Kookaburra Cup T20s: Transfer tracker and players to watch
Bulletin cricket insider Nathan Janes has crunched the numbers in the wake of the start of the 2021 Kookaburra Cup T20 season, identifying the game changers who can light up the tournament.
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BULLETIN cricket insider Nathan Janes has crunched the numbers in the wake of the start of the 2021 Kookaburra Cup T20 season, identifying the game changers who can light up the tournament.
COOMERA HOPE ISLAND
T20 HISTORY
5 wins, 6 losses (45%)
Best Result: 3rd in 2018
2021/22 PLAYER SIGNINGS
2021/22 LOSSES
Phil Tunnicliffe (Southport Labrador)
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN T20 COMPETITION (2)
Joshua Henderson
Captaining the team this year, Henderson is a constant threat with the ball for Coomera with his dangerous right arm outswing at a good pace. In the history of the T20 competition, Henderson ranks fourth in wickets with 14 at 11.64. He also holds the record for the best figures with 5/13 in 2019 against Palm Beach
Kushaal Ram
If Coomera is to climb up the ladder this year, a big year with the bat will is needed from Ram. With over ten years of experience playing in the NSW premier league, where he scored 2,471 runs at 21.49, he certainly has the skill to be one of the top batsmen in the competition this year.
YOUNGSTERS ON THE RISE
New Coomera coach Tony Austin said one younger player to watch this year will be fast bowler Joshua Spies. Spies got a taste of first grade last year, taking seven wickets in eight games.
QUEENS
T20 HISTORY
7 wins, 5 losses (58%)
Best Result: 3rd in 2019
2021/22 PLAYER SIGNINGS
Max Houlahan (GC Dolphins)
3,326 runs at 28.92 at Gold Coast Dolphins.
Best season in first grade 565 runs @ 31.39 in 2017/18
2021/22 LOSSES
Michael Durbridge
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN T20 COMPETITION (2)
Max Houlahan
A tall left-hander able to punish attacks, Houlahan will be the dangerman for Queens in the T20’s. A past Queensland under 19’s representative, Houlahan, is capable of big innings once belting 178 off 189 balls for Dolphins second grade.
Jackson Winton
Winton is the only man to feature in the top ten for wickets and runs in the T20 competition over the past three years. Winton averages 24 with the bad and 18 with the ball.
YOUNGSTER ON THE RISE
Club coach Harry Winton said one of the better young prospects at the club was Lucas Poeppmann. A right-arm pace bowler Poeppmann will look to continue his strong form from last year, where he took 25 wickets at 14.32 across first and second grade.
RUNAWAY BAY
T20 HISTORY
5 wins, 7 losses
Best Result: 5rd in 2020
2021/22 PLAYER SIGNINGS
Steven Graham (Wynnum Manly)
289 runs @ 22.23 and 19 wickets @ 38 in Queensland Premier Cricket 1st Grade
Joel Harrison (Wynnum Manly)
444 runs @ 40.36, including two centuries in Queensland Premier Cricket 1st Grade
Jayden Hoare (Pottsville Cricket Club)
4,952 runs @ 33.46 from 2010-2021 in LJ Hooker League
2021/22 LOSSES
Matthew Hague (Broken Leg)
Luke Ronday
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN T20 COMPETITION (2)
Matt Madeley
In his eight games in the T20 competition, right arm quick Madeley has dominated with the ball averaging 8.5 with an economy rate of 4.25. His economy rate is the second-best in competition history.
Joel Harrison
If you score back-to-back hundreds in Queensland premier cricket first grade, then you’re a serious player. Harrison did so last year for Wynnum Manly 120 and 155 in consecutive weeks. A Runaway Bay junior, club captain Rhys McCarthy said “he has slotted straight into our team culture.”
YOUNGSTERS ON THE RISE
When asked about the promising juniors coming through, McCarthy pointed to promising youngsters Zach Hollis and Mitchell Bailey.
Hollis won the Gold Coast under 19 player of the year last summer and also scored 316 runs in first grade at 22.57
Bailey, a strong right arm paceman, got a taste of first grade last year playing nine games. In juniors, he had an extremely promising season taking 19 wickets at 9.68.
SOUTHPORT LABRADOR
T20 HISTORY
10 wins, 4 losses (71%)
Best Result: Runners up in 2018 & 2019 (Lost to Alberton and Mudgeeraba, respectively)
2021/22 PLAYER SIGNINGS
Phil Tunnicliff (Coomera Hope Island)
Dhanushka Mitipolarachchi (Broadbeach)
2021/22 LOSSES
-
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN T20 COMPETITION (2)
Phil Tunnicliffe
Southport had an extremely successful offseason picking up two of the leagues best allrounders. Tunnicliffe, who won the 2018/19 first grade player of the year, will be a huge factor in the Tigers success this year. In his 49 games, a Coomera Tunnicliffe has scored 1,331 runs at 27.73 and took 70 wickets at 17.31.
Dhanushka Mitipolarachchi
Recruited from Broadbeach, Mitipolarachchi will play a pivotal role in strengthening Southport’s middle while also bowling his off-spin.
YOUNGSTER ON THE RISE
Southport’s captain TJ Miller said their most promising prospect is opening batsman Luc Hart de Keating.
“His really come on over the last six to twelve months, and he’ll face a lot of the new ball this year,” Miller said about the sixteen-year-old.
Highly rated Southport product Bailey Swell will also be back for the Tigers in the T20’s before heading to play for the Dolphins for the upcoming season.
SURFERS PARADISE
T20 HISTORY
5 wins, 7 losses (42%)
Best Result: 3rd in 2020
2021/22 PLAYER SIGNINGS
Adriane Morrison (Loganholme)
157 runs @ 12, 23 wickets @ 20.26 in second grade in 2020/21.
2021/22 LOSSES
Justin Clarke (England)
Mahesh Rajaratne
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN T20 COMPETITION (2)
Claye Beams
A prolific run-scorer and quality keeper, Claye Beams will be key to a Surfers Paradise side trying to improve on their impressive third-place finish last year.
Jack Charlton
Through the middle overs, Charlton’s left arm off-spin has always been difficult to get away. Charlton had an impressive 2021/22 season taking 17 wickets at 12.18 while only conceding 2.46 runs an over.
YOUNGSTER ON THE RISE
Club president Matt Willis listed Oam Patel as a junior to watch for the upcoming season. At just 15 years old, the spinner will get an opportunity at some stage in the season Willis said whilst also playing for the Gold Coast Lord’s Taverners.
BONOGIN
T20 HISTORY
Never Played in T20 competition
2021/22 PLAYER SIGNINGS
-
2021/22 LOSSES
-
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN T20 COMPETITION (2)
David Young
Playing in 3rd grade last year, Young showed he was a class above, leading the competition in runs with 692 at 62.91. He also scored three centuries during the season, helping Bonogin to the third-grade south premiership.
Matthew Phillips
Former Dolphin Phillips will be critical for Bonogin during the T20 competition with both bat and ball if his side wants to succeed. Last year in third grade Phillips had a brilliant all-round season scoring 352 runs at 50.29 and taking 29 wickets at 13.38
YOUNGSTER ON THE RISE
Club President Jake Savage identified 15-year-old allrounder Louis Gunter as a player of the future for the club.
“He’s been playing LMS over the offseason and has really improved and getting alot stronger. He should be a breakout player for us this year in the middle order.”
Savage also added, “Playing in the T20 competition is a big jump for us as a club in our fourth year and it’s a good opportunity to test ourselves against the best.”
ALBERTON ORMEAU
T20 HISTORY
8 wins, 5 losses (62%)
Best Result: Champions 2018 (defeated Southport Labrador)
2021/22 PLAYER SIGNINGS
Sabah Syed (Pottsville Cricket Club)
152 runs @ 30.4, 7 wickets @ 39 in 2020/21
Harish Kumar (Rochedale South Cricket Club)
648 runs @ 49.85, 18 wickets @ 22.67 in 2020/21
2021/22 LOSSES
No notable losses
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN T20 COMPETITION (2)
Matthew Yield
Over the last three years, Yield has dominated with the bat scoring 345 runs at 26.54, putting him second all-time for runs in the pre-season T20 competition. Yield is also one of only four men to score multiple fifty’s in the competition.
Harish Kumar
New to the club in 2021, Kumar gives Alberton the X-factor they will need to make a strong push this year.
“An aggressive top-order batsman and handy leg-spin bowler, he is someone that we’ve wanted across for a long time now,” said Alberton president Matthew Yield.
YOUNGSTERS ON THE RISE
“This year, we’ve merged with the junior club Ormeau, with a big focus to really get the juniors coming through,” Yield stated.
Yield said to look out for Caleb Arrold, a young all-rounder who played second-grade last year, and Dasham Grewal. Grewal is a tall right-arm bowler capable of letting them go at a good pace. He took 25 wickets last year at 15.88 in second grade.
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BROADBEACH
T20 HISTORY
7 wins, 5 losses (58%)
Best Result: 4th in 2019
2021/22 PLAYER SIGNINGS
Keegan Armstrong (Shepparton Youth Club United)
296 runs @ 29.6, as wicketkeeper 7 catches, 5 stumping & 5 run-outs in 2020/21
2021/22 LOSSES
Trent Keep (GC Dolphins)
Dhanushka Mitipolarachchi (Southport Labrador)
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN T20 COMPETITION (2)
Steve Baker
Baker is the all-time leading run-scorer in the pre-season competition scoring 355 runs at 35.8 with an impressive strike rate of 158. He’ll be key in have far Broadbeach can go this year.
Kyle Brockley
Broadbeach president Paul Azzopardi said, “we’re hoping for a lot from Brockley this year. “He’s been training really well.”
Brockley will be important with bat and ball for the Cats averaging 27.57 with the stick in the past two seasons of the competition.
YOUNGSTERS ON THE RISE
Azzopardi said “there’s juniors that have been around our club for a few years that have shown a lot of promise, and they’re a year older and a year stronger now.”
Azzopardi suggested young guns such as Connor Robson and Lachlan Hinds will have a greater impact this year and in years to come for the club.
Robson got played six games last year in first grade averaging 13, and has shown real promise down the grades scoring 161 in second grade in 2018/19.
Hinds, who played at the club since he was a ten-year-old, dominated third-grade last year, averaging 107 in third grade last year.
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BURLEIGH
T20 HISTORY
1 win, 8 losses (11%)
Best Result: 7th in 2019
2021/22 PLAYER SIGNINGS
Matthew Grant (GC Dolphins)
192 runs @ 16 and 23 wickets @ 35 playing first and second grade in 2020/21
2021/22 LOSSES
No Notable losses
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN T20 COMPETITION (2)
Scott Sanderson
Sanderson showed flashes of his talent in his first year for Burleigh, with a dominated 99 against Queens late in the season. If he is consistent at the top of the order, look for the Bullsharks to put up some big totals this year.
Sam Yabsley
A quality right arm paceman, Yabsley in his first full year in the top grade dominated with the ball taking 33 wickets at 12.58.
YOUNGSTERS ON THE RISE
Regarding youth on the rise at the club, Burleigh coach Jimmy Spargo explained “everyone’s in their early 20s, so definitely a lot of improvement left in those boys. We’ve got a talented squad and I am excited to see what we can achieve this year.”
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HELENSVALE PACIFIC PINES
T20 HISTORY
5 wins, 7 losses (42%)
Best Result: Runners up in 2020 (Lost final to Mudgeeraba Nerang)
2021/22 PLAYER SIGNINGS
-
2021/22 LOSSES
-
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN T20 COMPETITION (2)
Harry Lickiss
Hawks captain Jack Lickiss said his brother Harry,
“Is one to watch. He didn’t play last year besides the final where he scored 56 off 35 balls. He hits the ball very nicely and will have a big role to play up the top of the order.”
Chandima Bandara
The Sri Lankan finger spinner will be important with the ball for the Hawks, keeping oppositions tired down through the middle overs. In three years in the competition, Bandara has taken 11 wickets at 17 with an impressive economy rate of 6.66.
YOUNGSTERS ON THE RISE
Lickess said, “we’ve got Henry Shephard and Josh Stewart, who both played open juniors last year, and they are both in the 13 man squad and will feature in the T20’s.”
Henry Shephard, a left-arm quick who came to the club as an 11-year old, showed promise in the second grade last year, taking four wickets at 21.25.
Josh Stewart, a fine young batsman, dominated the Turf Juniors Div 1 competition last year, scoring 361 runs at 45.13, including one century and two fifties.
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MUDGEERABA NERANG
T20 HISTORY
10 wins, 4 losses (71%)
Best Result: Champions 2019 & 2020
2021/22 PLAYER SIGNINGS
-
2021/22 LOSSES
Brad Munro (GC Dolphins)
Mitchell Daly
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN T20 COMPETITION (2)
Dayne Siede
Few batsmen in the competition can bully attacks around like Siede. In last years grand final against Helensvale, Siede blasted a whirlwind 127 off 71 balls with 20 boundaries.
Howard Biddle
The man at the other end with Siede was Biddle, with them combining for a record 194 run partnership. In three years of the competition, Biddle has scored 294 runs at 42 while also hitting the third most maximums of any player.
YOUNGSTERS ON THE RISE
With the wedding of star batsman Josh Nelson Saturday afternoon wiping out a fair chuck of the first-grade team Mudgeeraba will be putting on display their impressive juniors.
Club president Mudgeeraba told the Bulletin youngsters Samuel Askin (18), Will Mahoney (17) and lord taverners representatives James Crews (15), Griff Williams (15) would all make their top-grade debuts on the weekend.
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PALM BEACH
T20 HISTORY
4 wins, 7 losses (36%)
Best Result: 7th in 2020
2021/22 PLAYER SIGNINGS
James McNeil (Melbourne University Cricket Club)
2,564 runs @ 29.47 in Victoria first grade from 2015-2021
Ryan McCloy (Pottsville Cricket Club)
155 runs @ 19.38 and 14 wickets @ 19.79 in 2020/21 in LJ Hooker League
2021/22 LOSSES
-
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN T20 COMPETITION (2)
James McNeil
All eyes will be on prize recruit James McNeil in the T20 competition. The star Batsman who captained Victoria premier club Melbourne University has the potential to make Palm Beach a genuine favourite to take home the silverware this year.
Zac Lopez
Club captain Ryan Kettle said, “Lopez will be very destructive when he gets going. I don’t think there many cricketers on the Gold Coast that hit the ball as what Zac does.”
YOUNGSTERS ON THE RISE
Kettle tipped 18-year-old Michael Craig as one of many juniors on the verge of breaking into the senior squad. An all-rounder Craig averaged 17 with the bat and 16 with the ball in second grade last year.
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