Discovery players of the Taverners, Premier Women and Men’s grade competitions revealed here.
Who have been the discovery players of the summer in Qld Premier Cricket? The list includes a 14-year-old Wests’ schoolgirl, quicks from Valley and a 15-year-old Toombul leg-spin bowler.
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As part of our expansive coverage of club cricket we have canvassed Taverners, men’s grade and women’s senior competitions and come up with a list of discovery players.
This follows on from last week’s revelation of Queensland Premier Cricket’s unsung heroes.
This list includes a 14-year-old Wests young gun who was one of the best in West’s star-studded premier women side, a pair of quicks from Valley and a 15-year-old leg-spin bowler from Toombul.
SEQ’S TOP SCHOOLGIRL, SCHOOLBOY CRICKETERS
DISCOVERY PLAYERS OF QUEENSLAND PREMIER CRICKET
Men
Lane Harrison (Wynnum-Manly)
A young cricketer from Melbourne who joined the club this season, Harrison is playing middle grades at the moment.
His work ethic and commitment to training and games has been first class and is an inspiration to those around him.
James Guy (University of Queensland)
James Guy went from playing in the lower grades and no someone the club coaches knew a lot about, to playing seconds and thirds and doing well in a short span of time. “He bowls right arm orthodox and bats solidly, someone who can fill in anywhere,’’ Peter Clarke praised.
Jem Ryan and Noah Emmerson (Ipswich)
Ryan and Emmerson embarked on their second season of First Grade cricket this season and have taken huge strides to be leading performers in their team.
Ryan, who we have mentioned in every story so far this summer, is the head of the snake, leading the Ipswich attack and providing relentless pressure with the ball.
Meanwhile, Ipswich Grammar old boy Emmerson is quickly finding a balance between the hard grind and attack required whe batting through the middle order.
He mastered that balance when tallying 125 (137 balls) against Souths last Saturday.
Nate Smith (Norths)
Smith, an under-15 player, is not a discovery player for those who follow youth cricket but to the wider community he would be.
“He is a genuine all-rounder who is very quick,’’ said Jon Hopes.
Sam Wilson and Addy Grewal (Toombul)
Both Wilson and Grewal joined Toombul from Norths this season.
Grewal scored a century against Wests recently and has impressed greatly with the bat while Wilson, and Grewal for that matter, have been elite fieldsman with great agility and reflexes in all positions.
Bailey Kenzie (Gold Coast)
Kenzie has the ability to bowl in the power play in every game with great effect and take wickets.
This ability of his, a very impressive trait for a first-year player playing in Queensland.
Campbell Farrelly (South Brisbane)
Farrelly was on the path with his left arm pace and consistent hitting before injury robbed him of a possible first grade debut this season.
His work ethic at training, fitness and attitude to better his game is something that stands him apart.
Nothing is ever too hard or out of reach for this guy and Souths are eagerly waiting to see what he can do when he is back ton full fitness.
Benji Floros (Valley)
Floros has gone zero to hero and is now arguably the best medium pace bowler in Brisbane.
He can bowl long spells and maintain 135kpr pace and he spearheads the Valley attack with his outswingers.
Callum Vidler (Valley)
He bowls express pace and for those who didn’t know the Brisbane Grammar schoolboy, he would be a discovery player.
A genuine fast bowler, Vidler tends to be too nice and should hang around Benji to be more mongrel.
Jared Sippel (Wests)
Sippel rejoined Wests again this season after a year away. He has come back with an improved cricketing maturity and has performed well for this season.
He knows his game well and backs himself regardless of the situation.
Pranav Susarla (Wests)
Susarla has scored two tons this season and it comes as no surprise because of how hard he works at his game.
He has built the platform this season while opening the batting and has exceeded expectations.
Steve Hogan and Lakshdeep (Sandgate-Redcilffe)
Steve Hogan and Lakshdeep Singh.
Both recently selected in the Queensland under 17 team, the boys were rising to the occasion in grade as well. They were described club coach Vic Williams as “exciting young players taking wickets and scoring run in whatever grade they play’’.
Footnote: Redlands Discovery players have been two Taverner’s players. Read more further down in this story. Sunshine Coast’s discovery players have been two women and a Tav’s batsman. (see below).
Women
Alvina Rauf (Gold Coast)
Rauf has just turned 15 yet we were singing her praises all season long.
When she bats she takes the game on without fear of getting out, regularly taking risks to keep the scoreboard ticking over with no concern for her own statistics.
She puts the team first which, for a player so young, is very impressive.
Clodagh Ryall (Wynnum-Manly)
Ryall made a return to Wynnum-Manly last season and was bowling medium pace.
“I suggested to her to bowl left arm spin and she has been a revelation since then,’’ said coach Harsha Desilva after Ryall was one of the competition’s most influential this summer.
She took 18 wickets at 18.39 during the season.
Evie Baker and Peyton Meredith (Sunshine Coast women)
Both young cricketers, the Scorchers pair have a big future.
“Both are great athletes who are very dedicated to their sport,’’ praised Scorchers club coach Andrew Pearce.
Erin Moran (Ipswich)
Moran has great pace upfront and has been really successful in the power play with the new ball, making her an amazing addition to the Ipswich squad.
She has come across from Wests this year and made an immediate impact.
Abi McCray (Ipswich)
McRay came to Ipswich from Toowoomba social cricket and scored a 50 in her first grade debut earlier this year.
She has the best cover drive in the squad and is a trusted middle order batter.
Filippa SueSee (Wests)
14-year-old Filipa SueSea was meant to be a seat warmer for the KFC T20 max while the experienced contract players did their thing.
Her playing shirt didn’t even have her name on it.
West’s star studded line-up was injury ravaged early and in came SueSea, playing a key role for Wests as a smart medium pacer for the entire tournament.
She was expected to play between second grade and first grade but has not only played all year in first grade but is considered to be a key part of the team and a big reason why they had the success they did this season.
While all eyes have been on Sipple, Redmayne, Parsons, Ruby Strange and Lily Bassingthwaighte, Suesee has been the unsung hero and discovery player of the West’s outfit.
The young emerging talent recently gained selection to the Queensland under-16 Schools side.
Eloise Sanders (South Brisbane)
Sanders opened the bowling for Souths and got better with every outing.
She is underrated with the ability to test the best of batters in the competition.
Taverners, Lew Cooper Cup
Will Parkinson (University)
Will Parkinson has been an excellent addition to the University side, coming in and being a lead wicket taker in the Taverners competition.
He bowls with pace and aggression, can take a screamer or stop a boundary and hits the ball as hard as anyone.
Joe Murray (Sunshine Coast)
Murray, a middle order batsmen and much-improved fielder, is a chilled out, unassuming youngster who has endless potential.
Think about those players who, if they applied themselves, could make all the top teams.
With a good off-season, Murray could be the Scorcher’s best batter in his age group next season.
Riley Woolmer (Sunshine Coast)
An upcoming all-rounder who bowls handy medium pace and is ever-improving with the blade.
He picked up an injury early in the season which has limited his involvement in games but he is back for another season next summer and will feature heavily for the Scorchers.
Cooper Keogh (Wide Bay)
Fast-paced 15-year-old Keogh has been the discovery player of the season for Wide Bay with his right-arm fast bowling often clocking 125kph.
For a Year 9 student he has pace, maturity and is willing to take on information.
He plays for the Gympie Gold first grade side in the Sunshine Coast competition.
Zac Robinson (Sunshine Coast)
Robinson has dominated his age group competition (Taverners) and is batting his way into the Queensland team with a stellar season. “He has come from a long way back in the field and bashed the door down to be selected for the state 17s,’’ said club coach Andrew Pearce.
Hayden Hamilton (Wynnum-Manly)
Hamilton captained the Nudgee College 10As team earlier in the year and fit right into the Sea Eagles set up.
There was a question mark beside his name to begin, but after scoring 70 and then a century in the trials, he was an automatic selection in the team.
An intense fielder and great athlete, Hamilton was picked for his batting but has impressed with his off spin.
Either opening the batting or at No. 3, Hamilton has done his job well and then with the ball he has opened the bowling with his economical off spin.
Ryan Atley (Wests)
The BBC First XI batter is a Wests junior and has saved his team multiple times with the blade.
An elite gloveman, Atley is still just in Year 10 and will play Taverners again next summer, helping the side with his reliable middle order batting.
Dilshan Wickrama (South Brisbane)
Wickrama, a No. 4 batter, came from Kenmore cricket club and has been impressive.
Back for more next year, Wickrama has been tipped to be a key batter in the competition.
Kethmin Meegasdeniya (South Brisbane)
Meegasdeniya is both a discovery player and unsung hero.
His left-handed orthodox spin was a staple of consistency for Souths this season, Meegasdeniya often bowling 10 overs straight, leaking under 20 runs and picking up a. wicket or two.
Will Tozer (Valley)
All-rounder Tozer has come along in leaps and bounds this season.
While he has always been a dominant player in juniors, this was his first appearance in senior cricket.
He made his mark on the competition with some nice cameos with the bat and more than a few wickets.
The wicket of Tozer will be a key one for those playing against Padua in the AIC competition in 2024 that is for certain.
Spencer Green (Toombul)
Only 15-years-old, Green has extreme upside as a leg spin bowler and as a leader.
He didn’t surprise those within the club but he is someone to keep an eye on. A player that the Queensland pathways should be interested in going forward.
Patrick Rose (Ipswich)
A left arm-quick, Rose has plenty of pace and keeps it tight.
Aged 16, Rose did not have his way with wickets this season but his future is bright.
Steve Hogan and Lakshdeep Singh (Sandgate-Redcliffe)
Both boys were selected in the QLD under-17 team and are exciting young players taking wickets and scoring runs in whatever grade they play in.
Hogan bats and bowls spin while Singh was the leading wicket-taker in the Taverners competition with 30.
Thomas Vaseo (Redlands)
A 15-year-old raw talent.
A seam-up youngster who, for his age, is sharp as a knife’s edge.
He plays Taverners, fourth grade and has tasted third grade. He is gathering experience with each weekend and after playing representative cricket for the first time last year, Vaseo has improved out of siight.
The St Laurence’s College student will play more youth representative cricket in the near future.
Chase Rodgers (Redlands)
The flame-haired Redlands Tiger is a middle order batter and leg-spin bowler who has played second grade at the club.
A fierce competitor, Rodgers just knows how to win a game. Want proof? On one occasion in second grade his team needed 90 to win and from a mentally tough position, Rodgers rallied hard and scored an unbeaten 50 to win the game.
He knows how to get into the battle and how to win it.
Louis Morris (Norths)
The talented Marist College Ashgrove First XI cricketer flew under the radar this season with a stellar campaign where he took wickets, scored runs and warmed his engines for the AIC season.
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