Downs players get the chance to shine at O’Dea Shield in Gympie

CRICKET: This is the weekend to put your name up in lights. That’s the message given to 11 of the region’s rising cricketing talents will come together for the O’Dea Shield in Gympie this weekend.

Regan Hoger will co-captain DDSWQ in the O’Dea Shield. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The Darling Downs and South West Queensland U21s come into the two-day tournament boasting a squad with experience at the senior level, and assistant coach Justin Anderson hopes that will boost their chances of success.

“We’re anticipating they’ll go pretty well,” Anderson said.

“With the DDBBL, the boys have all had a fair few quality games and they will go into Gympie with a bit of confidence.

“All of the younger boys really performed well through that, and hopefully they can continue that form.”

Regan Hoger and Cody Walker have been named as co-captains of the team, and Anderson believes they have the leadership qualities to guide DDSWQ forward.
“Regan can back up last year’s performance where he made the Queensland Country U21s,” he said.

“He’ll show a fair bit of leadership alongside Cody, who has a lot of experience with Diggers in first grade. There’s a few mature heads on their shoulders.

“If you’re an underaged student, this is the weekend that you can put your name up in lights and push for further representation.”

FIXTURES: vs Wide Bay (50 overs) today 9am, vs Southeast Queensland (T20) tomorrow 8.30am, vs Gold Coast (T20) tomorrow 1pm

SQUAD: Regan Hoger (co-captain), Cody Walker (co-captain), Nicholas Brown, Matthew Nunn, James Bidgood, Arshvir Singh, Mitchell Bourke, Paul Draheim, Jacob Jeans, Corey Dioth, Alex Wilmett, Kieren Gibbs (coach), Justin Anderson (assistant coach), Rick Wood (scorer)