Lew Cooper Cup cricket: News Corp’s Taverners Queensland Boys Under-17 Team of the Season named
BIG REVEAL: Roll out the red carpet for U17 Taverner’s cricket Team of the Season selections - and another 30 high achievers who demanded praise following bumper campaigns. FULL SQUAD
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Roll out the red carpet for this dazzling dozen of cricketers named in New Corp’s Taverners Queensland Boys Under-17 Team of the Season.
The team, which includes seven first choice bowling options with support from an eighth, has batting depth down to No. 9 and would challenge hard at the national championships if they had to fly to Launceston tomorrow for the under-17s tournament.
50 FABULOUS MOMENTS FROM THE TAV’S SEASON
Ahead of Sunday’s semi-finals when Sunshine Coast host Wynnum Manly and University take on the Gold Coast, we unveil the Team of the season along with a special 13th man choice for a player who deserves recognition.
THE TEAM
BLAKE ARMSTRONG (UNIVERSITY)
Brisbane Boys’ College all-rounder Blake Armstrong makes yet another Team of the season after a compelling season that saw him muster 492 runs at 49.20.
All the while he was taking 13 wickets at 20.62 with his left arm orthodox spin.
Armstrong, a Queensland under-17 squad member, hit more sixes - 22 - than any other player, striking at 103 per 100 balls faced.
With the ball he also conceded just 2.88 runs per over, while taking eight catches.
His
5-26 against Redlands in round four and his 118 from 104 balls (round five) were highlight reel moments for the Maroochydore product who also shone in last year’s competition (458 runs at 41.64).
SOHAAN SHARMA (WESTERN SUBURBS)
Sohaan Sharma looked like Steve Smith for a while after constructing scores of 88, 85, 106 and 71 not out across the first five weeks of the competition.
A student at Ipswich Grammar School, Sharma would be a two-paced opener, both being able to bat in a conservative manner if required, while also being able to break out and score quickly.
He made 516 runs from just 661 deliveries, and finished with an average of 51.60.
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BRISBANE METRO CUP U16 TEAM OF THE SEASON
THEO BACALAKIS (UNIVERSITY)
Bacalakis enhanced his reputation as a blue chip talent in under age cricket when he scored two centuries in three innings.
The Year 10 Gregory Terrace rookie could not be dismissed in either round two (118 not out) or round four (104 not out) when he delivered entertainment-plus for his teammates watching from the sidelines.
He finished with 492 runs at 49.20 and although he clipped 43 shots either to or over the boundary, he also did plenty of running between the wickets.
He would also be a trusty seventh bowling option with his leg-spin after taking eight wickets this season.
HARRY DESOUZA (NORTHERN SUBURBS)
DeSouza scored more runs this season than any other player.
In 11 matches he amassed 594 at 66, along the way striking a season-high 59 fours.
Blue chip performances were sprinkled throughout his consistent season, including a season high 124 not out from just 158 balls against Wynnum Manly.
He also scored 88 in a round 7 win over Valley but he was on from the get go, DeSouza scoring 77 in the season opener.
The Gregory Terrace batting all-rounder, whose right arm fast deliveries can also deliver the goods, produced scores of 88, 60, 124 not out, 66 and 122 not out in the final five fixtures in an impressive attempt to squeeze Norths into the top four.
HAYDEN HAMILTON (WYNNUM MANLY)
Wynnum Manly Sea Eagles batting terror Hayden Hamilton was an automatic inclusion in the Team of the season. Was there a better player anywhere in the competition this season?
Hamilton’s statistics are special.
He scored 572 runs at 57.20, churning out a remarkable seven half centuries in an ultra consistent season where the No. 3 bat absorbed, and thrived, off pressure.
Along the way he struck 55 fours, equal-second in the competition alongside Ipswich opener Rhys Johnston who was also smacked 55.
A Nudgee College student, Hamilton bowled 50 overs, taking seven wickets at 19.29.
The Sea Eagles prime mover had an economy rate of 2.7, which was second only to Oscar Cawse this season, never bowled a wide and only overstepped the mark three times.
Hamilton also snared five catches in the field. Those figures say it all.
RHYS JOHNSTON (IPSWICH)
Ipswich opener Rhys Johnston makes the side as a fine top order batsman but he is also a capable wicket-keeper having worn the gloves for a majority of the season at Ipswich.
He was dynamic in the final five weeks of the competition where he tallied scores of 81, 137 not out and 112 to finish with a bang.
In all, the Toowoomba Grammar School First XI player made 572 runs at an average of 67.38, either opening the batting with Colby Rudd or coming in at first drop.
The Darling Downs cricket community would be eagerly anticipating his performance for Queensland at the under-17 championships and in GPS school cricket next year.
He would be the team’s keeper although he is obviously not the best gloveman in a competition which includes Alex Walduck, Brody Felton, Ryan Atley, Benjamin Rothwell and, of course, the competition’s top performing specialist gloveman - Wynnum Manly’s Noah Maguire.
ELI BRAIN (NORTHERN SUBURBS)
The Queensland under-17 squad member from Brisbane Grammar School had a bumper season.
With the bat he scored 528 runs at 58.67, while also taking 12 wickets at 22.75. Wow.
Brain’s batting blitz included a round 4 score of 113 not out from a team total of 219, while his effort with bat (60) and ball (4-22) in round 10 catapulted Norths toward victory.
With the ball Brain got through a mountain of work, bowling 80 overs and conceding 3.41 runs per over around his wicket taking deliveries.
He fit two seasons into one.
MALAKAI PEARCE (SUNSHINE COAST)
The crafty slow bowler from the beautiful Glasshouse Mountains was one of the competition’s most influential players because of his consistency and reliability.
Pearce, poised for Queensland under-17 selection, was a wrist spinner who took a season high 23 wickets at 13.43.
He was so trusty, always snaring three here, two there and another one wicket here before being a valuable contributor wielding the willow.
The Scorchers’ skipper also scored 195 runs at 24.38, and often tried to move the game along when he was at the crease. Pearce also intercepted lofted shots to take six catches in the field.
He was key with both bat and ball and in the field where he set the field for the competition’s best team (9-1 record).
DUSHYANT THAMAN (SOUTH BRISBANE)
Thaman’s performances this season were even more meritorious considering he played in a side which had to scrap and battle for small victories.
A young veteran of GPS First XI cricket with TSS, left arm orthodox spinner Thaman took 22 wickets at an average of just 15.15 which was a remarkable performance in the circumstances.
With the bat he also lifted to score 252 runs at 25, and he thoroughly deserves his place in this side.
In one match Thaman took 4-30 and scored 66 runs. It was as if he would have poured the drinks for everyone on the ground if he had been asked.
ELLIS McCARTHY (GOLD COAST)
McCarthy was the pace bowling enforcer in the side who huffed and puffed his way through batting line-ups.
McCarthy struck every 25.74 deliveries across his 82 overs, ending the season with 19 wickets at an average of 17.84.
In one match he snared a stunning 6-27 from 10 overs, bowling straight and quick to give the batsmen no peace.
There is little wonder the Dolphins did well again this season with McCarthy and his band of bowlers Cam Sinfield, the unsung Rhys Horne, Lachie Barnes, Luke Ward, Hayden Trevethan and Cooper Johnson letting rip.
KETHMIN MEEGASDENIYA (WYNNUM MANLY)
Helped in partnership by Shoubhit Jain and co, Meegasdeniya had another fabulous age group season.
The left arm spinner was consistent across the competition, accumulating his season tally of 20 wickets with hauls of three, two and one.
Meegasdeniya averaged just 14.75 per wickets, and struck every 25.10 balls.
JAXSON DAVIES (GOLD COAST)
Are we talking about the most exciting batsman in the competition? The TSS First XI ace was at times brutal in delivering his side 417 runs at an average of 52.13.
Davies hit 46 fours and six sixes as he lifted the tempo of matches, lifting his season strike rate to strike rate 85.45.
Having scored 74 not out in round eight, Davies upped the ante to make 108 from just 89 balls against Ipswich. It was breathtaking batting.
13th MAN: NOAH MAGUIRE (Wynnum Manly)
Adam Gilchrist has a lot to answer for being so damn good as a batsman.
It was Gilchrist who changed the dynamics around selection tables world wide when his elite batting demanded his selection in Test cricket in 2000 - at the expense of wicketkeeper of the century Ian Healy.
Prior to Gilchrist’s emergence as a glittering batsman and gloveman, selectors picked the best keeper - regardless of his batting average. But that all changed because Gilchrist was such a good player.
It is why two elite Queensland Bulls’ keepers in Maguire’s lifetime, Wade Seccombe and Chris Hartley, never played Test cricket. They fell victim to superior batsmen but inferior keepers, Brad Haddin and Matthew Wade.
This season the Sea Eagles’ captain, Maguire, claimed the most catches dismissals (25) of all keepers, including snaring a remarkable 11 stumpings - but he was up against Rhys Johnston (Ipswich) who averaged 67.
Maguire averaged 18, but his work behind the stumps was second to none.
His spinners, Meegasdeniya and Jain, should shout Maguire a steak after he helped them to five wickets each this season by stumping batsmen. Maguire’s 11th stumping victim came late in the season from Hayden Hamilton’s bowling.
In all he snared 11 stumpings, 14 catches and was involved in another three run outs.
The Wynnum junior from BSHS can take a bow given the competition included Alex Walduck (University), Brody Felton (Gold Coast) and Ryan Atley as fellow keepers.
AWESOME FOURSOME WE MOST WANTED TO SELECT BUT COULD NOT
Spencer Green (Toombul)
Emerging leg spinner Spencer Green had a tremendous season, snaring 18 wickets at just 18.83. The Nudgee First XI player bowled 100 overs across the season, restricting batsmen to 3.39 runs off each over which in the modern game is outstanding for a wrist spinner. He starred in a losing effort against Wests when he took 5-27 from 10 overs. Take a bow, Spencer Green.
Alex Walduck (University)
Whether we are writing about school or club Teams of the Season, this magician behind the stumps is always getting a mention - and with good reason. A leading junior gloveman, Walduck backed up his bumper 2023 Tav’s performance with another 14 catches, while also being involved in six run outs. Importantly he also scored a more than handy 239 runs at 29.88 and in one game snared five catches in an innings. He is the real deal.
Ryan Atley (Western Suburbs)
Atley plundered a thrilling 98 early in the season, but not even his batting exploits (345 runs) could go with Rhys Johnston, the batting wicket-keeper from Ipswich.
Still, Atley had a fine season, with his runs coming at a rate of knots - his strike rate was 81.37 which put pressure on bowlers and fielders.
Oscar Cawse (Sunshine Coast)
Cawse was superb across the season. A high achiever within the Scorchers pathway system, the Maroochydore junior claimed 16 wickets at just 11, including a haul of 5-21.
Significantly the Maroochydore junior bowled 14 maidens and with an economy rate of just 2.42, Cawse built pressure for his bowling partner at the other end and enabled his ring fielders to creep forward in anticipation.
TWO BOLTERS WHO NEARLY MADE IT
Riley Eckersley (Redlands)
What a tremendous season Eckersley had. The Tigers leader started the season by taking 4-29 and scoring 24 not out, and went on to accumulate 205 runs at 29.95 while also taking 13 wickets at 21.31. His season high 56 not out came in a winning chase and he put a high value on his wicket.
Daniel Desmet (Valley)
Desmet’s season should not be quickly dismissed. He was no Flash Dan, but he accumulated 279 runs at 31, including successive half centuries in rounds four and five.
Another Maroochydore junior who attended Churchie where he played First XI, Desmet also got through plenty of work with his medium pace, bowling 85 overs en route to taking 15 wickets at 19.73. He had a season best 4-28 in round 1, and across the season his economy rate held up (3.50 runs per over).
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Lakshdeep Singh (Sandgate-Redcliffe)
He bowled a marathon 99 overs across the summer, with the North Lakes leg spinner dismissing 14 batsmen.
For a wrist spinner he had a tremendous economy rate (3.05) and bowled very few winds. He is a tremendous northern bayside prospect and it is great to see him rewarded with a place in the Queensland under-17 training squad.
Joshua Ritchie (Wynnum Manly)
The Year 11 Iona College student made 431 runs at an average of 39.18. He was an old fashioned opener, steady at the top of the order while always prepared to bounce on anything loose (48 boundaries, the fifth most in the competition). His 135 (130 balls) was the second highest score of the season, and we can’t wait to see him in AIC First XI cricket in term one next year.
Luke Ward (Gold Coast)
Ward had a bumper season for semi-finalists’ Gold Coast, amassing 259 runs at 43.17 while chipping in with 13 wickets at an average of 17.46. He did not bowl a lot of overs - 49 - and offered up a few wides, but he added balance and variation to the Gold Coast attack. His 7-34 were the best figures by a bowler this season.
Shoubhit Jain (Wynnum Manly)
The baby of the competition who was promoted from the U16 Brisbane Metro Cup competition, Jain was absolutely outstanding for the bayside boys.
A left arm spinner, he took 16 wickets at just 19.94, including hauls of 4-32 and 4-27.
The youngster did push down a few wides during the season, but he would have found the experience invaluable and finished with a respectable economy rate of 3.6 overs which is top notch in the modern era for a young spinner.
Although onlookers did not see it, Jain is also a good batsman who has scored school 100s for Churchie.
Thomas Town (Sunshine Coast)
Town was one of the competition’s best bowlers and batsmen were no doubt revealed to see him take his hat from the bowler and trot off into the field. A Queensland under-17 squad member, he took 14 wickets at 18.36, including when he hit the bullseye during seven compelling overs which claimed 4-22 against the Gators.
Shlok Dani (Wests)
Dani claimed 18 wickets at 18.94, getting through a marathon 97 overs. Dani had a respectable economy rate of 3.51 and took nine catches, the most by a non-keeper. It was a very tidy season for him.
Liam Stieper (Wynnum Manly)
The rookie fast bowler rocked the world of the Toombul batsmen with his stunning return of 4-17 from just six overs in round 3. He was no flash in the pan, finding another nine wickets in eight matches to help Wynnum into the finals. Stieper only bowled 49 overs, but he had an eye-catching strike rate of 22.77 runs per wicket, with several bowled or LBW victims.
Gurkirat Singh Behl (Toombul)
Behl had an excellent summer for the Bulls, taking 17 at 24.79. He took some stick on occasions and did bowl some wides, but overall the season was a tremendous experience for St Paul’s TAS First XI opening bowler.
Colby Rudd (Ipswich)
Rudd was a glue player in the Ipswich batting line-up whose patience enabled him to build partnership with more aggressive partners. He scored 387 runs at 35.10, including a nerveless round 2 effort of 47 not out in a thriller. He had a season high 70 (134 balls) in round six, and also claimed a handy 11 wickets and took five catches.
Brody Felton (Gold Coast)
Given the white hot competition for the wicketkeeping positions, Felton thoroughly deserves his special mention here. He grabbed 13 catches and snared three stumpings, while his gloves helped in three run outs. The Dolphin had a fine season, including scoring 285 runs at an average of 28.5.
Hayden Dalmazzo (Sandgate-Redcliffe)
Dalmazzo was a good performer for the Gators, a mainstay of the attack who claimed 13 wickets at 28.08, but who also fired off 73 from 59 balls in one innings on his way to making 209 runs across the competition.
Benjamin Rothwell (Valley)
Yet another high performing gloveman who had a strong season with the bat. Rothwell scored 273 runs at 34, including two 50s. He snared 17 dismissals across the season, including three stumpings.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ALL-ROUNDER
Luke Ward (Gold Coast)
No one could beat Luke Ward’s round 7 effort. He produced the individual performance of the season when he took 7-34 after a 77-ball batting blitz (63 not out). Ward’s 9.2 over effort at the bowling crease also saw the Gators fall from 1-109 to be all out for 178 and included Steve Hogan’s wicket.
Eli Brain (Norths)
One of the players of the season, Brain scored 60 alongside Harry DeSouza (66) - and then took 4-22 from 10 overs to catapult Norths toward victory.
Special mention for an all-rounder
Ryan Beatty (South Brisbane)
Beatty produced a red carpet performance when he scored 40 from 44 balls after taking 3-32 from 10 overs.
WILDCARD TALENTS
Fast bowlers Callum Pamenter (Ipswich), Harry Langdon (University), Lenny Henry (Souths) and Thomas Vaseo (Redlands). None were runaway success stories, but all were extremely promising players in their age group.
Pamenter, who could break into the Ipswich Grammar School First XI, took 5-27 in one game, while Vaseo, a St Laurence’s First XI spearhead, claimed nine wickets.
Langdon, a Queensland under-17 squad selection, only took the 10 wickets but remains a player of considerable potential.
Henry can bat and bowl, and last weekend scored 80 for Souths. He gathered invaluable experience ahead of his return to the Tav’s ranks again next season.
Also watch top order batsman Ishaan Sandhu (South Brisbane) and, of course, Spencer Green (Norths) who we featured earlier.
GOLDEN MOMENTS
Harry Klatt (Valley)
A Year 10 student from Terrace, Klatt caused a ripple in the competition when he snared a sensational 6-41 against Sandgate-Redcliffe.
UNSUNG HEROES
Joey Laner and Theo Tsingos (Norths)
Laner was a solid performer for Norths, taking 16 wickets at 24.38 while also scrambling 138 runs at 19. Tsingos, a St Patrick’s First XI bowler, produced a sublime performance with the ball, snaring 5-36 for his side in a grand win over Wynnum.
Elijah Welsh, Joe Murray and Banjo Seaniger (Sunshine Coast)
The boys were players the Scorchers’ batting was built around, steadily making their way through the season. Welsh scored 322 runs at an average of 35.78, while Murray accumulated 266 at 53.22 (strike rate 58.21). Banjo Seaniger came to the party with 13 wickets at 22, holding batsmen to just over three runs an over.
Samuel Jones (Toombul) and Cooper Johnson (Gold Coast)
Jones scored 253 runs at 31.63 while Johnson played a role in helping the Dolphins into the finals with his 13 wickets at 25.62.
Cameron Sinfield and Lachlan Barnes (Gold Coast)
A quiet achiever who plays a team game with the ball Sinfield, The Southport School premiership winning offie, claimed an important 13 wickets while also keeping things tight. Barnes took another 13, with a dazzling strike rate of 23 from his 50 overs. It is little wonder the Dolphins are playing finals.
Will Souter and Jack Southgate (Sandgate-Redcliffe)
Another keeper in the hotly contested competition was Will Souter who grabbed 17 catches and a stumping for the Garors. Southgate started in the under-16 MBC where he earned promition into the Tav’s.
Thomas King and Christian Alexander (University)
Both boys played their part in Uni’s push into the finals. The pair took 12 wickets each, with King the more difficult of the pair to get away.
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