The Southport School ushers in new era of players as they chase a fourth-staright GPS first XI title
A century of proud cricket traditions will drive The Southport School’s newlook first XI this season as they fight to continue a remarkable run of GPS success.
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A CENTURY of proud cricket traditions will drive The Southport School’s newlook first XI this season as they fight to continue a remarkable run of GPS success.
Having won the last three first XI crowns and seven of the past 10, TSS will usher in a new era tomorrow when they open their 2020 campaign against Nudgee College on Brisbane’s northside.
With the vast majority of the 2019 side gone, fourth-year player Jack Hocart has assumed the captaincy from Hugo Burdon and will have Australian under-18 representative and fellow all-rounder Jack Sinfield as a willing ally.
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TSS director of cricket Steven Baker said despite the personnel changes, the players remained desperate to honour the feats of those who had gone before them.
“There’s 100-plus years of history of cricket in the school so they’ve got to respect that. We’ve had recent success too and we’d like to keep that going,” Baker, now in his 11th season at TSS, said.
“Every season is its own journey. We have high hopes for the boys (but) we can only control us. We’ve done the things that we do, you never how the other sides are going to shape up.
“Jack (Hocart) has been a standout player. He brings the experience of his years’ involvement (in TSS cricket) and he’s captained the boys in younger year groups.
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“I try not to get too far ahead of myself, it’s just an enjoyable journey for the boys. There’s some values to be learnt in there but it’s also about balance with their study and sport.”
Guided by long-time coach Ross Wallace, the playing group warmed up for the new season last month with a trip to Launceston’s Scotch Oakburn College, where they played their annual quad series with The King’s School (Sydney) and Pulteney Grammar School (Adelaide).
With attention now turning to Nudgee, Baker said the school’s secret to cricket success was a complex mix of on-field talent and off-field components.
“There’s probably quite a few contributors but firstly the traditions of the school and culture of the school; the balance of study and sport; Ross Wallace has been a key figure all along over those last 10 years; the strength of the Gold Coast competition is massive; (and) we actively encourage the boys to play senior cricket as soon as they can,” Baker said.
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“We do a wealth of specialist coaching and (the players) have got a heap of support. Those pieces all add up, with some really good families and boys, to do well.”
Tomorrow’s fixture, the only TSS-Nudgee game not washed out, has been moved from Village Green to the Nudgee fields at Boondall.
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