Gold Coast Dolphins all-rounder Josh Kann targeting Qld debut after earning QAS deal for 2019-20
GOLD Coast Dolphins all-rounder Josh Kann will set his sights on the national stage next season as he prepares to step up his cricket education with the Queensland Academy of Sport.
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GOLD Coast Dolphins all-rounder Josh Kann will set his sights on the national stage next season as he prepares to step up his cricket education with the Queensland Academy of Sport.
The undoubted success story of the Dolphins’ Queensland Premier Cricket rise last season, Kann is on track to continue his meteoric ascension in 2019-20 after being handed one of six QAS contracts.
The 19-year-old, who took 25 wickets at 22.84 and scored 227 runs at 28.38 for the Dolphins last season en route to Queensland second XI and Australian under-19s selection, will take part in weekly, skills-specific training with QAS coaches Andy Bichel (bowling), Adam Hollioake (batting) and John Davison (head coach) starting in August.
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It is all part of a journey he hopes will culminate in a Queensland or Brisbane Heat debut next season.
“If I start my season well hopefully I could be in contention for some one-day stuff or play quite a few QAS games this year. I want to play well for the Dolphins,” Kann, who will also participate in selected Bulls training sessions and trial games, said.
“They’re looking at me as an all-rounder and they’re more looking at me in the shorter formats. I thought it would take me longer to get used to the level (I played at last season).
“Even in the second XI I thought it would be more challenging but I felt I was up to it.”
Overlooked for a Queensland rookie contract, Kann has spent the off-season playing Last Man Stands competitions and taking part in daily training sessions with his private coach.
The Broadbeach Robina junior said he had cast aside his omission from the rookie contract list to maintain his hunger for higher honours.
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“I thought I might’ve been pretty close to a rookie contract, I was hoping for that,” he said.
“It always goes on how many Cricket Australia contracts there are and because Queensland only has one (in Usman) Khawaja, they could only give out two rookie contracts. I was pretty gutted at the time but after that I thought hopefully I would get this QAS contract, which means I’m still in the system.”
Dolphins coach Chris Swan, who played 31 first-class games for Queensland, said Kann’s mental fortitude had been crucial to his rise.
“Josh is a product of persistence pays off so far. He wasn’t a frontline junior cricketer, mostly through injury, but once fit he’s gone from strength to strength,” Swan said.
PLAYER PROFILE
Name: Josh Kann
Age: 19
Lives: Carrara
Role: fast-bowling all-rounder
Junior club: Broadbeach Robina
Senior club: Gold Coast Dolphins
Career highlights:
■ Took 25 wickets at 22.84 and scored 227 runs at 28.38 for Dolphins last season
■ Futures League debut for QAS in February
■ Toured Sri Lanka with Australian under-19s in January
■ Handed QAS contract for 2029-10
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