Intriguing test for players, fans this summer

It is the most open field we have seen since mid 1980s with a number of Test hopefuls looking to nail down a permanent spot in the national team.

EARLY FORM: A Brothers bowler lines up his target during the opening round of First Division fixtures last weekend. Picture: Rob Williams

THE long summer of cricket fired up last weekend in domestic interstate competition - the JLT Cup.

Next weekend, our Test players start their summer in the United Arab Emirates in a warm-up game before the two-Test series against Pakistan.

It is the most open field we have seen since mid 1980s with a number of Test hopefuls looking to nail down a permanent spot in the national team.

Five Queenslanders were named in the 15 man squad with Toowoomba-bred Brendan Doggett one of them.

It will be Justin Langer's maiden Test series as coach, the start of Tim Paine's season-long stint as Test captain and a new team environment with more focus on good sportsmanship.

After the Test series, there will be a few one dayers and a T20 before the national team returns to Australia.

Up front will be a quick tour by South Africa with three one-day matches and a T20.

The T20 is being played at Carrara Stadium on Saturday, November 17.

The main touring team this season is the Indians. They will start with three T20s, then four Tests and finally three one-day matches. The Gabba will host the first T20 on Wednesday, November 21.

After that, Queensland fans will have to watch the TV as the Indian tour will not come here again sadly.

After the Indians depart, the last games of the summer will be two-Test series against Sri Lanka.

Brisbane will host the First Test, which will be run as a day/night fixture again over the Australia Day long weekend.

Although Queenslanders haven't been blessed by many games, the TV coverage will be immense this season.

Channel 7 will be the new free-to-air host of cricket and not Channel 9, who end their 40 year-association with the game.

Channel 7 will also show the T20 Big Bash.

However, Australia's one-day matches will not be covered by Channel 7. They will be on Foxtel.

We will see whether this is a pointer to the future as Cricket Australia follows the English model with all it national cricket games being on pay TV.

It should be fascinating to see how this change works and how Cricket Australia will make this model more profitable to the average cricket fan.

Many people will be caught off guard without their fix of Australian one-day cricket.

Hornets impressing

THE Ipswich Logan Hornets suffered their first loss last week but it was to one of the early season's favourites Wests.

The Hornets matched their opponents, especially at 4/42 in Wests' innings. When they were chasing 217, it looked like another Hornets victory before a Wests' middle order rally guided them home.

Harry Wood's sensational start to the season rolled on.

His 72 has him top of the run scorers list in Brisbane Grade cricket this season with 231 at 77. He also sits equal eighth on the wicket-taker's list. Hopefully he is rewarded with a few state Second XI games.

However, the big story this weekend is that the Hornets are in their first finals campaign in the top grade. In a funny quirk of nature, they take on Northern Suburbs tomorrow after facing them in today's two-day fixture.

The Hornets' one-day game will be at Kedron. However, they are in great form.

The bowling unit has tightened up and opposition teams have struggled to make runs quickly, which has flowed onto the batting and not put too much pressure on their line up to score quickly.

Today, the Hornets play at Baxter Oval. The batting hasn't fully fired yet but everyone has made starts and has enjoyed time at the crease so no doubt, a big total seems close.

The Second graders showed some fight but ultimately went down last weekend.

Will Kraschnefski, in his first innings for the club, scored a vital 74 not out with a thumping 41 from 29 balls.

In Third Grade, Wests set 228 in 40 overs. The Hornets reply was an equally impressive 0/120 with Todd Anderson (39) and former captain Josh Buffett leading the way with 77 off 68 at his old home ground on Marsden No.2. But with former IWMCA top bowlers Mark Lehmann and Nick Vellacott in the Wests outfit, it was always going to be hard to maintain such a high run rate.

In the IWMCA openers, Brothers and Laidley set down some markers with big wins over Northsiders and Redbacks respectively.

Luke Dixon scored his fifth century (104 not out off 110 balls) while Matt Grassick (106 off 104) hit his maiden century.

Brothers pair Dixon and Craig Mackay (41) put on a record 110 for the seventh wicket in IWMCA one day matches.

The 190-run stand between Grassick and Laidley skipper Alex Welsh (81) was eighth best for any wicket in one-day cricket in Ipswich.

Tantalising duel

THE match of the round this weekend is a replay of last year's grand final, featuring Brothers and Laidley District.

Both teams are down a few troops from that final but it still is a tantalising fixture to see who will have the early bragging rights. It could end up being an early grand final preview.

The other first division game features Centrals starting their campaign at Cribb Park against Northsiders. Matt Guest, Rhys O'Sullivan and Geoff Klease are some of Kookaburras' key players back. Centrals will be tough to beat if those three fire with the ball.

Northsiders will be keen to bounce back.

Stephen Humphreys, in his first top grade match for 23 seasons, was in sparkling form with 68 off 50 balls. Bowling allrounder Dom Salton helped Humphreys put on a 101 for the sixth wicket.

Today's games start at 10am.

This weekend, the IWMCA 2nd Graders launch their seasons with a series of 40 over one-day matches starting at midday.

As has been the case for the past decade, it is nearly impossible to pick a winner.

Defending champions Laidley will start slight favourites but Thunder and Fassifern will be pushing their case to be readmitted into First Grade. Expect a big season from these clubs.

Grand finalists Redbacks will be thereabouts again even with some players being promoted to First Grade this season.

Centrals will be stronger while Northsiders will have their great camaraderie and spirit to see them push hard again for a finals spot.

Brothers will be the unknown entity. However, with the return of Steve Lewis, they can upset anyone on their day.

Originally published as Intriguing test for players, fans this summer