Brisbane Metro Cup Under-16 Challenge: Team of the Season named ahead of grand final

Queensland’s top under-16 cricketers have been named in the Brisbane Metro Cup team of the season. See who was picked here.

Andrew Dawson and Nick Tucker

7 min read

November 15, 2024 - 12:00AM

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Some of Queensland’s finest under-16 cricketers have been chosen in News Corp’s inaugural Brisbane Metro Cup team of the season.

A staggering 18 teams contested the Queensland Cricket competition and only two are left standing - Ipswich East and University.

On Sunday, they will go head to head in a One Day grand finale to decide this year’s premiers.

Wynnum Manly were minor premiers and Valley placed second after the home-and-away season before the Hornets and University secured their spot in the big dance with semi-final victories last weekend.

For grand finalists Ipswich East, the likes of Henry Bader, Aden Biddle and Finn Haller were among the standouts this season while for University, Shanuka Silva, Hugo Kelly, Charlie Conway, Jonathon Tennakoon, Jack Atkinson and Yumeth Hewa Walgamage were all key in the club’s triumph over Valley in the semi-final.

Who were some of the other standouts across the season? The best of the best are highlighted below in a high-class team of the season.

HOWZAT: QLD’S TOP 70 JUNIOR MALE CRICKETERS

TEAM OF THE SEASON

Read on to see who features in the News Corp Brisbane Metro Cup team of the season.

DECLAN LAMBERT (VALLEY)

The Valley’s opener spearheaded his side with his efforts against the new ball and it would have instilled confidence in his peers to go out and play their game freely.

The competition’s leading run scorer with 383 in seven innings, Lambert averaged a whopping 63.83 for Valley after starting the season in style scoring 73 runs in a comprehensive win over Souths.

Across the season, the Ferny Grove junior tallied scores of 35,35, 71, 77 not out which gave Valley a headstart early in its batting innings.

AGAMPARTAP SINGH GHUMAN (BRISBANE SUPER KINGS)

Complimenting Lambert as the other opener in the Team of the Season would be aggressive Brisbane Super Kings opener Agampartap Singh Ghuman who was always looking to score.

The BSK captain, Ghuman gave his all to get his team off to a flyer and it worked a charm in round one when he took on the Carina bowlers and scored 178 (138 balls).

He backed it up with fast-scoring cameos here and there on his way to scoring 314 runs at 44.86 while striking the ball at 110.56.

All this for an under-age opener in the under-16s competition.

JACKSON MCDONALD (WILSTON NORTHS/NORTHERN SUBURBS)

After missing out in round one with a golden duck, Norths opener Jackson McDonald moved successfully through the season, closing out the home and away rounds with a score of 96.

Along the way the careful opener scored a cracking century in a win against Redlands.

McDonald featured in all eight games for his side, holding down the openers spot where he is best suited. The former Wynnum Manly BMC batsman averaged 41.13.

ALISTER BAUER (THE LAKES CRICKET CLUB)

The Lakes tone-setter Alister Bauer fitted two seasons into one for his club with his power hitting yielding two centuries in just six innings.

An opener, Bauer would also be a perfect No. 4 in this team where he could score quickly or forge an innings slowly.

After missing round one, Bauer returned to the line-up and churned out 141 (80 balls) alongside Hayden Trusz (100, 104 balls) in what was a 194-run opening stand.

Bauer scored 309 runs at 51.5 at run-a-ball pace, scored more centuries than anyone (two), and dispatched 30 fours and 13 sixes in a campaign where he meant one thing.

Business.

ALISTAIR LANGDON (UNIVERSITY)

Alistair Langdon was a class act for University when he was available. He missed just one game, and then had another disrupted by rain.

In six innings, the trusted middle order performer scored 382 runs at 63.67.

In round three, Langdon let loose at Indooroopilly Cricket Club when he had arguably the finest knock of the season scoring 176 from just 123 balls.

The small boundaries worked a charm for the No. 4 or No. 5 bat who put away 10 fours and 14 sixes.

The Brisbane Grammar Year 11 also brought up two fifties if there were any concerns about his spot in this team.

OLIVER HAYES (VALLEY)

Hayes was a cut-above the rest with his batting process and leadership.

As captain, Hayes showed his cricket smarts marshalling his troops around the field and his bowlers into action.

It worked a charm, Valley progressing to the semi-finals before being bumped out by an amped-up University outfit.

Hayes had his moments wielding the blade too. The top order bat scored 278 at 46.33 and had a century and two fifties next to his name after seven innings during the home-and-away season.

He could also find a breakthrough bringing himself into the bowling attack.

ISAAC KRAUSE (IPSWICH)

Ipswich Hornets rookie Isaac Krause.

The Ipswich Hornets young hero would make a fine opening partner to Ghuman or Lambert but due to his heavy-lifting habits at the bowling crease, he would have to move down the order here to accommodate for those mentioned above.

Krause was king in the field snaring wickets and opening the batting for Ipswich where he has been worth his weight in gold.

Ipswich East are through to the grand final and all-rounder Krause, who has scored 303 at 50.5 and taken 16 wickets at 10.25, has been a key contributor.

The best example of this was in round eight where he took 3-9 (10 overs) after making 122 not out (138 balls) in a big win over Logan Legion.

KIAN CHAPMAN (WYNNUM MANLY)

Kian Chapman is a star on the rise.

Chapman is the ants-pants when it comes to spin bowlers in this age group.

Like all the best bowlers, Chapman could be relied on when the going got tough in the semi-final battle against Ipswich East. In a loss, Chapman maintained his high standards to take 5-25 off 10 overs.

Before this, Chapman had taken a competition best 22 wickets in eight matches, five wickets more than the next best.

Finishing the season having taken 27 wickets at just 7.19, Chapman can hold his head high knowing he made a real difference in green and gold, despite being a year young.

FINN HALLER (WYNNUM MANLY)

Day 3 of the Queensland Junior Representative Carnival at TSS. Brisbane Norths (Batting) V Bears (fielding). Bears fielder Finn Haller has one just drop short. Picture Glenn Hampson

Chapman was the top bowler of the season, but not too far behind was his Sea Eagles teammate Finn Haller, who also soared at the bowling crease.

The tall left-arm fast let rip, picking up 17 wickets in seven matches to influence matches for his team. Wynnum Manly took out the minor premiership and Haller, who averaged 8.24 and went for just 2.75 an over, was pivotal with the ball and in the field where he was reliable under the high ball.

When it was all said and done, paceman Haller had bowled just two wides across the 306 deliveries he bowled.

TYSON MEADEN (THE LAKES CRICKET CLUB)

He is a young weapon this kid.

Meaden snared 16 wickets in seven matches, the Peninsula slow bowler spinning a web of troubles around his foes to make or facilitate breakthroughs for his team.

A selection in the Brisbane North Under-14 Championship Team last season, Meaden moved mountains for The Lakes bowling 10 overs most matches while keeping it tight and restricting the flow of runs.

The Redcliffe City Cyclones junior went for 2.82 runs an over and averaged 9.13 asking questions of his rivals.

KOBE TODMAN (REDLANDS)

A Redlands junior through and through, Todman took care of business this season and led the Tigers attack with his ability to take wickets.

Todman, also a gutsy Aussie rules player, took 16 wickets in seven matches. In one game, the young gun sprinkled magic dust everywhere he went on the Wellington Point Cricket Club turf when he came up trumps taking 8-14 against Carina.

12TH MAN

BANJO JENKINS (WILSTON NORTHS/NORTHERN SUBURBS)

Bears keeper Banjo Jenkins takes the bails during the Queensland Junior Representative cricket Carnival at TSS last year. Picture Glenn Hampson

The batting style and approach of Norths ace Banjo Jenkins demanded respect after he was one of the top batters in the competition playing for Norths.

We will let you decide where he would bat in a deep team like this. One thing is for sure and that is he would make an impact - as an opener or down the order where he can play freely and look to score quicker.

He has both games in his arsenal. He scored 278 runs at 39.71 and missed the starting XI by the width of a tissue paper.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS:

HENRY BADER (WYNNUM MANLY)

Indoor cricket young guns Finn Haller and Henry Bader.

The Sea Eagles opener was a strong performer scoring 252 runs at 31.5.

ADEN BIDDLE (WYNNUM MANLY)

Bears fielder Aden Biddle takes a catch in the deep at the Queensland Junior Representative Carnival at TSS last year. Picture Glenn Hampson

Following suit of Bader, No. 4 bat Biddle showed why he is a chance at playing First XI cricket at Iona College as early as next year.

He scored 242 runs at 34.57.

AUSTIN TSINGOS (NORTHERN SUBURBS)

The St Patrick’s College rookie was a class above when he played in the under-16s age group.

Tsingos, who only featured in four games, managed to score 220 runs at 73.33.

Coming in at No. 3, Tsingos took charge in round 7 when he scored 98 (80 balls) in a 129-run victory over Ipswich West.

JADEN BAKURSKI (UNIVERSITY)

In six innings for University, top order batter Bakurski scored quickly for his 215 runs.

Averaging 35.83 this season, Bakurski bolstered University’s deep batting line-up which featured Alex Bacalakis, Hugo Kelly, Al Langdon, Aadi Patel, Sid Dawson, Jack Atkinson and Charlie Conway who all had their moments with the bat.

CHRISTIAN ROHM-HURFORD (REDLANDS)

The Bears junior was on song with his spin bowling this season for Redlands North.

At times unplayable, Rohm-Hurford took 13 wickets across the season while leaking just over three runs an over.

Impressively, the young spinner bowled just four wides in 40 overs.

RYLAN MCDONALD (IPSWICH)

Rylan McDonald pictured in 2020 batting for Met West in the Queensland School Sport Championships 10-12 Boys Cricket State Championships.

With Oli Lethbridge, Krause and Darcy Smith also key, Rylan McDonald (2-16, 8 overs) helped bowl his side into the grand final.

Before this, Northsiders junior McDonald was a prime mover for Ipswich East with the ball. He is also more than capable with the bat as well.

McDonald’s strong season (12 wickets at 11.83) followed an impressive campaign earlier this year when, as a Year 10 student, he represented the St Edmund’s College First XI as a bowling-allrounder.