Former Gold Coast Dolphins and Queensland batsman Nick Stevens chasing fresh start with Valleys

FORMER Gold Coast Dolphins batsman Nick Stevens says thoughts of a Queensland recall haven’t crossed his mind as he embarks on a new phase of Queensland Premier Cricket.

FORMER Gold Coast Dolphins batsman Nick Stevens says thoughts of a Queensland recall haven’t crossed his mind as he embarks on a new phase of Queensland Premier Cricket with Valleys.

After 10 years with the Dolphins, the 24-year-old batsman and former Australian under-19s star has joined the Diehards this season in search of a “fresh start and something different”.

He has been dismissed just once en route to a total of 100 runs in four innings for his new club, and will resume on 12 in Valleys’ (2-89) pursuit of the Dolphins’ 229 on day two of their battle at Ashgrove this Saturday.

DOLPHIN EYES BULLS DEBUT

Nick Stevens (left) with Helensvale Pacific Pines head coach Dylan Sherriff and coaching director Paul Baird.

Stevens, who still lives at Ormeau and works as an assistant coach at Helensvale Pacific Pines, played the last of his six first-class games for Queensland in 2015 but said his club switch wasn’t motivated by a desire to return to higher honours.

“It was just a bit of a change, that’s’ all there was to it. It was definitely pretty hard to (leave the Dolphins), it was a tough decision to make in the end,” Stevens, who has a first class average of 29, said.

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Stevens in action for the Dolphins in 2016. Picture: Scott Fletcher

“I haven’t really thought about Queensland teams. I knew all the guys at Valleys and they asked me a couple of years ago (to join them).

“I used to live with (Diehards quick) Mark Steketee and I’m good mates with a lot of their players so I thought maybe now is the right time to go. It was good to get runs in the first game (53 not out) but it’s still early doors so hopefully I can keep getting runs.”

Stevens celebrates his first Sheffield Shield hundred against South Australia in 2014. Picture: Mark Brake

CHAMPIONS OF THE COAST GALLERY

Stevens announced his arrival as a long-term Sheffield Shield player with a knock of 158 against South Australia in late 2014, but injuries have limited his playing time since.

He played just seven games for the Dolphins last season, scoring 49 runs at an average of eight.