Three Gold Coast Thunder players withdraw from South Queensland consideration amid selection furore

GOLD Coast Thunder coach Simon Belston and star batsman Josh Nelson have revealed their dismay at South Queensland selections following the withdrawal of three Kookaburra Cup stars from this weekend’s representative battles with North Queensland.

Brent O’Neill & Nic Darveniza

2 min read

November 29, 2019 - 3:10PM

Gold Coast Bulletin

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Having finished runners-up to Darling Downs for the Schaeffer Shield title earlier this month, the Thunder were rewarded with the naming of Nelson, Jimmy Spargo, Sam Winton and Nic Peterson in a 12-man South Queensland side tackle their northern rivals in two Twenty20s (today) and two one-dayers (Saturday and Sunday).

But it was the non-selection of Mudgeeraba Nerang pair Kevin Chapman, who was chosen as a shadow player, and wicketkeeper Mitch Daly that surprised the Thunder camp.

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Both were Queensland Premier Cricket regulars for the Gold Coast Dolphins in 2018-19 before returning to Mudgeeraba this season.

Chapman immediately made himself unavailable after the South Queensland side was named, while Nelson and Peterson, from Mudgeeraba and Southport Labrador respectively, have also since withdrawn.

Gold Coast Thunder and Mudgeeraba Nerang batsman Josh Nelson. Picture: Richard Gosling

While Thunder captain Peterson stepped aside due to work commitments, Nelson initially told the Bulletin he and Chapman had similar commitments before conceding politics had played its part.

“They got selections wrong. They had a really good opportunity to have a real South Queensland team but they went for ‘more experienced’ (players),” Nelson, who made scored of 65 and 4 for the Thunder, said.

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“I think they had half the side already picked before games were even played. It wasn’t fair on some of the others.

“Mitch Daly was pretty unlucky not to make it, he should have been the keeper. Kevin Chapman was a standout.

“I wouldn’t say we’re protesting, just that there’s a lot of politics in sports and selections had a part to play there.”

Mudgeeraba Nerang’s Kevin Chapman. Picture: Steve Holland

Echoing Nelson’s thoughts, Belston said there was no shying away from the fact the snubbing of Chapman and Daly had “put a few noses out of joint”.

“My main concern was to get a good bunch of blokes together wanting to play for Gold Coast and we got that,” he said.

“In saying that, the reason the best 12 cricketers play representative is to get selected for higher honours. Cricket is full of divided opinion (but) we were disappointed not to be able to get (more) blokes in the 12.

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“We find out there’s four or five Wide Bay players picked in front of our boys and it’s difficult to digest. We felt as though Mitch Daly, coming out of Brisbane grade cricket, not to even be looked at as a South Queensland keeper (was rough).

“Kevin wasn’t all that pleased and he wanted to make that known.”

Chapman and Nelson will now line up for unbeaten Kookaburra Cup leaders Mudgeeraba when they take on Peterson’s Southport side in a two-day game beginning at GUGC Oval tomorrow.