The 96 young guns to watch at the Bulls Masters Youth Cup
Queensland’s best young cricketers will play for the Bulls Masters Youth Cup this weekend. Discover the 96 guns to watch plus see the full teams >
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THE target will be fixed on the Sunshine Coast Scorchers as they prepare to defend their Bulls Masters Youth Cup title in Cairns.
The under-16s cricket challenge will be played in the Far North for the first time, after being held in Bundaberg for the past few years.
Sunshine Coast is the defending champion, winning the title in their debut appearance after replacing the Gold Coast.
Far North Fusion will be out to take full advantage of playing on their home deck, as they chase a breakthrough title.
Darling Downs have won the tournament three times, with Mackay/Whitsundays and SEQ claiming the title once each.
All teams will be mentored by a Bulls Masters member.
These are the players who could play a key role in their side’s fortunes in Cairns, starting on Sunday, December 11.
CQ SEAMERS
Riley McDonald
The team’s inspirational captain is a talented all-rounder who leads from the front. Riley is a dependable top-order batsman who the team can build an innings around.
He is also a reliable off-spinner who has good control and is able to bowl to a plan.
Riley thrives in the leadership role, making good and clear decisions in the field.
Austin Kasprowicz
Austin is an aggressive batsman who is comfortable at the top or in the middle of the order.
He can put bowlers under pressure with his attacking flair and fielders under pressure with his quick running between the wickets.
The nephew of former Test cricketer Michael Kasprowicz, he is an opening bowler who is accurate and can swing the ball.
Austin is also a very good boundary fielder who has a rocket of an arm and a safe pair of hands.
Cayden Kent
A talented middle-order batsman, Cayden likes to take bowlers on when the ball is right and has the ability to rotate the strike to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
A consistent opening or first-change bowler, he has good control and is also able to swing the ball.
Full squad: Riley McDonald, Ben van Bael, Austin Kasprowicz, Richard Meiring, Jackson Baillie, Thomas Smith, William McCullagh, Jonty Hayward, Eddie Grice, Cayden Kent, Chad Charlesworth, Declan Earl
Mentor: Ken Healy Coach: Gary Glisson Manager: Steve McDonald
DARLING DOWNS SUNS
Rohan Brady
An aggressive top order bat who likes to hit the ball hard.
If he can replicate his Brisbane Premier League efforts he will be hard to stop.
Recently named in the Queensland under-15 schoolboys side, Brady is a handy offspinner and will likely captain the side.
Charlie Lachmund
Ranks among the Darling Downs quickest bowlers in his age bracket – when he finds his line and length he is unplayable.
Does his best work with the ball but is also a stylish bat.
Connor Walker
A destructive middle order bat who was outstanding in the BPL this year. A good offspinner with an equally impressive cricket brain.
Full squad: Lachlan Howard, Charlie Lachmund, Sam Coleborn, Samuel Bourke, Gurnoor Singh Randhawa, Sam Gillespie, Rohan Brady, Dominic Black, Connor Walker, Dylan Fedrick, Joshua Midolo, Ryan Hines,
Mentor: Gavin Fitness Coach: Danny Coleborn Manager: Leon Gillespie
FAR NORTH FUSION
Cooper Steptoe
Steptoe hasn’t taken a big haul yet this season but his consistency to dry up runs and take an average of two wickets a game is key to Far North’s bowling line up.
From one end, he will dry up runs, while wickets tumble at the other as teams try and attack.
Harry Halpin
Teenage tearaway Halpin is hitting peak form heading into the representative tournament, enjoying one of his best ever campaigns while playing across four grades.
He took a hat trick in his first second grade game a fortnight ago, and claimed two scalps in his first grade debut.
If Halpin can deliver his tight, consistent bowling, Far North will be all the more dangerous.
Henry King
Teenage spearhead King has been in quality touch the last few games that has earnt his spot in the representative tournament.
Claiming his first hat trick and removing the best bat in the competition as the third wicket in his first season of first grade.
Full squad: Jake Bombardieri, Cooper Steptoe, Alex Twidale, Riley Lennon, Patrick Stevens, Jack Porter, Henry King, Harry Halpin, Curtis Wright, Campbell Palmer, Angus Vikionkorpi, Nash Coghlan
Mentor: Nathan Reardon Coach: Tony Potts Manager: Nathan Ferris
MACKAY/WHITSUNDAY NITROS
Cameron Tomerini
Will again captain the side and after taking 5/5 off 5 overs for Brothers in Mackay A grade last week, he will be looking to continue that great form with the ball
Liam Newbery
Opening the bowling for A grade ladder leaders Walkerston, will be another player to watch with the ball.
He’s off to a flyer this season, with 22 wickets in 15 games across three grades - with 10 of those scalps in first grade.
Karmichael Dee
Moved to boarding school at Nudgee College this year and has represented Pioneer Valley in the local A grade competition.
He will be looking to continue the runs spree he enjoyed during the recent QSS schoolboys competition where he represented Met North
Full squad: Etienne Pretorius, Liam Newberry, Lachlan Evetts, Cameron Tomerini, Jack Muller, Charles Lott, Max Campbell, Karmichael Dee, Kouper Minniecon, Grady Turner, Darcy Milne, Kohan Mau
Mentor: Peter Forrest Coach: Jason Butterworth Manager: Justin Dee
NORTH QUEENSLAND MONSOONS
Connor Sadler
The youngest player in Townsville A Grade cricket at the tender age of 16, Sadler is already settling into life in the Norths’ top order in local competition.
Sadler represented the North Queensland U15s last season and made the Townsville Bulletin U17 team of the season with 162 runs at 20.25 and 14 wickets at 6.5.
Now he’s back as a senior player in Townsville’s Bulls Youth Masters Cup ranks.
Finn Carroll
A simply outstanding junior batting prospect out of Townsville’s Suburban Parks.
After featuring for the North Queensland U15s last December, Carroll claimed Team of the Season honours in the U17 competition, opening the batting with 194 runs at 38.8.
Carroll first played U17 level cricket at 14 and will lead Townsville’s Bulls Youth Masters charge with the bat in Cairns.
Madhava Dyas
This batting all-rounder out of Townsville’s Norths club first played U17 cricket at the age of 14 and has spent this year fighting his way into A Grade consideration with Norths’ B grade side - at the age of 15.
That experience against senior men will be critical when he takes on the best of Queensland Country in his age group.
Full squad: Salvatore Cardillo, Pierce Carrara, Finn Carroll, James Geeves, Harley Gough, Brock Harrington, Corey Heidke, Joshua Neilson, Connor Sadler, Noah Talbot, Madhava Vyas, Logyn-John Webster
Mentor: Chris Swan Coach: Lachlan Ford Manager: Luke Lamborn
SEQ STORMERS
Chase Rodgers
Rodgers was super for Redlands in this year’s Lord’s Taverners competition and our bet is he will bring that form to this tournament.
Indeed he averaged over 35 with the bat.
Jack Hillier
Hillier has it all in his arsenal.
He can play down the ground, square, hit over the field, and most importantly-start and endure a match-winning partnership.
He proved that this year with crucial knocks with the bat for Ipswich.
Joseph Sippel
Sippel was the robin to youngster Kori Ramsden’s batman during the Lord Taverners competition. He opened the batting with Ramsden and Ipswich were every chance of winning with these two facing the new ball.
In seven innings he top scored with 70, had an average of 26.5 and as such was one of the first to come to mind when we revealed the best young cricketers in the state.
Full squad: Chase Rodgers, Jack Henry Verrenkamp, Jed Turner, Joshua Robert Witham, Joseph Sippel, Kai Andrew Pout, Luke Bostock, Luke James Harper, Noah Plater, Thomas Manning-Jones, William Whatmore, Jack Hillier
Mentor: Brendan Creevey Coach: Lindsay Trigar Manager: Joseph Plater
SUNSHINE COAST SCORCHERS
Will Noffke
A talented player from a talented cricketing family, Noffke will captain the Sunshine Coast Scorchers after some top tier performances in the Lord Taverners squad in recent years.
His raw pace and power hitting in the middle order will be key through the T20 format.
Damon Bass
Bass has produced some highly successful figures in the Lord Taverners squad over the past two seasons and brings a solid level of experience into the squad.
The left handed, top order batsman is a damaging threat in front of the wickets and is great value to take some outstanding catches in the field.
Zaden Melverton
The exciting left arm bowler is capable of producing great pace and solid swing, causing plenty of headaches for the opposition.
Melverton will be a driving force in the Scorchers bowling attack and can also be moved up the order with the bat.
Full squad: Damon Bass, Oliver Pitcher, Aiden Cushan, Zac Robinson, Lachlan Hardiker, Riley Schultz, Zaden Melverton, Ashton Schultz, Finn Mayo, Will Rabnott, Will Noffke, Zane Jankowiak
Mentor: Peter Drinnen Coach: Blaine Schloss Manager: Travis Schultz
WIDE BAY FLAMES
Lachlan Heycox
Heycox is a “young champion” who isn’t afraid of a bit of humidity and loves to work in with his team - whatever the grade.
He plays as the opening bowler, mid-order bat and captain for the YMCA/Isis Under 16 team and also plays for the Brothers senior team.
Toby Lamond
Lamond boasts a similar skillset to Heycox: he’s fit, active, and can get the job done with bat and ball.
He already has a number of impressive achievements under his belt, including representing Queensland in the Indoor Cricket Under 15 squad.
Sam Stuchbery
An all-rounder and captain for the Across the Waves Under 16 team, Stuchbery is a great player to have in the field with his teammates.
Stuchbery said he followed his idol into the sport, his father (and coach), and loves scoring runs for his team.
Full squad: Hayden Andreassen, Bayley Fagg, Joshua Fearby, River Felstead, Tom Geldard, Ethan Hamel, Lachlan Heycox, Toby Lamond, Lachlan Nitschinsk, Cooper Rehbein, Sam Stuchbery, Aeddan White
Mentor: Carl Rackemann Coach: Sean Stuchbery Manager: Scott Lamond
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Originally published as The 96 young guns to watch at the Bulls Masters Youth Cup
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