Queensland Premier Cricket: Grade, Taverners Players to Watch

Who are the Players to Watch in the KFC Queensland Premier Cricket competitions? The exciting First Grade, Katherine Raymont Shield and Lord Taverners cricketers revealed here.

Who are the Players to Watch in the Kookaburra First Grade One Day, Katherine Raymont Shield and Lord Taverners competitions?

With the Kookaburra First Grade One Day competition and Lord Taverners season kicking off this weekend, as well as round two of the Katherine Raymont Shield, we take a look at 20 cricketers to watch as the summer of cricket gets underway.

We will also have some top talents revealed weekly in a Team of the Week across all competitions.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

KFC Queensland Premier Cricket competition

Rd 1, Kookaburra First Grade One Day competition.

University of Queensland v Sunshine Coast, WEP Harris Oval

Will Crook: The UQ pace bowler, sounded out by the Melbourne Renegades in the winter to be part of their Academy squad that played in the NT Strike League in Darwin.

He impressed for the Students during the KFC T20 Max competition, where he wrote his name into the QLD Premier Cricket T20 record books, equalling the best ever individual bowling figures (6/12 Vs Redlands) to sit alongside legendary UQ paceman Scott Walter with that honour.

Northern Suburbs v Western Suburbs, Allan Pettigrew Oval

Norths batter Josh Brown:

Josh Brown of Norths. Pic: Pat Hoelscher.

If you are planning a stroll around Shaw Park and Brown is at crease, definitely watch out.

The big-hitting opener has got several BBL clubs interested in his clean-hitting potential after some big scores in the just concluded KFC T20 Max competition, where he hit 41 sixes in his 447 runs from nine games.

South Brisbane v Redlands, Norman Gray Oval

Souths paceman Harmon Sandhu: The younger brother of Queensland seamer Gurinder, and Sydney allrounder was a strong performer for the Magpies on their way to finishing runners-up in the KFC T20 Max competition last weekend.

Gold Coast v Sandgate-Redcliffe, Bill Pippen Oval

Josh Kann:

Josh Kann of Gold Coast. Pic: Pat Hoelscher.

Playing one of his final games for the Dolphins before relocating to South Australia, strong allrounder Josh Kann will be one to watch.

A BBL player with the Hurricanes last season, the former Australian U-19 player is a handful in the white ball arena. He hit a scintillating hundred in the KFC T20 Max semi-final last weekend to get the Dolphins into the Final where they duly won their third title in a row.

Ipswich v Valley, Baxter Oval

Mark Steketee:

Mark Steketee in action for the Bulls on February 10, 2022, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

New dad Mark Sketee will be one to keep an eye on. The Queensland pace spearhead has spent the winter on the fringes of the national squad set-up including impressing for Australia ‘A; on their recent Sri Lankan tour.

Toombul v Wynnum-Manly, Ken Mackay Oval

Matt Renshaw:

Toombol's Matt Renshaw. Pic Bob Jones.

Renshaw will begin his Australian season after a brief break following his return from playing for Somerset in England. Back on home turf, the Bulls and now Brisbane Heat batter will again be a handful for the opposition.

KATHERINE RAYMONT SHIELD (Rd 2, Sunday)

Wynnum-Manly v Sandgate-Redcliffe, Bill Albury Oval

Shikha Pandey: A pretty notable one to watch at Carmichael Park on Saturday. Indian allrounder Shikha Pandey has linked with the youthful Wynnum-Manly team for the opening rounds of the Katherine Raymont Shield.

Pandey has paid her own way to come to Queensland to work on getting some early season cricket under her belt ahead of the upcoming Indian season. An omission from Indian’s Asian Cup side, she has played 3 tests, 55 ODI’s and 56 T20 Internationals.

An engineering graduate, she serves in the Indian Air Force in their air traffic control section where she has attained the rank of Squadron Leader.

Sunshine Coast v Western Suburbs, Kerry Emery Oval

Grace Harris:

Wests cricket star Grace Harris. Pic: Bob Jones.

Who else butGrace Harrisfor Wests. Recently elevated to the Australian Women’s contract list, the dashing allrounder is back from winning Commonwealth Games gold for her country.

With the Queensland Fire’s Women’s National Cricket League campaign getting underway at the end of the month, and the Weber Women’s Big Bash League starting next month, now is a great time to check in with the entertaining Harris.

Gold Coast v University of Queensland, Bill Pippin Oval

Nicola Hancock: Hancock, a new recruit for the Queensland Fire in the off-season, the former ACT pace bowler will add firepower to UQ, which finished runners-up to premiers Valley in last year’s Katherine Raymont Shield Final.

Ipswich v Valley, Baxter Oval

Sianna Ginger:

Siann Ginger of Valley District Cricket Club. Pic: Bob Jones.

A talented teenage allrounder originally from Townsville, Ginger was the player of the final in Valley’s premiership win last summer.

She caught the eye last weekend playing in a series of youth T20 games under Cricket Australia’s Perry XI v Lanning XI format that will help decide on the national squad to represent at the inaugural ICC Women’s World Under-19 Cup tournament next year.

TAVERNERS

Wests:

Jack Sonter: Keep your eye on Holland Park junior batsman Jack Sonter.

Wests were strong in the Under-16 age group season and he will be in the sweet spot age wise in Under-17s.

Sunshine Coast:

Will Noffke: Exciting young pacemen Will Noffke, is the son of former Bulls quick Ashley.

Wide Bay:

Sam Stutchbery: One of the two additional teams (along with Darling Downs): Bundaberg’s Sam Stutchbery hails from a strong cricketing family.

Valley:

Saxon Jeh: Jeh’s older siblings Zanden and Sienna have played first grade for Valley and young Saxon is another handy performer.

DDSWQ:

Chace Oates: – TGS student was notable in GPS rugby recently and is also a fine cricketer.

Wynnum-Manly:

Jackson Steinhardt: one of several members of the Steinhardt clan spread through the Sea Eagles ranks. A hard-hitting batsman who scored a lower grade century as a 14-year-old.

Northern Suburbs:

Fergus McFadyen: The youngest of three brothers at Norths. While Connor is seeking to establish himself in the AFL with the Brisbane Lions, allrounder Noah McFadyen is a first grade regular who captained the Queensland Under-19 team to the national title last year. Fergus is another promising prospect.

South Brisbane:

Max Isoardi of Brisbane State High.

UQ:

Brayden Meegama: The young leggie has taken some big hauls in Tavs last season and the lower grades for UQ.