Sunshine Coast cricket mid-season report card: Every team graded, analysed

The Sunshine Coast cricket season has flown by as we uncover our mid-season report cards. See each side’s grade, predictions and who the captains have named as their key players.

Sunshine Coast rugby league mid-season report cards. Pictures: Matt Mayo Sports Photography, Mitchell Ensby and Facebook.

After 13 rounds of entertaining cricket across the Sunshine Coast, we’ve crossed the halfway point of the 2023 senior men’s season.

With just eight rounds in the regular season remaining, teams are still battling it out for their place in the finals.

In a rollercoaster season of unpredictable results, we’ve spoken to every first grade captain to gauge their side’s strengths, weaknesses, standout recruits and debutants and come up with a grade for their season so far.

Read below to see how each team is tracking and our predictions for the end of the season.

All captains were contacted before the time of publishing.

TEWANTIN-NOOSA: 1st

Wins: 10 Losses: 2 No Results: 1 Pts: 83.4

Captain: Michael Eckard

Tewantin-Noosa players Jarrod Officer, Michael Eckard and Ben Laughlin. Pictures: Matt Mayo Sports Photography.

Key Players: “I’d say Jarrod Officer and Ben Laughlin have both been really good but each player has been chipping in throughout the season. Everyone has been contributing well or having their own moments with the bat or the ball or even in the field.”

Biggest Strength: “I think it’s been our calmness and how we all just take each round or each training session step by step. We’ve had a few chops and changes within the team just due to player availability so we’ve used a lot of young players but they’ve all stepped up and have slotted in really well. Everyone is really hungry to play first grade so that’s been the biggest thing.”
Needs Improvement: “I think our fielding and communication needs a bit more work. We’ve dropped a few catches which have cost us runs wise but that’s something we can work on. Just becoming more clinical and more efficient so that we put ourselves in the right spots.”

Season Aim: “We literally just play every game as it comes. We obviously have the main goal of playing finals and hopefully picking up some silverware, especially after just falling short in the T20s. But we just play every game as if it’s our last and make sure everyone’s enjoying their time with the squad and out on the field. The more enjoyment and positivity that there is it creates a better culture which I think helps everyone perform.”

Prediction: Tewantin-Noosa have seemingly cruised through the season to this point but are still yet to cement themselves as the clear top team. The men in blue dropped just one match in the T20s against Gympie and after the rain abandoned their regular season match against Maroochydore, the Swans got the better of them in the final by seven wickets. You would’ve thought a whopping 393 declaration against Caboolture in round nine was enough but that was chased down resulting in Tewantin-Noosa’s second loss of the season. Like Eckard’s comments, it’s been a true team effort so far with five batters (Michael Eckard, Jarrod Officer, Andy Batten, Ben Laughlin and Samadhi Baker) featuring in the top 20 run-scorers rankings while their four leading bowlers (Ben Laughlin, Zac Murray, Michael Eckard and Talon Reichert) are within the top 25 wicket-takers this season. Plenty of eyes will be on them in round 15 and 16 when they meet leading contenders Maroochydore followed by Caboolture in the new year. From their remaining matches it’s hard to see them not finishing as overall season minor premiers and they should get a real crack at producing some solid finals performances in the one day or two day formats. They’ve earned the title as the team to beat this season but you could also still make a case for them as being underdogs once finals roll around. I believe it would be a tough pill to swallow if they finish the season without any major silverware.

Overall mid-season grade: A

CABOOLTURE: 2nd

Wins: 5 Losses: 6 No Results: 1 Pts: 78.5

Captain: Cameron Trask

Caboolture first grade men's team. Picture: Facebook

Key Players: “Obviously we’ve had a few of our veterans stand tall which has been really good. Glen Batticciotto has been great, I think he’s already cracked 600 runs this season which has been really positive for the batting side of things. Connor Corlet on the other side with the ball has been a really good find for us this season. He’s had a few years off but returned to the club this season.”

Biggest Strength: “We didn’t think it would be at the start of the year but our batting so far has been our key drive. We’ve been putting some really good scores forward which really helps out our inexperienced bowling line-up a bit more to bowl at and a bit more freedom. Especially with the red ball early on we’ve been strong chasing down big scores or setting decent scores that takes the pressure off our bowlers.”
Needs Improvement: “Although the boys are bowling well our focus is trying to get a bit more consistency. We do go through some patches where we bowl a tight line but then after that it can get a bit erratic.”

Season Aim: “Our aim is to just keep improving. At the start of the season we didn’t really know how we’d go, I thought red ball would be more our game with the team that we had and that’s what we’ve proven so far. Even just moving into the one day matches, with the confidence and momentum of winning, we want to continue that form. We’ve got some good players coming through as well which has definitely helped as well.”

Prediction: In what started as an unknown season the Snakes have continued to show their class as one of the Sunshine Coast’s premier first grade clubs. After failing to fire in the T20s, picking up just one win from six matches, they’ve turned things around in the longer formats going undefeated in the one and two day matches. The side’s experienced campaigners have stood tall, very tall, which has allowed their junior players and new recruits the time to develop and prosper. Trask and Batticciotto have each cracked 600 runs already and sit first and second respectively in the rankings. The Snakes bowling attack is what’s taken a hit this season and while Batticciotto and Corlet are faring okay with the ball, they are the only two Caboolture players that sit within the top 40 rankings. Although they’ve still got their key names, they’ve definitely risen above expectations this season and have created a solid battle between the top four teams. It would be great to see them kick along at the pointy end of the season and although I think any silverware is just too big of an ask, if they can squeeze themselves in they can definitely snag a title.

Overall mid-season grade: B+

MAROOCHYDORE: 3rd

Wins: 9 Losses: 2 No Results: 2 Pts: 71.0

Captain: Blaine Schloss

Maroochydore senior men's team claim the 2023/24 T20 title.

Key Players: “From our newcomers Hayden Guest has been outstanding for us. He came across from Palmwoods after playing second grade and he’s been one of the competition’s leading bowlers. He’s stepped up quite seamlessly to division one level and he just seems to be getting more and more consistent and more confident with his game. From our more regular guys Luke McInnes has been continuing on his merry way with the ball. He’s won the umpires medal for player of the year twice in the past few seasons and just keeps doing what he does best.”

Biggest Strength: “I think the depth in our batting has improved quite considerably this season. I think our bowling attack and our fielding has been the backbone of our success over the past couple of years so we really needed to improve our batting this year and I think we’ve shown in the majority of our two day games so far. We’re capable of scoring big scores and individuals are capable of performing strongly as well which has been really pleasing. It’ll be really important for us to keep that going for the rest of the season and in the one day matches.”
Needs Improvement: “I think it’ll be the transition in and out of the one day format and then into the last of the two day games. Obviously with the one day games you only have to be up and about for 50 overs whereas with the two day matches it’s a lot longer so we also talk about being consistent and also being well disciplined. I don’t think it’s necessarily something we need to work on but it’s something we need to maintain for the back half of the season.”

Season Aim: “We set a pretty high standard for ourselves at the start of the year, obviously winning the T20 flag which was a great day for the club and great for us going back-to-back. We’re certainly hoping to lock away a top four spot in both the one day and two day formats to give ourselves every opportunity of repeating that success and lifting trophies up at the end of the season. There’s plenty of work in front of us until then and the top four teams are really difficult to separate this year so it should be an exciting contest.”

Prediction: The Swans most recent match against Caboolture was rained out and it would’ve been a key telling point for both side’s and where they sat going into the back half of the season. They’ve only been defeated twice this season, in round one against Caloundra (T20) and in round eight against Tewantin-Noosa (two-day). They quickly added another target to their back after securing the T20 premiership earlier this season and have shown they’re a force to be reckoned with (once again) in the one and two day matches. Luke McInnes and Hayden Guest have been strike performers with the ball but they will need an improved effort from their batting attack if they are to go toe-to-toe against the leading sides. In saying that, the Swans have been at the top for so long and it’s hard to imagine them slipping out of the top four anytime soon. They’ve got the T20 trophy but their aim remains locked on the longer formats. Although I said the same about Tewantin-Noosa, I believe it would be a tough pill to swallow for Maroochydore if they finish the season without the one day or two trophy.

Overall mid-season grade: A-

COOLUM: 4th

Wins: 8 Losses: 5 No Results: 0 Pts: 65.5

Captain: Sam Curtis

Coolum Sharks first grade cricket team.

Key Players: “Jarryd Taig is an absolute revelation for the club. He’s a class cricketer that excelled in the T20s with three half centuries and probably has the sweetest timing I’ve ever seen. He’s been absolute class for us and so has Logan Beutel who is still a young player but has been hitting his straps and is hopeful pushing for Scorchers selection. Rory Cowling when he’s available is the best all rounder that we’ve got. He’s been with the Scorchers or out injured so we’re happy when we’ve got him. Henry Smith is a new English recruit who has taken a number of wickets already and is up there with the leading bowlers in first grade. The other two would be Corey Perren and Stefan Hook who have both been really consistent and bring good experience to the side this year.”

Biggest Strength: “Something that’s a lot more noticeable this season in comparison to last is that there’s a lot more cricket experience and match awareness in the team. It had a lot more of a social aspect a few years ago so when Coolum entered into first grade there wasn’t a whole heap of experienced grade cricket players. We’re now starting to see the fruition of those younger recruits and some good coaching. There’s a lot of good cricket pedigree among our group which is great and it’s also a key factor for the young guys when they take that next step up.”
Needs Improvement: “It’s always around consistency. It’s about getting our bowlers to be patient and to keep bowling in those areas that ask questions of the batters. If you’re patient and are putting the ball in the right areas then you can control the field and execute your plans. There’s plenty of teams on the Sunshine Coast that can cash in when bowlers or teams try to do too much.”

Season Aim: “In all seriousness we’ve probably said things like ‘we’d love to make a final or play in finals’ in years gone by and that’s an aspirational thing but this year it’s a definite for us. We believe we’ve got the roster that we can achieve something special this year. Our side knows that if we don’t finish inside the top four it’s a season we’d kick ourselves because we know we haven't reached the potential that we have. Top four is the aim but we’d love to make a final and even better if we can snag a flag in there somewhere.”

Prediction: The Sharks showed glimpses of promise in the T20 series, finishing fourth with four wins and three losses before bowing out to Tewantin-Noosa in the semi-final. They picked up a few nice wins in the two-day competition but will be truly tested when they play Maroochydore (away), Nambour (home) and Caboolture (away) in the final three rounds. From their upcoming one-day matches they should pick up at least three wins and will be leaning on their key bowlers Henry Smith, Corey Perren, Stefan Hook and Tiaan Scheepers who all rank inside the top 20 Sunshine Coast bowlers this season. There was a point that Coolum almost became an unwanted first grade side but they’ve stuck true to the course and it looks to be paying dividends in 2023-24. While they’re still building and look like a team on the rise for seasons to come, it would be a failed season for Coolum in my opinion if they can’t hold onto their spot inside the top four and secure a spot in the finals.

Overall mid-season grade: B

NAMBOUR: 5th

Wins: 5 Losses: 7 No Results: 0 Pts: 45.0

Captain: Nicholas Wallace

Nambour Cricket Club's 2022/23 Division 1 men's team. Picture: Facebook.

Key Players: “Probably the biggest thing that has impressed me this year is that it’s been a real collective effort. Each game there’s been someone put their hand up and perform but the most noticeable has been Tim Close with the ball. He’s in the top rankings for the wicket takers at the moment so he’s been absolute class for us. I’ve also been really impressed by our middle order. James Taylor is one of our new recruits that’s been able to have a few good starts and then got his first 50 on the weekend which was good and the other is Jayden Francis. He’s had plenty of 40 runs scores and just hasn’t been able to kick along but he’s starting to find his feet and is looking better each game.”

Biggest Strength: “I think it’s our composure and discipline. I think in the past when things haven't gone our way we’ve struggled a bit or gotten too flustered which has let our opposition dictate the terms. This year we’ve got a few more older heads and we’ve kept majority of the same group together so it’s a lot easier to stay calm and play a bit more patiently. We’ve shown that with the bat and the ball as we used to be a team that would lose wickets in clumps but have really put focus on if we lose a wicket, we don’t want to throw away another one, instead it’s about building a good partnership and taking our time.”
Needs Improvement: “I think as we move into the one day format we’ve never really been a fast paced team stacked with big hitters. We just need to look at being that little bit more positive and picking apart our moments. If we move through the gears well we can then be a bit more aggressive in our attack and I think because our side’s spent plenty of time in the two day format now we should be able to do that.”

Season Aim: “We’re pretty pleased with where we’re at currently, just outside the top four. I think at the start of the season we had a pretty tough run so I would’ve taken that fourth or fifth spot at this point of the season. I think when you’re moving towards Christmas the aim is to just be in contention with finals because it generally means you’ve done enough hard work in the opening half of the season but that there’s also room for improvement. As a group we’ve grown really well together and there’s been good contributions from everyone so if we can continue this way that top four aim should be very achievable.”

Prediction: They’ve been the fringe team of the competition this season, sitting a handful of wins outside of the top four. They finished just one win outside of the finals in the T20 competition and have won two and lost two in their first four two-day matches. They’ve once again been led by season veteran Steven Ledger with the bat, while Jayden Francis is finding some form and captain Nick Wallace is ready to fire after returning from holiday. Tim Close has been one of the competition’s leading bowlers but that’s about the only notable threat for Nambour with no one else from their bowling cohort featuring inside the top 50 bowlers rankings. The Cutters are met with a tough schedule for the second half of the season meaning it will be hard for the men in blue and yellow to gain any true momentum as they approach finals. They’ll need to lift as a unit if they have aspirations of sneaking into the top four this year.

Overall mid-season grade: C

CALOUNDRA: 6th

Wins: 6 Losses: 6 No Results: 1 Pts: 38.7

Captain: Will Carlile

Caloundra Lighthouse first grade cricket team. Picture: Mitchell Ensby.

Key Players: “Our leading run scorer this season, Sam O’Brien has been really good. He had a decent season last season but has really picked up this year and has been really consistent. He’s been leading the charge for us but also Trent Park with the ball. He’s a new recruit who took a handy four fa bowling leg spin the other week. It’s good to have him there and he should be handy with the bat too. Alex Jago is also one to include, he’s a young guy that’s been bowling really well and really quick.”

Biggest Strength: “We finished in the top four in the T20s so I think we’re just trying to piece it all together. Sometimes we’re batting well but then we’re not bowling well and sometimes it’s the other way round. Sometimes we can get away with it when someone stands tall and has a solid individual performance but we haven't seemed to be able to do that all at once. We’re hoping with the one-days now we can get back into that groove and put some good wins on the board.”
Needs Improvement: “I think it is just putting back-to-back sessions together. We win sessions or have really good runs in parts of games but it’s about putting it all together. If we get five early wickets it’s about bowling the tail out or if we get a good start with the bat it’s tough for our middle order to kick on. If we can have that full performance instead of success in areas we’ll be a lot more competitive.”

Season Aim: “We like our chances to play a bit better with the white ball in the one day games. If we can make a top four spot in that format it gives us solid form for the back end of the two-day games.”

Prediction: A third-place finish and a T20 semi-final loss to eventual champions Maroochydore in the semi-final definitely caught the eye’s of many fans and opposition teams at the start of the season. The young Caloundra side put themselves out there as a competitive team but unfortunately went winless in their opening four two-day matches. A return to the shorter one-day format looks to be in Caloundra’s best interest although they will be tested in the coming weeks when they take on Maroochydore and Caboolture away from home. Captain Will Carlile and Sam O’Brien have been in great form with the bat but their inexperienced bowling line-up has been served a few wake up calls against strong batting attacks this season. The Lighthouse must be ready to go ‘all-in’ on their remaining one-day matches and will need to nab at least three wins against good opposition to grab a finals spot. Overall Caloundra are a young side that have proven to be contenders in the shorter formats and should take plenty of positives from their efforts this season.

Overall mid-season grade: B-

GLASSHOUSE: 7th

Wins: 2 Losses: 10 No Results: 1 Pts: 33.7

Captain: Joel Owen

Prediction: After losing a few corse senior players at the end of last year, Glasshouse are another young side and have found it tough to put back-to-back sessions and performances together this season. After giving up crucial points during the first half of the season it’s a step too far for what is a young Glasshouse outfit to make the top four this season. Nathan Van Eekeren has again been a competition standout with the ball but he’s the only Glasshouse player to feature in the top 25 batters and or bowlers rankings. There are some great, exciting rising stars in the mix and they will definitely prove as a key contending side for years to come.

Overall mid-season grade: C

GYMPIE: 8th

Wins: 3 Losses: 10 No Results: 0 Pts: 22.6

Captain: Kelvin Cochrane

The 2023/24 Gympie Gold team. Picture: Zahner Photography.

Key Players: “We’ve had a couple but Trent Riddell when he’s been available has been really good. He’s obviously been playing with the Sunshine Coast Scorchers for majority of the season but in the couple of weeks that we’ve had him he’s been exceptional with the bat. The other would be Cooper Keogh, he’s only 14-years-old but he’s generally the quickest bowler we’ve got and he’s developed a lot already this season. He’s taken a good number of wickets already so that’s been very impressive but we’re looking forward to seeing how he continues to develop as the season progresses and as he gets used to this level. The other one I would throw in there would be Nathan Roderick who I think has got a really bright future. He’s been elite in the field and is very good with the bat and ball.”

Biggest Strength: “Our biggest strength this year is probably in how we’ve been developing our younger players. We’ve given a lot of caps to a number of players this year, the majority of whom are still teenagers and still in school. Not all of them have stayed in the side but just giving them a taste of what’s expected of them for the future. I expect going forward that these young guys will be instrumental for Gold’s future. That’s what I’ve been most excited about this season.”
Needs Improvement: “Our biggest challenge has certainly been player availability this season. I would imagine that we’ve probably used the most players compared to other sides and lacking that stability week to week does make it somewhat of a challenge. To be fair a lot of that is because players are playing representative cricket. We support country cricket as well as the Sunshine Coast Scorchers which depletes our squad a fair bit from time to time.”

Season Aim: “We’re a few games in and we’d like to have a strong one day campaign. We got awfully close in the T20s through some frustrating close results, our two-day season hasn’t started too well but we’re hopeful we can turn that around and have a solid one day campaign.”

Prediction: Gympie were unable to grab a win in their first four two-day matches but were another side that showed glimpses of brilliance and exciting young talent in the T20 fixtures. They also finished one win outside of a T20 finals berth and should be able to regather themselves against suitable opposition in their next three one-day matches. Everyone knows it’s always great for the competition when Gold are playing well but rebuilding years are necessary at all clubs and that’s what Gympie is experiencing this season. They look to have plenty of future first grade stars coming through their ranks and the club’s effort and dedication to produce solid Scorchers, Wide Bay and country cricket representative players should be applauded.

Overall mid-season grade: C+

Originally published as Sunshine Coast cricket mid-season report card: Every team graded, analysed