Cricket Gold Coast: Key ins, outs and storylines of every club revealed
As the Cricket Gold Coast season commences, discover the key changes and storylines set to shape every club’s first-grade premiership pursuit.
Local Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The highly anticipated Cricket Gold Coast season is here for 2024/25 as Palm Beach Currumbin and Mudgeeraba Nerang set out to defend their respective crowns.
A host of overseas talents, headlined by two under-19 World Cup players, will call the Gold Coast home this summer as they look to make their mark on the competition.
Discover the key changes for every first-grade side below.
Coomera Hope Island
Ins: Phil Tunnicliffe (Southport Labrador), Faizan Amin (Sandgate-Redcliffe), Luke Ronday (Runaway Bay), James Martin (Burleigh)
Outs: Nil
Coomera Hope Island is set to be buoyed by the return of all-rounder Phil Tunnicliffe after his stint at Southport Labrador. The club has also welcomed the addition of Faizan Amin, who hit the ground running in the T20 competition after snagging 12 wickets a very tidy clip, and will also bat in the top order. He had been floating between the seconds and thirds with Sandgate-Redcliffe in Premier cricket. All-rounder Luke Ronday has also joined the club from Runaway Bay, while keeper-batter James Martin has returned after a stint at Burleigh. After a testing season last year, its hoped the additions, combined with the lack of departures, can continue the club’s steady build towards the top.
Southport Labrador
Ins: Carson McCullough (overseas), Seb Bradley (overseas), Kyle Palmer-Hughes, Ted Gossett (Runaway Bay)
Outs: Phil Tunnicliffe (Coomera Hope Island), Harvey Rankine
After coming close to finals last year, the Tigers have looked to the shores of the UK to propel the side this season, with a pair of very handy additions joining the club. Left-arm orthodox bowler and talented bat Carson McCullough has represented Ireland in the under-19 World Cup, while fellow import Seb Bradley is a right-arm quick who made an immediate impact with a five-wicket haul on his T20 debut. Tasmanian Kyle Palmer-Hughes has also joined the club after playing Aussie rules with Labrador, and will open the batting. He’s a solid and stylish player. Expect another strong season from off-spinning all-rounder and club stalwart Dhanushka Mitipolaarachchi, who was in fine form throughout the T20 campaign. Last year’s overseas player Harvey Rankine hasn’t returned to the club.
Runaway Bay
Ins: Joel Harrison, Corey Hucker, Ben Houghton (overseas),
Outs: Steve Graham (Queens), Jayden Hoare, Adair Kelovkar, Ted Gossett (Southport Labrador), Tom Gossett
Slayter Cox, Adnan Hussain, Ben Canning and Morgan Carter are all set to make the step up from second-grade to Runaway Bay’s first XI line-up this season. At just 15 years of age, Morgan Carter will be one to watch. Corey Hucker has made the move north from Victoria and landed at Runaway Bay, while Ben Houghton has been recruited from the UK. Adair Kelovkar and Tom Gossett are among the outs with both taking a year off.
Queens
Ins: Matt Kirkham (overseas), Alex Fenn (overseas), Archie Fenn (overseas), Will Fenwick (overseas), Steve Graham (Runaway Bay)
Outs: Sam Chapman (Gold Coast Dolphins)
Queens has lost young quick Sam Chapman to Premier cricket, and funnily enough he opened the bowling against his former club in the All Ballsports T20 Cup final last weekend. Jack Kann is coming off the back of a strong T20 game and his getting his temperament right, while the club is expecting another strong season from Jack Winton. A bevy of overseas recruits will bolster Queens stocks, with Matt Kirkham, Alex Fenn and Archie Fenn all coming across from England while Will Fenwick has come from Ireland.
Palm Beach Currumbin
Ins: Andrew MacEwen (overseas), Arthur Garrett (overseas)
Outs: James McNeil, Ryan Kettle (retired)
Overseas recruits Andrew MacEwan and Arthur Garrett are set to debut for Palm Beach Currumbin this weekend as the club looks to continue on from last season’s duel-grand final campaign that delivered a one-day premiership. They will however be without the tutelage of captain-coach James McNeil who has moved to Brisbane and is a big loss.
Broadbeach Robina
Ins: Jack Corran (overseas), James Sales (0verseas), Malinga De Silva
Outs: Nil
After the loss of nine first-grade players last season, Broadbeach Robina is continuing its promising rebuild into this season, and has added some exciting faces to the mix. James Sales represented England in the under-19 World Cup and has played first-class cricket for Northamptonshire, while Jack Corran has made the move from the UK’s Oxton Cricket Club for the summer. The Cats have also picked up Malinga De Silva who has played first-class cricket in Sri Lanka.
Surfers Paradise
Ins: Michael Philipson, Cam Francis
Outs: Aaron Densley, Jono Baldock
The Demons are out to go better than last season’s semifinal appearance and have added some handy names to bolster their chances of doing so. Former premiership player Michael Philipson, who has previously been honoured as the league’s top player, has returned after a stint with the University of Queensland. Cam Francis has played Queensland Country and shapes as another handy addition. Harold Jones is also going around again off the back of a dominant campaign in 2023/24, while a pair of young talents have also cracked the First XI in Curtis Jackson and Archie Atkinson. A pace bowler, Jackson is 19 and in back in the top grade after recovering from a knee injury, while Atkinson is just 14 years of age.
Mudgeeraba Nerang
Ins: Kevin Chapman, Talha Anis, Marco Kroon
Outs: Luke Smith, Dane Seed (injury), Jai Kurt (injury), Matt Grant, Scott Sanderson, Nathan Lyons, Archie Furfax-Ross
The reigning two-day premiers will have their work cut out for them in the quest of back-to-back premierships, after losing seven players from the premiership group. Dane Seed and Jai Kurt are both out with long-term knee injuries, with the loss of Seed a particularly big blow given he came second in the player of the year last year. Nathan Lyons and Scott Sanderson aren’t playing, and neither is Matt Grant who is training to become a pilot. In total, three spinners have been lost, including English import Archie Furfax-Ross who isn’t returning. The return of Marco Kroon will go someway to aiding the spin void that needs to be filled as he’s a former first-grade off-spinner, while club stalwart Kevin Chapman is back after two years in Tasmania, as is opening batsmen Talha Anis who played in the previous premiership side.
Alberton Ormeau
Ins: –
Outs: –
The Hurricanes have kept a similar group together heading into the 2024/25 season as they look to improve on eighth place finishes in both formats. They will be boosted by seasoned representative talent Corey Galloway, Tom Jellie and Jayden Sands, as well over-40s pair Shane Connors and Clint Edmondson, who have both represented the Queensland Droughtmasters.
Helensvale Pacific Pines
Ins: Ryan Maloney, Liam Sherriff
Outs: Caleb Day, Shaun Snyder (Burleigh)
After a semifinal loss last season, Helensvale Pacific Pines is out to rediscover the premiership glory of two years ago. They will be without former first-grade captain Caleb Day, but will have a fully fit Ryan Maloney. After rupturing his Achilles, Maloney returned at the end of last season but couldn’t bowl. Keeper batsman Liam Sherriff has also been added. Keep your eye on Nayte Gregory too, who was picked to play third grade this year heading into pre-season, but after training well he was presented opportunities in the T20 competition and bowled and fielded beautifully, now earning a round one first-grade cap. He bowls right arm medium and is a super consistent hard-worker in the field.
Burleigh
Ins: Sam Yabsley, Shaun Snyder (Helensvale Pacific Pines), Rhys McCarthy
Outs: Harry Collier, James Martin (Coomera Hope Island)
Burleigh is set to be buoyed by the return of opening bowler Sam Yabsley, and has also picked up top-order bat Shaun Snyder, while head coach Rhys McCarthy is set to assume a batting post in the middle order. It comes after the club lost coach James Martin to Coomera Hope Island, while captain Harry Collier has relocated to Tasmania. Long-time player and top-order Jasper Schoenmaker will assume the captaincy duties in Collier’s absence and will be one to watch.
Revealed: Gold Coast T20 team of the tournament
An Adelaide Striker with 41 Big Bash games under his belt headlines a star-studded Gold Coast T20 Cup team of the tournament. See who else made the cut.
‘We could be questioned’: Reason behind Gold Coast helmet mandate
Cricket Gold Coast has mandated the wearing of helmets for all senior players this season. Now the reasoning behind the decision can be revealed.