TOP TALENT: 51 Darling Downs players currently in Brisbane grade cricket

As women’s cricket continues to go from strength to strength, our Darling Downs young women are knocking on the door of higher honours. We look at 32 Downs women playing grade cricket in Brisbane.

Emily Clark, Jaimie-Lee Strang and Georgia Voll.

CRICKET: The Darling Downs has long held its own when competing in the Queensland cricketing landscape.

Whether it be at the representative level or away, our players have always represented the region with pride and class.

We looks at players from across the Darling Downs that have played in Brisbane’s grade cricket this season.

MEN

Zac Beveridge (Ipswich)

Moved to Toowoomba as a young player and excelled, playing a key role in the success of Western Districts at A-grade level.

Made the move from Wests to Ipswich, where he is averaging 37.75 with the bat and has taken seven wickets in four games.

Arshvir Singh (Norths)

Has come through the ranks and is starting to shine in Brisbane grade after impressing for Souths.

Has played second grade cricket for Northern Suburbs with a best score of 39 in the season opener.

Joseph Fry (Wests)

A towering quick from University that has continued to impress at every level of cricket he’s been asked to.

Started the year in second grade before making his first grade debut at just 17. Took his first wickets against Sandgate-Redcliffe last weekend.

Aidan Watterson (Wests)

Another of the Toowoomba contingent at Wests, Watterson was a regular standout for Northern Brothers Diggers.

Averaging 42 with the bat in second grade this season, as well as best figures of 1/30 from 16 overs in firsts.

Will Carty (UQ)

Plying his trade with the University of Queensland, Carty fittingly last played his Toowoomba senior cricket with USQ.

Carty is averaging 33.83 runs for the season in the Alan Pettigrew Shield, with best figures of 2/9 with the ball.

Mitch Doolan (Norths)

A young gun on the rise, the former Grammar and Wests player is enjoying a breakout season in Brisbane.

The Norths all-rounder is averaging 43.13 runs this season including a stop score of 95, and averaging 27.50 with the ball.

Sam Neale (Norths)

Has a booming resume at a young age, with the Wests junior named Queensland Cricket’s Most Improved Country player in 2019/20.

Has had a taste of first grade with Norths this season, and boasts a top score of 49 in second grade.

Jem Ryan (Ipswich)

Came through the ranks with Metropolitan-Easts and also had a stint with Souths while taking 17 wickets for Grammar in the GPS season.

Ryan has largely featured for Ipswich in the U19s, impressing with figures of 3/31 in his lone second grade outing.

Harry Meiklejohn (Ipswich)

A teammate of Fry at Ipswich, Meiklejohn also had stints with Mets and Souths in Towoomba.

The young talent has been in second grade and the U19s for the season, with a top score of 58.

Morgan Galvin (Valley)

Another former Grammar student making it in Brisbane, the Highfields-Railways talent got an early crack at A-grade.

Galvin has taken seven wickets this season across third grade and the U19s, including 3/11 against Ipswich.

Paul Draheim (Valley)

A genuine star on the rise, Draheim was just 14 when he made his A-grade debut for Southern Districts.

The spinner has been in supreme form in three games for Valley U19s, taking seven wickets for the season.

Jack Wildermuth (Valley)

The Queensland Bulls and Brisbane Heat star had three games for Valley before the start of the domestic season.

He piled on knocks of 113 and 102 runs as he continues to push his claims for even higher honours.

Anthony Wilson (Ipswich)

A former Downlands College student and Wests dynamo, Wilson has been one of Ipswich’s most reliable in recent times.

He has produced a best knock of 53 this season against South Brisbane.

Sam Healy (Valley)

The Southern Districts wicketkeeper took big strides last season as he became accustomed to the top flight.

Averaging 32 with the bat in the Roy Tanner Shield and has taken four wickets across all formats of the game.

Tom Sippel (Ipswich) Came through the junior ranks in Toowoomba and was rewarded with some great play for the Gold Coast in the BPL. Playing for Ipswich in second grade, Sippel has a best knock of 51 and is averaging one wicket per game.

Sam Doggett (Ipswich)

A quality Southern Districts player, Doggett has spent time in New South Wales previously.

Just the two outings for Ipswich this season have seen the quick pick up a pair of wickets.

Morgan Bourke (Toombul)

The Warwick all-rounder came through the ranks to ply his trade at St Joseph’s Nudgee as a teenager.

Has kept things tight with the ball for Toombul in his two WEP Harris Shield appearances, conceding 30 runs from 14 overs

Dan Wilson (Ipswich)

We’ve seen Wilson in most recent times as part of the DDBBL, and the former Toowoomba player is starring for Ipswich.

Averaging 49 with the bat with a top score of 92, and best figures of 3/66 in what’s been a strong season so far.

Darcy Murphy (Wests)

Murphy played with Western Districts and University as he came up through the ranks before joining Western Suburbs.

Has fluctuated between first and second grade this season, averaging 35 with the bat and 32 with the ball.

WOMEN

Laura Scheiwe (UQ)

One of the most exciting young cricket prospects to come out of Warwick, Scheiwe made her first grade debut at 14 last season.

Laura has taken 16 wickets in 11 games this season, including incredible figures of 8/15 against South Brisbane.

Emma Jackson (UQ)

The Condamine strike weapon moved to Toowoomba to finish her schooling at Fairholme College.

Jackson has been opening the batting for the University of Queensland, averaging 17.80 with a top score of 69.

Ellie Johnston (Ipswich)

Growing up in Dalby, Johnston moved to Toowoomba where she studied at Downlands College.

Making her first class and WBBL debut this year, Johnston started the first grade season at Ipswich with scores of 64 and 47.

Ruth Johnston (Ipswich)

Like cousin Ellie, Ruth made the move from Dalby to Toowoomba, studying at Fairholme College.

A star of the Big Bash scene for Hobart, the all-rounder had a similar impact for Ipswich with an average of 25 with the bat and 24 with the ball.

Olivia Winter (Ipswich)

Coming up through the ranks of the Toowoomba Girls Hub, Winter was a standout as a junior player.

She’s been a regular for Ipswich through the first grade season, producing a top score of 24 and taking six wickets.

Olivia Bennett (Ipswich)

Another of the Downs contingent in Ipswich, the St Ursula’s College student has been strong in both indoor and outdoor forms of the game.

Bennett produced her best score of the season with a knock of 26 at the weekend against Gold Coast.

Jaimie-Lee Strang (Ipswich)

Taking big strides this season, Strang is making an impression at the Brisbane and representative level.

The wicketkeeper has taken seven catches and two stumpings this year, with a top score of 31 against UQ.

Lucy Bourke (Valley)

A Warwick talent that is making inroads for Valley, where she started playing first grade at a very young age.

Bourke is averaging 14 with the bat and a top score of 36, and took figures of 3/24 in her lone U19s fixture.

Ella Harvey (Valley)

One of the multiple talented young women taking strides in both forms of the game is the Glennie student.

Starting the year in first grade, a confidence boosting 69* in second grade has catapulted her back into form.

Georgia Voll (Sandgate-Redcliffe)

A genuine young star in the region, Voll is now in her second year of Big Bash at just 18 years old.

Voll averaged 23.75 with Sandgate-Redcliffe to start the season, with best bowling figures of 5/27.

Kyrna Crump (Wests)

The Centenary Heights State School player has been in electrifying form with the ball for Western Suburbs in the Jodie Fields Shield.

Has taken 12 wickets in her seven games this season at an average of 9.83.

Emily Clark (UQ)

A member of the star-studded Fairholme College team that took all before them at a senior school level.

Clark is now with the University of Queensland, where she has produced a top score of 21 this season.

Felicity Koch (Ipswich)

A talent on both the cricket and hockey pitch, Koch has been at the representative level in both sports.

A solid season with Ipswich has seen her take five wickets in six games as she continues to gain experience.

Tahlia Hess (Ipswich)

Another young gun in both hockey and cricket, Hess enjoyed a stint with the Western Power earlier this year.

Hess has produced a top score of 30 runs for Ipswich in limited opportunities in second grade.

Eloise McKenzie (Ipswich)

A further dual-code talent in cricket and hockey, McKenzie was part of the inaugural Darling Dingoes side.

Her best figures for Ipswich in second grade this season are 2/17 against South Brisbane.

Jasmine Lewis (Ipswich)

A Queensland indoor cricket representative, the St Ursula’s College student is proficient in both forms of the game.

Played mostly in second grade for Ipswich where she has a best score of 16*, but has also played in first grade.

Rachael Lewis (Ipswich)

Another Queensland indoor representative alongside sister Jasmine, Lewis is solidifying her spot in the top flight.

An all-round talent that is good in the field, Rachael has best figures of 2/14 for Ipswich against Sandgate-Redcliffe.

Carly Cooper (Ipswich)

The Warwick player had a leading hand for the Cowboys in the TRL, and is a former Queensland Country representative in cricket.

Had just the one outing for Ipswich in the Jodie Fields Shield, opening the batting and scoring 19.

Kira Holmes (Valley)

Growing up in Allora and playing in Warwick, playing against the boys wasn’t a worry for Kira Holmes.

Holmes is having a standout season with the bat for Valley, averaging 39.4 with a top score of 65.

Breanna Craven (UQ)

Craven has displayed talent with both the bat and ball, including a consistent BPL campaign with the Power.

Currently with Sandgate-Redcliffe, Craven has averaged 10.43 with the bat and taken three wickets in first grade.

Lucy Neumann (Ipswich)

Making her mark at the top flight while still at school, the Fairholme College student has represented Queensland at school level.

A regular in the Katherine Raymont Shield for Ipswich, she’s topscored with 38 against Sunshine Coast this year.

Bridget Peden (Ipswich)

First with Atherton, Peden moved to Toowoomba and rolled the arm over at Downlands College.

Peden is another regular in first grade, with a top score of 10* with the bat and averaging 23.8 with the ball.

Lilli Hamilton (Wests)

Experiencing a remarkable rise in the sport, Hamilton was part of the Swelter U13s squad just last year.

Currently averaging 15.80 with the ball in first grade, the young bowler already has best figures of 3/10 at a young age.

Olivia Clark (UQ)

Another member of last year’s Swelter U13s, Clark is aiming up to playing against older opponents.

Clark has taken seven wickets in five games for University of Queensland in the Jodie Fields Shield this season.

Peta Donovan (Ipswich)

A previous representative of Queensland in indoor cricket, Donovan is performing consistently in first grade for Ipswich.

Donovan has taken four wickets throughout the season.

Eloise Hauser (Ipswich)

Also proficient in the indoor scene, Hauser came through the Girls Hub and is currently with Ipswich, where she has played the one second grade game for the year.

Caitlin Lutvey (UQ)

Currently with Southern Districts, Lutvey created some history when playing with father Michael this year.

With University of Queensland she’s played four games of Jodie Fields Shield, with best figures of 2/23.

Hannah Tucker (UQ)

A Queensland representative in the indoor scene, The Glennie School student is comfortable outdoor as well.

A strong season in second grade for UQ sees her averaging 64 with the bat, with a best of 58*.

Lucy Williams (UQ)

Yet another of our local girls to have represented the Swelter U13s last season is the Mary McKillop Catholic College student.

Williams is firing for UQ in second grade currently, averaging 19.20 with the bat and 11 with the ball.

Lucinda Jensen (UQ)

The former Glennie School student was a star in both cricket and football growing up, but has found a calling with the University of Queensland. Averaging almost 28 runs in first grade with a best score of 76 in what’s been a very solid year.

Meg Mettam (Sandgate-Redcliffe)

The Goondiwindi all-rounder has played with experience beyond her years for Sandgate-Redcliffe. Averaging 20 with the bat for the season, along with seven wickets with the ball, as well as playing well for St Margaret’s Anglican.

Eliza Flynn (Gold Coast)

An all-rounder from Clifton, Flynn boasts an impressive resume that saw her named as Queensland’s country female player of the year in 2016-17.

For the Gold Coast this season she has a top score of 50 and has taken five wickets.

Honourable mentions to Jack Carty, Mark Steketee, Michael Dowe, Brendan Doggett, Layla Proctor and Tom Carty who have played over the past season.