leg spin.
ROUND 1
Villanova v Marist
Iona v St Laurence’s
St Edmund’s v St Peters
St Patrick’s v Padua
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