Gold Coast’s Jack Sinfield to represent Australian under-18s at national under-19 titles next month

GOLD Coast teen Jack Sinfield is revelling in the chance to assume responsibilities beyond his years as he prepares for another baptism of fire at next month’s National Under-19 Championships in Western Australia.

GOLD Coast teen Jack Sinfield is revelling in the chance to assume responsibilities beyond his years as he prepares for another baptism of fire at next month’s National Under-19 Championships in Western Australia.

Stream over 50 sports Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly

An offspinning all-rounder out of Mudgeeraba Nerang’s junior ranks, Sinfield, 16, will continue his rapid rise when he turns out for the Australian under-18s at the under-19 titles from December 2-12.

His selection follows Queensland’s run to the semi final of the National Under-17 Championships in October in Mackay, where he finished with 94 runs at an average of 23.5 and five wickets at 48.

LEADERS’ UNSUNG HERO & STARS’ ABSENCE NO ISSUE - FIVE THINGS

More impressive, however, has been Sinfield’s form for Queensland Premier Cricket club Redlands, with his maiden first grade campaign so far yielding 139 runs at 46.33 and six wickets at 41.83.

His five appearances for the Tigers included one-day outings against Valleys and Toombul, where he collected 2-37 and 2-59 respectively after being asked to bowl in the dying stages.

Those experiences, together with his exposure to the country’s best under-17 talent, have him steeled for success in WA.

Gold Coast cricketer Jack Sinfield has been chosen in the Australian under-18 team to play at the National Under-19 Championships in WA in December. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“I feel that I’ll take the lessons that I’ve learnt from first grade this season, as to how I go about bowling to batsman, at the 19s (carnival),” Ashmore-based Sinfield said.

“It’ll be a huge step up in regards to pressure as well and how my game is reflected when pressure is put back on me. I’m looking forward to it though and I just can’t wait to have a go against most of the best kids in Australia.

“There was a game against Toombul (earlier this season) where I was asked to bowl the last couple of overs trying to win the game. I wasn’t able to do that so it was a huge learning experience bowling to someone who’s trying to hit you for runs at the end, and being able to adapt to that.

THUNDER LESSONS KEY IN WINTON’S QUEENS QUEST

“For the 19s my goals are more reacting to how batsman are going about playing me. It’s not as much an outcome goal with selection or figures but more how I play the game myself and how I’m going to adapt.

“I thought, although they weren’t the greatest stats of the (under-17) carnival, my containment job with the bowling and ability to slow the opposition middle order down was good. And my middle-order batting was quite tidy.”

Sinfield at the home ground of junior club Mudgeeraba Nerang. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Sinfield is a rare talent to slip through the Gold Coast Dolphins’ net, having spent a season with their Lord’s Taverners side in 2017-18 before joining Redlands.

He has since spent time honing his craft with respected spin-bowling coach John Davison at Queensland Cricket and said his ascension to Australian honours was reward for his toil.

“It was certainly a goal (to make the side), it was something I was aspiring to throughout my whole junior career but I’ve been really going for it this year and it was lovely to make it,” The Southport School Year 10 student said.

‘THE NEXT DAY YOU CAN GET OUT FOR A DUCK’ - DOLPHIN

“It was pretty surreal and still is quite surreal. It was a reflection of the hard work that I put in throughout the season and the tournament that we had.

“I was working with the spin coach, John Davison, up at QC to get more revolutions on the ball and help me set my fields and be more game aware. I feel like that helped a lot this year in comparison to last year, as well as improving my batting and batting lots more.”