Rockhampton cricketer Sam Gassman to represent Qld at U17 nationals

There are plenty of raps on Rockhampton paceman Sam Gassman as he prepares for his next representative duty. One of his coaches tracks his incredible rise.

Rockhampton's Sam Gassman will represent Queensland at the national under-17 cricket championships in Tasmania this week.

Sam Gassman is one of the best young quicks to come out of Central Queensland in a number of years, according to Todd Wells.

The 16-year-old will be ready to fire them down for Queensland at the national under-17 championships starting in Hobart on Thursday.

Wells coaches Gassman in the Rockhampton Grammar First XI and has watched the teenage talent really come into his own with the ball in the last year.

“Sam’s a naturally gifted young athlete,” Wells said.

“He has been an all-rounder for a number of years but in the last 12 months or so he’s shot up physically in terms of his height and he’s bowling a lot quicker.

“That’s where he’s making his mark at the moment, as a bowler, but he’s also a very handy bat as well.

Sam Gassman is developing into a feared fast bowler.

“He’s got the perfect physique for fast bowling - he’s tall, lean and quite strong, and he bowls at a good pace for his age.”

Wells said Gassman was also blessed with an incredible work ethic, steely determination and a thirst for knowledge, all of which were contributing to his rise through the cricket ranks.

He has been getting plenty of cricket on the club and representative scene.

As well as playing with Grammar in Rockhampton Cricket’s third grade division, he has been a part of Frenchville’s A-grade team for the past couple of seasons.

Wells said being involved in that outfit, which includes the likes of champion all-rounder Joe McGahan, had also had a positive impact on his development.

Gassman was an integral part of the Central Queensland under-18 team which won the North Queensland Zone Championships last year, going on to be selected in the North Queensland team to play South Queensland in April this year.

He played in the Central Queensland open men’s team which was also crowned North Queensland champions, and was part of the Central Queensland Seamers who contested the Bulls Masters Country Challenge final at the Gabba in December.

Sam Gassman (right) and his Central Queensland under-18 teammates Joshua Peckett, Cayden Kent and Riley McDonald celebrate their win at the North Queensland Zone Championships.

Wells said it had been some time since a Central Queenslander had made the state under-17 team, and he was confident Gassman would certainly hold his own against the country’s best in Tasmania this week.

“It’s a wonderful achievement to get to the nationals,” he said.

“I don’t know what the bowling stocks are like in the team but you’d expect he’d open the bowling or bowl first change.

“It’s about him taking the opportunity when he gets it and hopefully it goes well for him.

“We’ve had some good batters come through the region but fast bowlers are pretty hard to come across.

“Sam’s up there as one of the most talented cricketers for his age and we’ll see how these championships hopefully provide him with another platform to go further.”

Originally published as Rockhampton cricketer Sam Gassman to represent Qld at U17 nationals