TOP 100 TONKERS: Shock finish in hunt for Queensland’s best first-grade batsman
After hundreds of votes were counted over the past fortnight, we reveal who sits at the top of Queensland’s best 100 run scorers.
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They could not be split, and based on their overwhelming run tallies it is easy to see why.
Brian May from Western Districts in Toowoomba and Mulgrave’s Jake Roach in the Cairns competition have been crowed the joint winners of NewsCorp’s hunt for the best first-grade batsman in Queensland.
After hundreds of votes were counted over the past fortnight, the pair of heavyweights in their regions (who each polled 12 per cent of the votes) will now turn their attention to the rest of their seasons, eager to prove they are top of the pile.
Referred to in some cricketing circles as ‘The Don Bradman of the Bush’, May’s consistency is his biggest asset at the crease. The type of batsman you can build an innings around, May rarely fails to turn a ‘start’ into a big score and his big scores usually shape his team’s innings.
From 276 matches in all forms of the game, May has racked up a whopping 14190 runs at an average of 77.12.
His consistency was perhaps best exemplified in the 2020/21 season, where even without a century to his name his eight half centuries kept his average well above 70.
As for Roach, he is a man who needs no introduction to Far North cricket fans.
The powerhouse all-rounder is well known for punishing cricket balls into oblivion but his game is more brains than brawn, with his ability to peg things back when the situation requires making him one of Cricket Far North’s premier batsman.
Roach’s career stats make for impressive reading with both bat and ball — scoring more than 7000 runs and taking 434 wickets at an average of just 14.38.
Townsville’s Sam Lowry finished third in the votes, the Queensland Country ace earning six per cent of the tally.
ad on below to see how every player in the running tallied in the vote count.
CAIRNS
Angus Warnock (Norths) 2%
The Norths stalwart plays an anchor role at the top of the order and has started the new season in scintillating form, scoring at least 40 runs in each of the first four games. He plays a crucial role for his team and puts a high price on his wicket. Norths’ winning chances go up with Warnock in the side.
Dan Freebody (Norths) 0%
The all-rounder has taken his batting to new heights in recent summers, finishing in Cricket Far North’s top 15 first-grade runscorers for three straight seasons, cracking the top 10 in 2018-19. He is busy at the crease, quick between the wickets and likes to keep the score ticking over.
Jake Roach (Mulgrave) 12%
He is a man that needs no introduction to Far North cricket fans. The powerhouse all-rounder is well known for punishing cricket balls into oblivion but his game is more brains than brawn, with his ability to peg things back when the situation requires making him one of Cricket Far North’s premier batsman.
Justin Reid (Mulgrave) 0%
Would be the first to admit he hasn’t been at his best to start the summer but his consistency over past seasons cannot be overlooked. Reid hits more fours than anyone in the competition and, with impeccable timing, hits them sweeter than anyonein the competition as well. He makes batting look easy.
Andrew Phelps (Barron River) 2%
Phelps displays a composure at the crease that is beyond his years and can pull out a big shot when required. He has been exceptional since taking on the anchor role at Barron River, with his form in recent seasons being rewarded with a representative call-up to the Far North Fusion open men’s side.
Tim Ward (Barron River) 1%
Alongside Barron River teammate Phelps, Ward is another player who has made the transition from promising up-and-comer to premier first-grader in recent seasons. This was no more demonstrated when he blasted 116 against Norths earlier this summer, following his maiden ton in the 2019-20 season.
Brenton Edwards (Rovers) 1%
The former Australian Country representative is like a fine wine as he just keeps getting better with age. Whether he is going out to blast big bombs in a T20 or build a partnership in the longer format of the game, you can be sure Edwards will give everything he’s got to give his side the best possible chance of winning.
Joshua Chadwick (Rovers) 2%
A game-changing middle-order batsman who can help to salvage an innings when the top order fails, Chadwick is an underrated in the local competition. He finished just outside the top 10 Cricket Far North runscorers in 2019-20, before rocketing into the top five in 20-21. Can hold up an end or play the aggressor.
Paul Nasser (Atherton) 2%
Nasser would whack cricket balls for fun as a youngster growing up in Atherton – and that’s just how the Atherton all-rounder plays the game now. He has scored more runs than any other Cricket Far North first-grader in each of the last two seasons, including a rare double century (203*) against Norths in 2019-20. Can launch bombs at the drop of a hat.
Dan Parnell (Atherton) 2%
The Atherton stalwart and aggressive shot-maker set the Cricket Far North competition alight with a blistering 2018-19 campaign in which he scored 700 runs. Parnell showed he hasn’t lost any of his firepower at the crease with a brilliant knock of 86* in a T20 against Cassowary Coast earlier this summer.
Rhys Camilleri (Cassowary Coast) 0%
A very handy cricketer who can play a number of batting roles in the team, Camilleri’s versatility might be his greatest asset. He was named player of the inaugural Barrier Reef Big Bash tournament last summer, scoring 145 runs at 48.33, including unbeaten matchwinning knocks of 42, 36 and 39.
Jasran Kalkat (Cassowary Coast) 0%
The Cassowary Coast captain is one of Cricket Far North’s most underrated stroke-makers, with a number of shots in his arsenal. He provides some experience at the top of the Cyclones’ order and finished in the club’s top three runscorers last summer with a strike rate of 72.2.
GOLD COAST
Rhys McCarthy (Runaway Bay) 0%
It’s been lean pickings early on for Bay’s experienced Kiwi bat, but McCarthy’s consistency over the past few seasons gets him on this list. The right-hand top-order batsman can play every shot in the cricket dictionary and is top contributor in all three formats played in the Coast’s Kookaburra Cup. When Bay needs a leader at the crease it’s often McCarthy who puts up his hand.
Michael Narracott (Runaway Bay) 0%
A former Brisbane grade cricketer who batted high up the order for South Brisbane for a number of years Narracott has made his way to the Coast and immediately installed himself as one of Bay’s big hitters. Like his top-order partner McCarthy, Narracott has all the shots and can pace himself to make an impact no matter the format. A powerful stroke player who only needs half a chance to find the boundary. Watch for his deadly cover drive.
Kushaal Ram (Coomera Hope Island) 0%
The former Fijian cricket international turned schoolteacher has made fans of his coaching staff and teammates with his dedication to the craft of batting. The left-handed opener’s is first to arrive at training and last to leave. Ram is strong driving through the ‘V’ but his greatest strength is his ability to blast balls on his pads through mid-wicket for four.
James Kleinschmidt (Coomera Hope Island) 2%
A thumb injury suffered earlier this season was so painful that the right-handed No. 4 could not hold a cricket bat. With preparation for the new season severely limited Kleinschmidt has been quiet in 2021/22 but his talent is undeniable. He drives with excellent technique but a large frame and strength fuel his aggressive approach to scoring on the leg side.
Steven Baker (Broadbeach Robina) 2%
As a former Sam Loxton Medal winner, Baker has already previously been crowned the Gold Coast’s top cricketer – and for good reason. A consistent run scorer who opened the batting for years for Broadbeach Robina, Baker has moved down the order this season but he remains a constant threat with the bat. You’ll find fewer local cricketers who put as much time and effort into improving their game as Baker.
Kaleb Day (Helensvale Pacific Pines) 1%
The only player in Gold Coast Cricket to finish in the top 10 run scorers for the past three seasons, the Helensvale skipper’s consistency is his greatest strength. He recently passed 100 senior games for Helensvale.
Jack Lickiss (Helensvale Pacific Pines) 0%
A more aggressive bat than teammate Day, Lickiss is known on the Coast for his love of the sweep. Batting anywhere from three to five in the order, Lickiss has averaged more than 40 in the T20 format over the past two years.
Joshua Nelson (Mudgeeraba Nerang) 5%
A rep cricket regular and former Gold Coast Dolphins player, Nelson bats at three for Mudgeeraba and is known as a full 360 degree player. The right-hander has no qualms hitting quicks or spinners to the rope and thrives under pressure. He’s known to turn sledges into fuel for a matchwinning century.
Dayne Siede (Mudgeeraba Nerang) 0%
One of Coast cricket’s big hitters, Siede loves to play a straight bat and hit bombs. He opens in the T20s and was a big part of Mudgeeraba’s run to the title this season. In the longer formats he finds his place in the middle-order, where he can change the pace of a match at the drop of a hat. Because he’s so tall, opposition quicks find it hard to bounce him, making for a difficult player to bowl to.
Michael Spargo (Burleigh) 0%
Batting IQ is Spargo’s greatest strength, with the ability to adjust his tempo to suit the match situation just one reason he’s a strong captain as well as batting contributor. His rapid speed between the wickets and proclivity to take on short bowling make Spargo one of the most difficult batsmen to pin down on the Gold Coast.
Jasper Schoenmaker (Burleigh) 0%
The anchor to Burleigh’s batting order. Schoenmaker’s rock solid defence is well-suited to life in the trenches taking on the new ball as an opening bat. If bowlers target his legs Schoenmaker comes alive, punishing straight deliveries with whipping glances through mid-wicket and mid-on.
Harish Kumar (Alberton Ormeau) 0%
The Gold Coast’s T20 batting aggregate champion, Kumar has a rocks-or-diamonds quality that make him the most important wicket to take in the Hurricane’s batting line-up. Once settled at the crease Kumar becomes a nightmare to dismiss with an arsenal of creative shots to test every field opponents can set for him.
Simon Mills (Alberton Ormeau) 0%
Unflappable Simon Mills is a traditional. Don’t expect a boundary before he’s faced 50 balls but the scoreboard will always be ticking. Mills is equally comfortable going down the ground or going square depending on the bowler he’s facing.
James McNeil (Palm Beach Currumbin) 0%
McNeil is one of the Gold Coast’s top ticket recruits after making the move from Melbourne University in Victoria’s top club competition. A century on debut hinted at his class, with particular success taking on the spinners in his new home competition. Not a boundary hitter but undoubtedly one of the classiest operators in grassroots cricket.
Canning Mason (Palm Beach Currumbin) 1%
PBC’s reigning leading runscorer from 2020/21 is the ultimate cool head atop the order. The popular right-handed opener is as chilled out as they come, playing aggressive shots with confidence when the situation requires but never chasing beyond it.
Nathan Reardon (Surfers Paradise) 3%
The former Australian T20 international is the reigning leading run-scorer for Gold Coast cricket with a batting style most accurately described as brutal. Insurance premiums have likely skyrocketed around the Gold Coast’s cricket grounds with ‘Reardo’ able to easily clear the fences at each of them.
Michael Phillipson (Surfers Paradise) 2%
The former Queensland first class representative and Peter Burge medallist for Queensland’s premier cricketer of the year has brought a different approach to his childhood mate Nathan Reardon. Elegant and balanced, Phillipson scores quickly through all parts of the ground, but without the need to go aerial to rack up big tallies.
Ned Hanrahan (Queens) 1%
Not yet 18 years old, Ned Hanrahan earned his first taste of first grade cricket last season and is now blossoming as a bolted-on starter. He hasn’t registered a big score yet but shows all the signs of a cricketer on the rise with plenty of good still to come.
Max Houlahan (Queens) 1%
The former Queensland Under-19s and Gold Coast Dolphins representative is one of the more explosive opening bats running around the Gold Coast. With powerful shots and traditional shots alike in his kitbag it is Houlahan’s control in when to use them that make him so difficult to send back to the pavilion.
Phil Tunnicliffe (Southport Labrador) 0%
The new recruit to Southport in 2021/22 brings a wealth of experience and form from past club Coomera. The tall opening bat scored 742 runs to lead the Coast in scoring three years ago and although he hasn’t broken through for Southport yet, his talent cannot be ignored.
Hiran Wickramasekera (Southport Labrador) 0%
The former Sri Lankan Under-19s representative is another 2021/22 recruit to Southport but has hit the ground running with a team of the week-worthy performance in round two. Coaches rave about Wickramasekera’s ability to stay the course, rotating strike and blunting opposition attacks – a handy skillset for an opener.
TOOWOOMBA
Brian May (Western Districts) 12%
Referred to in some cricketing circles as ‘The Don Bradman of the Bush’, May’s consistency is his biggest asset at the crease. The type of batsman you can build an innings around, May rarely fails to turn a ‘start’ into a big score and his big scores usually shape his team’s innings.
Chris Gillam (Western Districts) 1%
The Queensland Country representative is a dominate force at the crease. His aggressive style puts the pressure back on the bowler and in recent seasons he has added a level of “maturity and responsibility” to his game. Gillam can still take control of a game in the blink of an eye but he can also recognise when he needs to ease back and anchor the innings for his side.
Dean Sullivan (University) 0%
The talented left-hander will quickly punish any bowler that strays off a good line and length. Sullivan is good off his legs and will jump on anything short in the blink of an eye.
Hemal Shah (University) 1%
Shah unsettles bowlers with his willingness to venture down the pitch and his movement around the crease. The aggressive batsman makes it hard for bowlers to find a good length and knows how to score runs.
Pieter Van Der Kooij (Met-Easts) 0%
A very aggressive batsman who can easily take control of an innings inside 10 overs. One of Toowoomba’s top level stars.
Dan Pollock (Met-Easts) 1%
Once Pollock has his eye in he’s good for a run a ball but he can also ramp up the run rate when the situation calls for it. His ability to rotate the strike with ease makes it hard for bowlers to establish a good rhythm.
Chris Hall (Northern Brothers Diggers) 1%
Most neutral Toowoomba cricket would rate Hall as second only to Brian May in the competition. The Queensland Country representative is capable of punching up the run rate quickly but can also comfortably settle in for the long haul.
Codie Walker (Northern Brothers Diggers) 0%
A young up and coming middle order batsman, Walker can be relied on to build an innings under any circumstance.
Joel Bock (Southern Districts) 1%
The stylish left-hander goes about his business quietly when at the crease. Club representative describe him as an “accumulator” the type of player who won’t blast a team off the park but can always be relied on for a big handful of runs.
Rex Tooley (Southern Districts) 0%
The young gun will happily dispatch anything that’s too full, short or wide. An explosive batsman that will put a bowling attack to the sword in the blink of an eye.
BRISBANE
Michael Turner (Mater Hill Cricket Club) 2%
Turner is a Warehouse cricket run machine who has mustered a record 20,300-plus runs in more than 400 matches.
The 46-year-old, who averages 56.63, has a highest score of 201 and has won countless premierships, most recently Carina’s first A1 summer flag.
Thomas English (Mater Hill Cricket Club) 0%
English is another Warehouse veteran, although his 10,000 odd runs at 31.03 makes him look like a spring chicken compared to teammate Michael Turner.
English is also a genuine allrounder with more than 500 wickets to his name, but he remains one of the best Community Cricket batters in the state.
Hayden Munck(Ashgrove Cricket Club) 0%
After just four games this season Munck had accumulated 313 runs at a lofty average of 62.60. He is a classy bat who has consistently been one of the competition’s best players this summer.
Lewis Mullens(Ashgrove Cricket Club) 0%
Mullens has been a splendid addition to Ashgrove Cricket Club, and his consistent performances across three matches has netted him 170-odd runs at around 28.
Joel Shields (Indooroopilly Cricket Club) 0%
Right hand bat Shields arrived at Indooroopilly this season as a package deal with his brother, who also plays first grade.
Shields has some solid pedigree behind him – he is a The Southport School old boy who had success at both GPS level and in Gold Coast first grade where he once scored a century for Surfers Paradise.
He has slotted seamlessly into the IDCC first grade top order, displaying patience when batting in tricky conditions. He is also an exceptional fielder and a handy bowler when required.
Daniel Athanasellis (Indooroopilly Cricket Club) 0%
Another player with GPS First XI experience, the 19-year-old is a dynamic opening bat and one of Indooroopilly’s most exciting prospects. In his debut season for the club last year he scored an impressive 599 runs at 46.08.
He has continued his good form into season 21-22 with a highest score this summer of 99. Athanasellis is a former Brisbane Grammar School First IX player.
Jacob Porter (Gold Crest Cricket Club) 0%
The Toowoomba born opener has vast experience across Warehouse, Toowoomba region and Plunket Cup competition.
He is an old fashioned tradesman who loves to grind an innings out and bat long periods.
By occupying the crease he can score big runs and build partnerships, and is entrenched among the club’s top two betters.
Hayden Brumm (Gold Crest Cricket Club) 0%
Brumm is a blazing middle order batsman who loves to bat aggressively. He scores quickly and takes the bowling on, hitting many boundaries as he accelerates his team’s run rate.
Jeff Lituri (Coorparoo Cricket Club) 2%
Lituri has been a model of consistency since joining the club in the 20-21 season when he scored 479 runs at an average of 36.85 – including a century (132 not out) and two 50s.
He has been in even better touch this season, amassing 223 runs at an average of 55.75.
The right hander has vast experience, having previously played second grade for Western Suburbs in the Brisbane grade competition
Chris Dishot (Coorparoo Cricket Club) 0%
Dishot debuted for Coorparoo in the 2018/19 season and this summer has brought up his 1000th club run.
For Coorparoo he has now scored 1070 runs at an average of 28.92, with eight fifties (highest score 88). This season he has scored 125 runs at an average of 25.00.
Williams O’Brien (Cleveland Thornlands) 0%
Aged just 17, O’Brien is one of the babies of the competition who has scored 123 runs so far with an average of 17.57 opening the innings.
He was also selected to open the batting for the Plunket Cup representative team.
He is regarded as a big talent within Cleveland Thornlands who is a great team player with a fantastic attitude
Lachlan Midson (Cleveland Thornlands) 0%
Midson has scored 116 runs at an average of 14.5 for Cleveland Thornlands, with a top score of 51 highlighting his ability.
Midson is also an opener but has the added responsibility of keeping wicket.
He has returned after missing two seasons and strengthens the team’s batting line up.
Akshay Ashok (Napoleons Cricket Club) 0%
The 23-year-old left handed opener is a model of consistency who, like openers of bygone eras, builds into his innings, rotating strike as he goes before branching out with his shots all around the wicket.
Ashok is also a handy right arm off spinner who made the Warehouse cricket representative side.
Santosh Nistala (Napoleons Cricket Club) 0%
The reliable Nistala is a rock in the middle order, the perfect allrounder to steady the ship if there has been a batting collapse.
A second season player for the club, he is another Warehouse representative team member who has been rewarded for consistently scoring runs.
He is also the team’s opening bowler, but his responsibility with the ball never impacts his batting.
SUNSHINE COAST
Glen Batticciotto (Caboolture) 2%
With out a doubt one of the Sunshine Coast’s best batsmen, Caboolture’s Glen Batticciotto makes his way onto this list once again. The former Queensland Bulls player has been a consistent and stylish run scorer for his side and holds a complete duffel bag of crafty shot selections at the top of the order. The left handed batsman lets his class and precision do the talking in front of the stumps.
Preston White (Caboolture) 0%
A reliable top order batsman who is very much a hard hitter of the ball no matter the circumstance. He likes to keep the tempo of the match in order and is a one to go after every ball to find the best result. With 19 sixes to his name, his ability to punish opposition bowlers countless times every innings is what earns him a place on this list.
Nick Wallace (Nambour) 3%
An extremely reliable left handed batsman who really can ‘bat all day’. With numerous hundreds to his name in grindy, six hour long innings, Nick is more than capable of making big scores to help lift the team.
Steven Ledger (Nambour) 1%
A very dynamic opening batter who is known to be able to take the game away from opposition teams in very short periods of time. Coming off a 2020 season to remember, Ledger was the competition’s leading run scorer and is off to a similar start this season with a 98.3 strike rate across all formats. His experience and leadership for the team is a driving force behind his performances.
Sam Curtis (Coolum) 0%
Self described playing style of ‘old and broken’, this top order batsman is someone that finds an opportunity out of every ball. His gutsy ability to continuously rotate the strike by working the ball around the field is a credit to his big performances with the bat in hand.
Corey Perren (Coolum) 1%
A new addition to the Coolum side this middle order batsman has made his mark on the competition in his ability to perform well with the bat as well as the ball. Similar to Glen Maxwell, his inventive playing style of reverse sweeps and ramp shots gets the crowd off their feet when he comes to the crease.
Callum Stitt (Maroochydore) 0%
A left hand opening batsman who has one of the more aggressive batting styles in the competition. The complete opposite to his quiet personality, Stitt doesn’t waste time in front of the stumps and it doesn’t even matter what form of cricket is being played.
Blaine Schloss (Maroochydore) 1%
A middle order batsman who is the glue of his team’s attacking line-up. An extremely smart cricketer who’s controlled and conservative style of play is a credit to his leadership as team captain. Is a player known to be able to graft away at the opposition bowlers but also go for glory when it matters.
Jarrod Officer (Tewantin-Noosa) 1%
A very experienced batsman who knows the ins and outs of the game extremely well. When presented with the opportunity, Officer can be quite destructive with the bat in hand. He has plenty of power in front of the stumps but also a reliable technique that can get himself through the overs when required to.
Lewis Waugh (Tewantin-Noosa) 1%
An experienced Brisbane grade cricketer, Waugh skill has seen himself gain a promotion to the top of the order this season. With two hundreds to his name already and just 30 runs short of 600 runs for the season, he is able to rotate the strike in a calm and composed manner.
Brendan Kelly (Caloundra) 0%
This top order batsman has the ability to make something out of nothing and clear the boundary rope with ease. He is a big, strong unit who takes pride in demolishing the ball back over the bowler’s heads. Can go on with his strong starts to the innings and produce big scores for his team.
Thomas Cain (Caloundra) 0%
A very talented young player who is starting to find his feet in the competition. He’s been able to show promising signs at the crease this season and looks to be destined for higher representative honours.
Steven Brady (Gympie) 0%
An opening batsman who plays in a very aggressive manner and is more than capable of showing the opposition what’s in store for majority of the innings in the opening deliveries. He can produce big scores and knocks the ball around the field like he’s playing cricket in the street.
Joshua Brady (Gympie) 0%
A very solid all round player and definitely one of his team’s better bowlers as well. His form with the bat is solid as he has a really good technical and direct style of play. Chips away for his team in the middle of the order and can find the gap on the boundary with elite precision.
Jeremy Schultz (Glasshouse) 0%
With six fifties to his name across all formats this season, the Glasshouse captain and opening batsman rightly earns his place on this list. He is a real tone setter for his team and takes pride in occupying the crease. With an even 600 runs to his name already Schultz’s attacking style of play isn’t to be taken lightly.
Daniel Cahill (Glasshouse) 0%
The elegant right hander is a seasoned campaigner and shows out for his team with a variety of well crafted shots. His knock and run ability with the bat allows him to score big runs for his team. He can find a gap in the field extremely well and loves to sneak the ball back past the bowler when he can.
MACKAY
Ben Clements (Southern Suburbs) 0%
The top-order batter has only recently started his Mackay career after moving north from Victoria, but Clements has dominated in his two outings for the Sharks. Scores of 94 and 55 in his two matches highlighted his beautiful timing, shot selection and power behind each stroke.
Shaun Austin (Southern Suburbs) 2%
Donning his trademark Sharks bandana each time he takes the field, Austin has been a scary prospect for years in the Mackay competition. The competition’s best batter for almost a decade, Austin enjoys the longer forms of cricket despite being such a powerful striker of the ball. He will remain the Sharks’ most important player this season.
Peter Blaik (Walkerston) 1%
A powerful hitter, Blaik strides to the crease at first drop and dominates from ball one. The batter struggled to fire in the T20 Shootout competition in September, but since moving to exclusive 40-over cricket Blaik has produced 90, 80 and 55. He currently sits second in the competition’s leading run scorers.
Thomas Vandenberg (Walkerston) 1%
Mackay’s leading run scorer after four rounds, Vandenberg has enjoyed opening the batting so far this season. While he struggled early in September’s T20 Shootout competition, Vandenberg found his feet in the last round of the shorter format with an 86 not out. Since then, only once has he dropped below 40 and toppled the Sharks with a 121.
Darryn Dyer (Northern Suburbs) 0%
A textbook power hitter, Dyer consistently scores well and quickly. The opening batter has reached 50 four times so far this season, as well as a 49 in the T20 Shootout competition. Dyer remains Mackay’s most terrifying batter to bowl to, with each ball a threat to end up over the fence.
Luke Pietzner (Mackay Magpies) 0%
The junior cricket and rugby league prodigy has been inconsistent with the bat so far this season, but a 97 against Walkerston in round one and consistent form for representative cricket has shown he’s capable of the step-up to senior level. He’s also capable with the ball, taking plenty of wickets so far this season.
ROCKHAMPTON
Mark O’Keeffe (Gracemere Bulls) 1%
The left-handed opener is a model of consistency. He has the ability to see the new ball off, getting his team off to a solid start. He constantly anchors Gracemere’s innings and is able to put the foot down once the platform is laid.
Todd Harmsworth (Gracemere Bulls) 1%
The dynamic right-hander is hard to contain when he gets going and can turn a game with his lusty hitting. By his own admission, he’s not the most technical batter but his technique is a very effective one. A quick runner between the wickets, Harmsworth is always looking to steal a quick single or two.
Joe McGahan (Frenchville Falcons) 2%
The talented all-rounder, who made his Queensland Country debut last year, is a powerhouse performer with the bat. Coming in at number four, McGahan can help steady the ship if his team has lost a few early wickets or, if the platform has been laid, can push on with his big hitting and make the opposition bowlers pay late in the innings.
Lachlan Hartley (Frenchville Falcons) 0%
An aggressive right-handed opener, Hartley is renowned for getting the Falcons off to a flying start. He has all the shots in the book and uses them to regularly clock up some big scores. He backs himself and loves to take the opposition bowlers on from the first ball.
Murray Harch (Rockhampton Brothers) 1%
Harch is an experienced campaigner who is a standout in both the T20 and 40-over formats. He generally opens the batting and uses his power and impressive shot-making to get his team off to a fast start. He will latch onto any loose deliveries and can dispatch the ball to all parts of the ground.
Luke Reid (Rockhampton Brothers) 0%
Reid is a consistent performer with the bat, coming in at number three or four. He can dig in and bat for long periods of time, keeping the scoreboard ticking over with a variety of well-placed shots. Reid has been the team’s leading run scorer in the 40-over competition for the past three years.
David Heymer (The Glen) 0%
A long-time fixture in The Glen’s top order, Heymer is an aggressive batter who likes to take the bowlers on in a bid to get his team off to a strong start. He can work the ball around for quick singles or twos but will send any loose ball rocketing to the boundary.
Jason Seng (The Glen) 0%
Seng is always reliable in The Glen’s middle order. He never takes a backward step and can play a variety of shots. Coming in at four or five, he can score fast and cash in in the middle overs. He’s a talented all-rounder with plenty of representative experience.
Asher Colley (Capricorn Coast Parkana) 0%
Batting at three or four, Colley is an aggressive stroke player. He can accumulate runs quickly and is very strong through the cover region. He has been a long-standing member of the team.
TOWNSVILLE
Matt Ahern (Wanderers) 3%
The kind of player who one minute you think he is going slow and the next he is 30 off 25 balls. Not a heavy hitter of the cricket ball, Ahern works the field over well and has the innate ability to turn the ball wherever there is space for a quick single. Rotates the strike well and is one of Wanderers key men in the middle order. If Ahern fails to fire, the team generally crumbles around him.
Guy Brooks (Wanderers) 1%
He has been in and out of the squad this season due to work commitments, but there is no denying when Guy Brooks is in, Wanderers go to another level. The skipper is the man to step up when the going gets tough for the eagles, but can also flourish if the pressure is off. An adaptable strokemaker, Brooks is just as happy putting his head down in the trenches at 3-0 as he is swinging for the fences with the side at 2-120. Can start his innings in conservative fashion, but will accumulate runs at a rapid rate.
Craig McElligott (Brothers) 1%
The natural leader is one of the most competitive batsmen in Queensland country cricket. A representative level top order batsman, McElligott has taken Brothers to the next level since his return to Townsville after a stint in the Brisbane premier grades. He was a key part of their premiership success last season and his work ethic is second to none in the region. When McElligott goes out to bat, he is in it for the long haul. It’s his professional approach that separates him from his peers.
Cooper Guest (Brothers) 2%
One of the best rising stars in Townsville cricket. Guest has always been on the cusp of the leading batsmen in Townsville cricket but has found another gear with his consistency in 2021. His breakout performance came in last season’s grand final when he and Bailee Brown put on close to 100 for the opening partnership. He has had a lot of representative cricket this year, including his first senior opportunity at the Bulls Masters tournament and will captain Brothers in the absence of Craig McElligott. He has three half-centuries this season and is quickly becoming the best opener in Townsville.
Jamie Heit (Suburban Parks) 0%
Consistently the best batsmen for Suburban Parks for a number of years and has been in the top bracket of highest run scorers in Townsville cricket for an extended period. Last year was awarded the Sam Scuderi Medal by Townsville Cricket.
Chris Gartrell (Suburban Parks) 1%
The type of batsmen who can score quickly and change the outcome of a match. Very important contributor to our First Grade team.
Sam Lowry (Wests) 6%
Queensland and Australian Country batsman who is comfortable batting anywhere in the top 4. Accumulates runs with sublime gap hitting, a hunger to bat time, astute running between wickets as well as the ability to clear the boundaries when required. His appetite for runs is second to none in the region and he has shown his class in his performance during the early part of the season in club and representative country cricket.
Lachlan Ford (Wests) 1%
A young cricketer who is starting to come into his own in the regional cricket scene, batting in the top order Lachlan has a solid defence, speed to burn between the wickets and an enthusiasm to score runs quickly. He has earned his right to be selected into the NQCA open representative team and showed his maturity and development with solid performances in this arena.
Gareth Sims (Norths) 1%
The rock at the top of the order for the Redmen. Sims has been exceptional since making his return to Townsville Cricket full time last season. He narrowly missed out on the honours as the competition’s leading run scorer last season, but has maintained his position near the top of the tree again in 2021. He has the technique to match it with the best in the region and his temperament at the crease is akin to the heydays of Australian coach Justin Langer. He just doesn’t like giving his wicket away, he is a stubborn batter.
Chris Stanger (Norths) 1%
The wild child of Norths middle order. Stanger is unpredictability personified. He has the power and precision to turn a game in the space of three overs. But it is not all smash and grab for the all-rounder who has learnt to play himself into an innings as he contends with the up and down pitches in Townsville. Although he usually bats better than a run-a-ball, most of the time his innings starts with as many dots as singles. It speaks to his ability to flick the switch and pound the attack into submission.
Gerhard Hattingh (Northern Beaches) 0%
He might be known as Handbags around the Barras clubhouse, but his bat sure hits harder than they ever could. A meticulous worker of the ball, Hattingh won’t slog from ball one but if you blink he might just creep past 20 runs in no time flat. A tough as nails customer, Hattingh is willing to put the gloves up against any of Townsville’s top attacks and will usually outlast them. An opener in the limited overs, he has been given license to go after the middle over bowlers down the order in two-day cricket.
Mark Little (Northern Beaches) 0%
The Northern Beaches skipper is one of the key cogs to their return to the top grade for the 2021/22 season. An attacking strokemaker, Little has the confidence and demeanour to go after an attack from ball one. He doesn’t like to waste deliveries and it has been evident in the way he has attacked this season. Little is the club’s leading run scorer this season and has consistently reached double figures where others have struggled. He is the reigning leading run scorer of the Townsville second division.
Originally published as TOP 100 TONKERS: Shock finish in hunt for Queensland’s best first-grade batsman
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