GPS First XI cricket: Players to Watch season 2022
With GPS First XI cricket getting under way this weekend, these are the players to watch in season 2022.
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It is a competition which has produced the best Test batsman in the world (Marnus Labuschagne, BSHS), the 2022 BBL Player of the Tournament (Ben McDermott, Churchie), and three current World Cup under 19 Australian representatives.
And now the next generation of GPS cricket player is about to push off on another journey when the GPS First XI season opens on Saturday.
It will start with a bumper clash between perennial premiers The Southport School and Nudgee College at glorious Ross Oval.
And ironically Ben McDermott’s brother, Zac (TSS) will feature in the competition.
Andrew Dawson will again cover the GPS First XI season for the www.couriermail.com.au, with his report and photographer’s photos featured each Saturday, early evening.
RELATED LINKS
CHURCHIE’S GREATEST FIRST XI SIDE
IS THIS NUDGEE’S GREATEST EVER FIRST XI SIDE?
PLAYERS TO WATCH
ST JOSEPH’S GREGORY TERRACE
Tom Campbell
Campbell, a Queensland under 17 representative, will captain the side in his second year of First XI cricket.
The youngest of four boys to come through the Terrace cricket program, Campbell will bat No. 3 and bowl right arm off spin. He is a second grade player at the powerful Northern Suburbs club.
Hayden Evetts
Evetts is the son of noted former Wynnum Manly and Souths first grader Kim Evetts. Hayden Evetts is a former Queensland Schoolboys representative who bowls right arm fast and who is a handy middle order bat.
Sam Loch
Loch is an outstanding left arm orthodox bowler and handy lower order bat who is in his second year of First XI cricket. He was one of the standouts in the first half of the competition last year.
Harry Dutton
Dutton is an impressive middle order bat renowned for hitting the ball hard. He is also dynamic in the field and is a deceptively quick bowler. He is a second year First XI player.
ST JOSEPH’S NUDGEE COLLEGE
Daniel Seaton
A second season player, Seaton was the leading run scorer for Nudgee last season. He is a classy opening bat who has proven he can go on and make a big score, highlighted last season against IGS when he carried his bat to score 147 not out. He is currently playing Premier cricket for Sandgate Redcliffe.
Tom Malone
Malone has developed into a quality left arm fast bowler who generates good pace and who is sure to cause some GPS batters problems during Term 1. He is also a superb athlete in the field and a hard hitting lower order bat.
Jack Balkin
The younger brother of elite all-rounder Tom, Jack is another excellent all around cricketer who bowls off spin and will likely bat at Number 4. He is competitive and will make life difficult for many opposition players.
BRISBANE BOYS COLLEGE
Sam Bell
Bell will captain and lead by example. He has an ability to change the momentum of the game with the bat and with the ball.
Declan Fawkner
Fawkner is a hard hitting middle order batsman that, once he gathers momentum, can be hard to reel in.
Jamie Alexander
Alexander is a young veteran of the side, having broken into the BBC First XI last season as a year 10 student. He will be one to watch this season – and next year as well.
TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Jem Ryan
A tall right arm quick who will again open the bowling for his third First XI GPS season. Ryan is also a hard hitting lower order batsmen who contributes handy runs late in the innings.
Callum Galvin
Galvin will captain TGS after returning for his second First XI season. Galvin will be looking to build on last season’s all around performances with his elegant stroke play and deceptive off spinners.
BRISBANE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Hugh Weibgen
A third year First XI player, Weibgen has been appointed captain of the Firsts. Old boys like cricket internationals David Ogilvie, Matt Renshaw, Otto Nothling, Ross Duncan, Ben Cutting and Alec Hurwood have graced the First XI cricket whites before him, and Weibgen is deeply honoured to lead BGS. He is an all-rounder who is an excellent bat and right arm off-spin bowler.
Earlier this month Weibgen became the youngest Valley player to score a first grade hundred when he made 104 not out (194 balls), aged 17 years and 80 days.
Angus Tolhurst
Angus Tolhurst will be Weibgen’s vice-captain. Another third year player, Tolhurst is an all-rounder, a left arm orthodox spinner and left hand batter.
BRISBANE STATE HIGH SCHOOL
Josh Martin
Josh Martin will look to take the pivotal No. 3 position in State High’s batting line-up this season. An accumulator of runs and time at the crease, Martin will look to bat deep into the innings and establish key partnerships with the middle order.
Dylan Crees
After tasting some success in his debut 1st XI season last year with two half centuries, Crees will once again play the intimidator at the top of the innings. He will look to put the pressure back on the bowlers with his aggressive array of shots.
ANGLICAN CHURCH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Lochie Butterworth-Love
Second season First XI player Lochie Butterworth-Love will have the honour of captaining Churchie this season.
A Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club junior, he will be representing Churchie in his eighth season.
“As I have gotten older, I’ve developed an interest in learning more about the game,’’ Butterworth-Love said. “Cricket is a game where you never stop learning.
“My goal as captain of the First XI is to keep the cricket program improving.
“Last year, we had a good season, finishing fourth, and I aim to maintain the positive attitude of the team last year and build on that success this year.’’
IPSWICH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Harry Sheppard
Calm under pressure, top order batsman Harry Sheppard will captain IGS this season.
Jack Geldard
All-rounder Geldard will return to the First XI arena again in 2022 as a spinner and gun fielder who is always in the game
Lucas Sefont
The wicketkeeper/batsman is potentially the most destructive batsman not only in his side, but across the competition.
THE SOUTHPORT SCHOOL
Justin Faber
TSS’s campaign to retain the GPS premiership will be captained by Faber, a Souths right arm and right handed all rounder.
Griff Williams
Year 11 student Williams will bat in the top order and bowl right arm leg spin. He is the 2021 Gold Coast Lord Taverners premiership captain
Zac McDermott
The son of Queensland and Australian champion fast bowler Craig McDermott (291 wickets at 28), Zac McDermott is a right arm all-rounder and Gold Coast Dolphins junior representative.
Joe Madden
The Southport School captain is a right arm off-spin bowler.
Round 1
St Joseph’s Nudgee College v The Southport School
Brisbane Boys College v Brisbane State High School
Toowoomba Grammar School v Ipswich Grammar School
St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace v Anglican Church Grammar School
Bye: Brisbane Grammar School
Originally published as GPS First XI cricket: Players to Watch season 2022
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