Brisbane Heat sign Josh Brown, local talent take on under-19 World Cup

Signing news, World Cup selection and an exciting international series confirmed for 2023 - Qld cricket is full of news as we reveal the team of the week from last round’s club games.

Valley batsman Hugh Weibgen. Picture: John Gass

Local stars earning Big Bash contracts, World Cup call-ups – there is no shortage of news circulating on Queensland pitches as we reveal the Premier Cricket team of the week.

The Brisbane Heat start their BBL12 campaign tonight against the Melbourne Renegades and Norths opening batsmen Josh Brown has been rewarded for his dominance in the Twenty20 Max competition with a replacement player contract.

In a dominant campaign where he played nine matches, Brown scored 447 runs at an average of 55.88 – hitting it at a strike rate of more than 200 while tallying 41 sixes.

Sianna Ginger in action for Valley.

On top of that, Queenslander left-arm quick Lucy Hamilton and all-rounder Sianna Ginger earned selection in the inaugural ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup in South Africa next month.

It came following the under-19 national championships in Perth, where the pair of them each took nine wickets.

Norths bowler Connor Sully. Picture: John Gass

In other news, a reciprocal home and away male under-19 series between Australia and England has been confirmed for 2023.

Australia will host England in a multi-format series consisting of two four-day matches, three one-day internationals and a twenty20 match played across the National Cricket Campus this summer.

The six-match series begins with a four-day match at Allan Border Field on January 29 and ends with the twenty20 game at Ian Healy Oval on February 19.

Australia will then travel to England in August next year to play five one-day games and two four-day matches.

Australia’s squad will be selected following the Cricket Australia Under-19 Male National Championships, which started today in Adelaide.

THE QLD PREMIER CRICKET WRAP

The team of the week in the Queensland Premier Cricket Competition features seven individual century-makers as well as four five-wicket or better hauls by bowlers as the various grade competitions prepare for the last round of matches before the Christmas break.

There was a host of teen talent either away in Perth for the under-19 women’s national championships or preparing for the men’s titles in Adelaide but there was still ability to burn.

Norths in the Premier Cricket competition. Picture: John Gass

The experienced Tess Cooper, a rock-solid batter who has played for the Queensland Fire in the Women’s National Cricket League and been a WBBL Brisbane Heat squad member, dominated the Katherine Raymont Shield first grade comp at the weekend.

Cooper’s 148 not out from 143 balls underpinned a remarkable run chase for Sandgate-Redcliffe in their one-day clash, which also featured a second century by Courtney Sippel for the Gold Coast.

The Dolphins made 2/311 from their 50 overs, with Tara Wheeler (99), Sippel (121) and Grace Parsons (53 not out) seemingly putting themselves in a winning position.

But Cooper was undeterred on the way to her mighty knock, as she and Queensland squad wicketkeeper Caity Mair (79 not out) combined to chase down the target to finish 1/314 with more than an over to spare.

Wests bowler Tom Whitney. Picture: John Gass

English import Georgie Boyce was impressive again for the Sunshine Coast in their Shield game against Valley, scoring 122 from 133 balls as the Scorchers total reached 7/270.

But more runs from Kira Holmes (80) and Mikayla Hinkley (71) was enough to get Valley over the line.

In the men’s first grade competition, a successful return from injury by former Queensland under-19 batsman Stephan Muller was enough to put Redlands (6/249) in a sound position against University of Queensland.

Ipswich bowler Adam Smith. Picture: John Gass

Muller, in his comeback after ankle surgery earlier this season, finished with 148 to score more than 60 per cent of his team’s runs on his own.

While the current crop of next generation Queensland stars seek to defend the national under-19 title, two players from the championship squad caught the eye elsewhere in first grade.

Toombul quick Aubrey Stockdale did the job with the ball as his haul of 5/73 helped restrict competition heavyweights Wests to 251.

All-rounder Noah McFadyen didn’t take as many wickets for Norths but his effort of 1/39 from 32 overs featured 21 maidens in the clash with Sunshine Coast at Alan Pettigrew Oval.

West batsman Rex Tooley. Picture: John Gass

Queensland Premier Cricket Team of the Week, December 10-11

1. Tess Cooper – 148* (143) – Sandgate-Redcliffe – Women’s First Grade

2. Courtney Sippel – 121 (130) – Gold Coast – Women’s First Grade

3. Stephan Muller – 148* (271) – Redlands – Men’s First Grade

4. Georgie Boyce – 122 (133) – Sunshine Coast – Women’s First Grade

5. Olivia Totten – 113* (59) – Western Suburbs – u15 Female Competition

6. Aaron Parsons – 132* (104) – Gold Coast – Men’s Fourth Grade

7. Lachlan Peterson – 108 (116) – South Brisbane – Men’s Fourth Grade

8. Ayaka Stafford – 6/9 off 4 – Western Suburbs – u15 Female Competition

9. Aubrey Stockdale – 5/73 off 25 – Toombul – Men’s First Grade

10. Tiran Mahaarachchi – 5/17 off 8 – South Brisbane – Men’s Fifth Grade

11. Amy Marshall – 5/11 off 4 – Sandgate-Redcliffe – u15 Female Competition

Originally published as Brisbane Heat sign Josh Brown, local talent take on under-19 World Cup