October 2007 - Queensland Cricket

LEADING THE CHARGE — WITH GRAHAM DIXONFrom page 2got to work through themall and come up with theright answers.Obviously we want to beone of the two sides thatqualify. But what does thatmean to how we train nextwinter? What does thatmean to support staff andother resources we need?What does that mean tothe side’s preparation forthe Pura Cup season?There’s a million and oneextra things that need tobe done if you are one ofthe sides that progress.The ramifications start immediately.Are the twoweeks in January for theKFC Big Bash more importantnow than the rest ofthe season put together? Ifyou look at the projectedprizemoney, the states getnothing financial out ofwinning the Pura or theFord Ranger Cup – it usuallyjust increases yourloss.If you add up theprizemoney which the playersreceive for winning thePura and Ford RangerChris Simpson grabs a KFC Big Bash caught and bowled.Cups, it still falls short ofthem being the first teamknocked out in India in theinaugural ChampionsTwenty20.On those stats alone, therehas to be a strong emphasis.QC could receive $1mif the Queensland side wasto win the ChampionsTwenty20, meaning a lot ofmoney for the grass roots.Looking at the big picturefor the game of cricket,who knows where this concepttakes the game. Will ittake us into some of thebig nations like the UnitedStates and China with thissort of event? The threehourgame is quicker insome instances than baseball.I have no doubt therewill be issues that createconflict to do with the tournament- there’s talk alreadyabout a budget foran international player beingdifferent to what a domesticplayer receives.Due to the size of the TVrights for the final of thecompetition, the organizerswant the best playersavailable in the tournament.If the Matthew Haydensand Andrew Symonds’of world cricket are to participate,it means internationalcricket cannot beplayed at the same time.So there will probably be apush to have all countriesin the world not schedulingany international matchesfor say two weeks in Octoberso the focus can be onthe Champions Twenty20.The downside is how thissits with the ever increasingdemands on internationalplayers.It is all part of not overcookingthe golden goose.Everyone is saying that wedon’t want to overplayTwenty20 cricket. Hopefullythey won’t get sweptup in it - it’s going to takesome strong minds to notget carried away.There is plenty to thinkabout for our XXXX GOLDplayers and coaches as weenter the new season.Last year we addressed thefact that our one day gamehad fallen by the wayside alittle bit and came out ontop there.Now we are working onrectifying a trend that sawus dropping points at theGabba in Pura Cup games.We had a very good awayrecord but suddenly lostthe knack of performing onour home ground. That’s achallenge for all concerned.I know our coach TerryOliver has been working ona number of things to reversethat. The other issueis Twenty20 –we haven’tgot a fantastic recordthere. But it has beentreated as a form of entertainmentin the past and achance for the selectors toblood players. There will bea complete re-think on howwe go about that in the futurebecause of the emphasisthat has been putTwenty20.It will have a flow on effectabout how the coaches react,how the selectors reactwith the make up of teamsfor all forms of the game.Over the past 10-12 yearsour selectors have successfullyintroduced players toget ready for tomorrowthrough the Twenty20 andone-day competitions, buthow they do that now dueto the changed circumstancesand possibly thechanged program is a challenge.What I do know is that theBulls team that travels toTownsville on New Year’sEve for the opening KFCBig Bash match against theunbeaten Victorian Bushrangerswill be deadly serious.3

XXXX GOLD BULLS — SEASON PREVIEWCUTTING EDGE PREPARATION FOR NEW SEASON‘Prehabilitation’ of thebowling attack and astrong emphasis on mentaland physical preparationof the batsman hasbeen hallmarks of a comprehensivepre-seasonpreparation by the XXXXGOLD Bulls.Champions of the one-dayFord Ranger Cup competitionlast summer andequal third in the PuraCup, the Bulls have continuedto work at the cuttingedge to ensure theymaintain the lofty standardsthey have set in interstatecricket over thepast 13 years.The return of MichaelKasprowicz to a bowlingattack that will also featureAndy Bichel, AshleyNoffke, and leg-spinnerDan Doran, and at timesJames Hopes, Shane Watson,Mitchell Johnson, isthe equal of some TestMichael Kasprowicznations. The pace bowlersreceived expert tuitionthrough winter fromhighly respected formerquick Joe Dawes, who hastaken on the duties as fastbowling coach in additionto his player developmentmanager role.“We took a slightly differentapproach to the preseasonwith the bowling,”said Bulls head coachTerry Oliver. “Joe and thebowlers did a lot of workwith our strength andconditioning people, whichwe called ‘prehabilitation’.“Instead of worryingabout people when they’rebroken, we set them upnot to break. There was alot of medicine ball workwhere, for example, theybowled with one leg onthe ground. They also didtrampoline exercises, allof it aimed at makingthem stronger in the coreof their bodies.”The return of Kasprowicz,who is just 10 wicketsaway from becoming thefirst Queenslander to take500 first class scalps, willbe a substantial boost afterhe missed virtually allof last summer throughinjury. “He has been theconsummate professionalthroughout the preseason,”Oliver said.“We’ve had weekly teammeetings and he has beena driving force there, hehas mentored our youngerplayers, and he hasbrought things to me thatI probably needed to beaware of. Amongst all thathe’s managed to promotehis professional and familylife, and execute his ownreturn to bowling.”Kasprowicz has bowled inUniversity’s promotionalmatch in Townsville lastmonth, in the two SuncorpCountry Challengegames in Mt Isa, and inGrade cricket.“He had a few setbacks inthe pre-season, but rightnow he is bowling bouncyoutswingers,” Oliver said.“Just having him there isgoing to help us, not tomention the mentoringfactor within the group.”The bowlers did their jobQUEENSLAND CRICKET - MAJOR CORPORATE PARTNERSlast season and the battingwas sound in the onedaycompetition, but disappointingin the four-dayversion of the game.Oliver noted some improvementin the techniquework of the battinggroup through winter,which was built on theback of taking them out oftheir comfort zone. Somenet sessions began withthe fast bowling hurlinggrenades from a third ofthe way down the pitch,with the batsmen facingup to balls whizzingaround the ears withouttime to get their eye in.Other weeks involved thebatsmen using half-batsand facing fast outswing,while bowling machineswere set up other weeksto bowl spin only, with thebatsmen told that theymust use their feet toContinued page 54

From page 4every delivery. “We firmlybelieve they’ve all improvedtheir skill,” Oliversaid.Bulls squad membershave posted some bigscores in both club cricketand the recent QAS SecondXI match, althoughOliver will let time be thejudge of just how successfulthe off-season battingprogram has been.“Two weeks of gradecricket doesn’t constitutea thesis,” he said. “Thereare some healthy signs,but lets’ not judge it untilwe’ve seen it over alonger period of time.XXXX GOLD FORD BULLS RANGER — SEASON CUP TRIUMPH PREVIEW (continued)“People say cricket is 90%mental and 10% physical,so that’s the 10% thatwe’ve taken care of - whatwill make the big differenceis how we make thatconvert into building inningsand choosing whichballs to hit and which toleave, the tactics of theopposition and all thosethings.”Addressing the mental aspects,Oliver and his staffheld batting forums to dissectgames at the Gabbaover the last two years.“We had a look at howpeople got out, how peoplescored their runs, andpulled up the best threeinnings’ that we’ve seenat the Gabba in the lastfew years,” he said. “Wehad a look at the wagonwheels where the scoringzones were. We wentthrough it with a finetooth comb so that theplayers actually got agood idea of which shotsare out and which is thebest way to play there. Itwas all about mentaltraining and about education.”The Bulls batsmenalso had a forum lookingShane Watsonat the other venuesaround Australia. “We didhave a focus on Hobart inparticular because wehaven’t performed verywell there in the last coupleof years. We came upwith some good things,”Oliver said.Oliver praised skipperJimmy Maher’s decision todrop down the batting orderto No.4 in the PuraCup, making way forShane Watson to press hischances for a Test openingberth, while at thesame time allowing fornew blood at the top ofthe order.“I can’t speak highlyenough of Jimmy,” Oliversaid. Maher’s only requestwas that he not bechopped and changed betweenNo.4 and opener,depending on Watson’savailability.“When Watto’s not opening,we’ll blood a youngbloke - it opens the doorfor a young bloke at thetop of the order and we’vegot a few names there,”Oliver said.The Bulls open their oneand four-day campaignsagainst Tasmania at theGabba on Wednesday andFriday respectively. Therecent announcement ofthe international Twenty20for State teams inIndia next year has notaltered the Bulls focus forthe time being.“We were going to takethe KFC Big Bash seriouslyanyway,” said Oliver,whose Bulls won the firsttwo games before droppingtheir last two in lastsummer’s competition.“In early December we’llinvite club performers inTwenty20 to start trainingwith us. Then we’ll pickour squad and start traininga bit more specificallyfor it. It has provided a lotof interest and talk amongthe blokes, but it hasn’tchanged the way we trainyet,” he said. “We’re along way away and if westart looking at Twenty20now we’re taking our eyeoff the ball of the othercompetitions.”5

XXXX GOLD BULLSSKIPPER MOVES TO THE MIDDLE ORDERJimmy Maher has alwaysbeen a man on the move,and season 2007-08 is nodifferent.Maher not only announcedhis intention to step downfrom the captaincy of theXXXX GOLD Bulls at theend of the summer recentlyas part of a successionplan, but will alsoforgo his regular openingrole in the Pura Cup thisseason.The 33-year-old announcedtoday that hewould bat at No.4, allowingShane Watson thechance to push for a Testopening berth and give anumber of talentedyoungsters the opportunityto bat at the top ofthe order.“There’s a tremendous opportunityfor Shane Watsonto push his cause fora Test spot and a lot ofyounger top order playerswho would be betterserved by having a chancethere,” Maher said.Both the captaincy decisionand the one to batdown the order was madewith the development ofyoung players to the foreof his thinking.“When Martin Love and Icame into the team, wecame into a settled side,we knew where we werebatting, and were given agood run at it,” he said.“We can still be aroundthe younger blokes to answerany questions thatthey have.”Jimmy MaherMaher added that he hadenjoyed every minute ofthe captaincy since takingover from Stuart Law atthe end of 2001-02.“Even the tough dayshave been outweighed bythe feelings I’ve experiencedwhen the boys havegone well,’’ he said.Maher said he had madethe decision public in orderfor the team to managethe transition periodacross the season.“I don’t want this to be adistraction across the seasonand it is best for theteam if we focus on thetask at hand. We’ve got ajob to do in the threecompetitions and the selectorsand Board willmake the decision on whotakes on the role once Istep down.”Queensland Cricket ChairmanDamien Mullins SCpaid tribute to Maher’sability to lead by exampleon the field.“He has been a tremendouswarrior for Queenslandand a terrific leaderby example,’’ he said.“You only have to look athis efforts in the last twofinals where he was manof the match to see that.”The much-decoratedMaher received anotherspecial presentation fromQueensland Cricket todayto mark his record-settingachievement last summerto become the first Bullsplayer to notch 100 fourdayand one-day matches.He received the first ever200 Club Medallion, agold-plated symbol of hiscommitment to the stateover such a long period.“This is something veryspecial to me,” saidMaher, who joins MichaelDi Venuto and Greg Blewettas the only otherAustralian players toachieve the 100 gamedouble.Maher still has plans toplay plenty more cricketfor the Bulls. “I’m lookingforward to doing it forsometime yet,” he said.His last campaign as skipperbegins on Wednesdayand Friday with FordRanger and Pura Cup seasonopeners against Tasmania.“We’ve got some work todo because they havestitched us up the lastcouple of years,” he said.6

FORD RANGER BULLS IN CUP FOCUS TRIUMPHINDIAN EXPERIENCE FOR BULLS PACE DUO9Promising fast bowlersGrant Sullivan andMitchell Johnson finetunedfor the comingseason by spending aweek with the greatDennis Lillee in India recently.Sullivan and Johnsontravelled to Chennai withAustralian fast bowlingcoach Troy Cooley andnational strength andconditioning coach JustinCordy to learn as muchas they could from theold master.Johnson remains on thecusp of a Test debut afterhaving been 12 thman for Australiathrough last summer’sfive match Ashes series,while Sullivan was partof the XXXX GOLD Bullspace attack that flattenedVictoria in the finalPura Cup match of lastseason.“We went over to dosome one-on-one workin the different conditions,”23-year-old Sullivansaid. “We joinedin with the MRF(Madras Rubber Factory)Academy blokesand Dennis.“He certainly knows hisstuff when talkingabout fast bowling. Heand Troy are prettygood mates andbounce ideas off eachother, and it’s verygood to listen to.”While Johnson has rapidlybeen gaining experienceon a variety ofpitches courtesy of toursto New Zealand, India,Malaysia, the West Indiesand now South Africawith the nationalone-day side, Chennaiwas a whole new worldfor former Mackay juniorSullivan.“It was very hot and humid- it was probably 37Grant Sullivandegrees and 85 percenthumidity when we werethere,” he said.The traditionally flat,spin-friendly Indianwickets also providedhim with some valuablelessons.“You have got to havevariation. You’ve got tobe able to bowl an offcutter and leg cutterand be able to hit thedeck pretty hard –that’s the majorthing,” he said.Sullivan made hisBulls debut in the secondweek of last seasonwhen he playedFord Ranger and thenPura Cup matchesagainst New SouthWales at the Gabba.Stress fractures in theleg slowed his progress,but he returnedto play the last twoPura Cup games, grabbinga career best 3-40in the second innings ofthe final match againstthe Bushrangers.He admitted it was a significantgame for him.“I took a lot of momentum,a lot of confidenceout of it, knowing thatyou can mix it with thebig boys,” Sullivan said.Interestingly, he hastaken at least one wicketin all six innings in whichhe has bowled at firstclass level.While Johnson has spentmuch of the year learningoff his experiencedteammates in the Australianone-day squad,Sullivan has toiled at theCA Centre of Excellence.He missed the AIS tourof India as a precautionwhen he felt some discomfortin his leg, but isnow raring to go for the2007-08 season.With Michael Kasprowiczreturning from injury,the Bulls look to beblessed with talent in thepaceman stocks, withAndy Bichel, player ofthe year Ashley Noffke,and Sullivan all raring tobe unleashed on the opposition

STATE INSTITUTE CHALLENGEQAS BOWLERS UNBEATABLE IN DARWINQAS RESULTSThe superb efforts of theQueensland Academy ofSport’s bowling attackhelped the developmentsquad to win the annualState Institute Challengein Darwin at the end ofAugust.Queensland won all fourgames of their games inthe seven-team competitionto top the table, finishingone point ahead ofNSW, courtesy of a double-bonuspoint win intheir final match againstthe Bangladesh Academy.“They bowled very well.They really surprised,”said QAS head coachTrevor Barsby.He paid tribute to thework done by player developmentmanager JoeDawes, fellow QAS coachVic Williams and Bulls assistantcoach Justin Sterneswith the squad membersthrough winter.“Before we went away weworked on revampingseveral players’ run-ups,and all the pre-seasonwork they did on theirbowling actions workedbeautifully,” Barsby said.Medium-fast swing bowlerWorrin Williams (picturedabove), rehabilitatingpaceman Matt Turich,Sunshine Coast quickBayden Matheson, leftarmspinner Andrew Martel,and medium pace allrounderShaun Austinwere lethal, while legspinnerDan Doran alsodid his bit.Peter Burge Medal runner-upWilliams soundedan ominous warning with10 wickets at 6.6 apiece,while Turich took eightwickets at 10.5 and Austineight at 8.8. Austinalso scored 102 runs at51.5.“The conditions did helpthem a little bit and thewickets were a little bithard to score on, but ourbowlers were what wonus the comp. They had todefend some low totals,”Barsby said.“Young Martel bowled welland Shaun Austin wasplayer of the carnival withthe bat and ball for us.“Dan Doran didn’t get thewickets but he was workingon the techniquethings he’d been doingwith (coach) Trent Ryan.It was like a mini exam tosee how he was travelingand where he was at. Histechnique looked good.”10Most batsmen contributedat least one handy scoreduring the tournament,although it was theinnings of last year’s Australianunder 19 teammatesAustin and DomO’Brien against Tasmaniathat excited Barsby.“There were some goodsigns against Tassie whenwe chased down 170 –the two young fellas Austinand O’Brien got ushome. They showed whatthey are capable of andnow they’ve got to getthe maturity to producethat on a consistent basis,”he said.While player developmentis the highest priority forthe QAS squad, Barsbywas nonetheless pleasedto win the Institute series.“We make sure we playthe way we would beplaying if we had a Bullscap on,” Barsby said.“Realistically some ofthese guys are only an injuryaway from playing(first class cricket), so weneed that maturity whenthey play at CA Cup orthe Institute Challenge.”Game 1: QAS 8-142(Austin 34, Kruger 33,Doran 32) d NT 8-134(Williams 4-22, Turich 2-13, Austin 2-21)Game 2: QAS 9-154(Austin 40, Reardon 29, Michael23) d ACT 143(Austin 3-10, Martel 3-18)Game 3: QAS 4-171(Reardon 48, O’Brien 35no,Austin 28no) d Tasmania170 (Williams 5-20, Turich3-32, Martel 2-28)Game 4: QAS 2-82(Michael 28, Reardon 25,Kruger 21) d Bangladesh81 (Austin 3-12, Matheson2-15, Turich 2-21)POINTS TABLEQld Academy of Sport 17New South Wales 16Western Australia 9Bangladesh 9Aust Capital Territory 5Tasmania 5Northern Territory 0

THE KEEPERS’ BARQUEENSLAND ‘KEEPERS HONOURED11Queensland Cricket has honoured its long line of magnificentglovemen and women with the naming of The Keepers’Bar in the picturesque Pavilion building at Allan BorderField. Portraits of the wicket-keepers hang proudly in TheKeepers’ Bar, which will be open to the public on big cricketdays at the ground. It will also provide a classy backdrop forpre-dinner drinks for wedding and conference guests whobook a Pavilion function.Queensland’s wonderful tradition of wicket-keepers beganwith William Bradley, who captained the State and keptwickets in the first official first-class match against NSW atthe Brisbane Exhibition Ground on 1 April 1893. It thrivedthrough Leo O’Connor, who was ‘keeper in the first SheffieldShield match against NSW at the Exhibition Ground on 26November 1926. And it accelerated via Test glovemen WallyGrout, Don Tallon, John Maclean and Ian Healy.Queensland has a fine traditionof wicket-keepers.Not only have Queenslandgloveman excelled on theworld stage, a successionof keepers have been inthe top echelon in the nation’sinterstate competitionsover the decades.From the moment Queenslandwas belatedly admittedto the Sheffield Shieldcompetition in 1926-27,the State’s keepers haveheld pre-eminence in Australiancricket. Queensland’sfirst Shield keeperwas also its captain, LeoPatrick Devereaux O’Connor.Born and raised in Victoria,he moved to Queenslandthrough a transfer inthe bank and scored 196 inthe second innings chasinga victory targetof 400 againstNSW in theState’s firstShield match.He scored centuriesin bothIan Healyinnings of the return matchto secure a stunning victorya fortnight later.O’Connor played 45 timesfor Queensland, making103 dismissals and averaging40 with the bat. Despitehis brilliant form, at36 he was considered tooold to play for Australia.There was also resistanceto Queensland’s next greatkeeper Don Tallon wearingthe baggy green, at leastinitially. Born and raised inBundaberg, Tallon wastaught at North BundabergState School by formerQueensland keeper TomO’Shea and learnt well,earning Queensland selectionin 1933-34 aged 17.Don TallonTallon showed great qualitiesfrom the outset andthere was outrage in thenorth when he was overlookedfor selection on the1938 tour of England, withNSW stalwart Bert Oldfieldhaving retired. Don Bradmanhad lobbied the selectionpanel for Tallon, butwas overruled by the Victorian-NSWclique.Ironically, dropped catchesby the keeper in the fifthTest cost Australia a serieswin. But World War II costTallon a lot more – sixyears of his cricketing life.Alert, agile and surehanded,he eventually debutedat age 30 and played21 Tests over eight years,including the Invinciblestour of England in 1946.Julia PriceFast bowling greats RayLindwall and Keith Millerboth rated Tallon as thebest keeper they ever saw.Tallon started a great traditionby the men in marooncaps. Three of the fivelongest serving wicketkeepersin Australian Testcricket history post-warwere Queenslanders. Tallon,Wally Grout and IanHealy are all acknowledgedas cricket greats.Despite retiring more than40 years ago, Grout stillsits fourth on the alltimelist of dismissals by anAustralian keeper with 187catches and stumpings.Continued page 12

12THE KEEPERS’ BARFrom page 11Mobile, sometimes acrobatic,and a perceptivejudge of batsmen's weaknesses,Grout claimed a recordsix catches in an inningson Test debut, and inFebruary 1960 scooped afirst-class record eight inan innings for Queenslandagainst Western Australia.Australia did not lose a seriesduring his tenure from1957-66, and shrewd judgeand captain Bob Simpsonsaid Grout was the bestkeeper he ever saw.In the modern era, IanHealy went on to becomethe greatest of all. Untiljust last weekend he heldthe world record of 395Test dismissals and waschosen in the AustralianTeam of the 20 th Century.Wade SeccombeSo infectious was Healy’senthusiasm at all levels ofcricket that he had theBulls Player of the Awardnamed after him for hisenormous contribution towardsQueensland becomingthe most professionalstate in Australian cricket.While born in Brisbane,Healy was raised in regionalQueensland and thatearthy country toughnessis something has been synonymouswith the State’skeepers for generations.Healy broke all his fingers,yet he only ever missedone Test in his record 119match career.The good natured Grouthad a weak heart and ignoreddoctors warnings tostop playing until he was39. He tragically passedaway from a heart attackjust two years later.Tallon never let the adversityof rejection or war stophim from becoming one ofthe greats—a Queenslandgrit filtered down to thenext level of keepers.John Maclean was theState’s fourth post warkeeper to play for Australian,sitting in the wings ofKatherine RaymontRod Marsh for most of hiscareer. Maclean was astaunch servant of Queenslandcricket, leading theside with distinction formuch of the 1970s andtaking the most number offirst class dismissals forQueensland – 346 - untilbeing passed decades laterby Wade Seccombe.Seccombe holds the recordfor most dismissals in aseason – 67 in 1999-2000 – bearing in mindthey now play 10 matchesinstead of five or eight aswas the case decades ago.Seccombe’s 488 SheffieldShield/Pura Cup career dismissalsare a Queenslandrecord and sit second onthe national all-time listbehind Victoria’s DarrenBerry (546). In anotherera, Seccombe, too, couldhave done the national jobmore than proud. Seccombeand Tallon wereprolific behind the stumps -they claimed six dismissalsor more in an innings onfive separate occasions,easily a Queensland record.Tallon holds the record formost dismissals in amatch – a remarkable 12against NSW at the SCG in1938-39.The great State players likeSeccombe, Peter Andersonand Ray Phillips, fifth onthe all-time dismissals listwith 253, also kept oursome remarkably talentedgrade players out of longtimeState honours. Menlike Peter Drinnen andGavin Fitness were wonderfulglovemen who couldalso have worn the baggymaroon on many more occasionsthat what they did.The heat is intense as everfor a berth in the XXXXGOLD Bulls team of today,with Chris Hartley maintainingthe incredibly highstandards set by his predecessors.Our women’s cricketershave also possessed somewonderful wicket-keepersover the years.Katherine Raymont, a tirelessworker for women’scricket as a player and administrator,played threeTests for Australia and wasan integral part of theQueensland team for 13seasons.Julia Price was a memberof the national team for adecade and still holds therecord for the most dismissalsby any player inthe Women’s NationalCricket League, despiteplaying solely as a specialistbatter for the past twoseasons. She also sits inthe WNCL alltime top 10for appearances and runsscored. Now enthusiasticyoungster Jodie Purves istaking all before her atstate and internationallevel.Chris Hartley

SUNCORP REGIONAL TOURBulls players Chris Hartley, Clinton Perren and Ryan Broad left a huge impressionon four Wide Bay communities recently as part of the 2007 SuncorpRegional Tour. The trio visited a string of schools and community events inMaryborough, Hervey Bay, Bundaberg and Gayndah, leaving a trail of happy,budding young cricketers in their wake.The Suncorp Regional Tour is one of Queensland Cricket’s great grass rootsinitiatives. Wide Bay regional cricket manger Andy Richards said the opportunityfor youngsters in country areas to meet the Bulls players allowed them tosee what they could achieve themselves.“The guys would be idols for most of the kids and if they weren’t before handthey, are now,” Richards said. Perren said being part of the regional tour wasspecial because it helped the players keep in touch with the game at the grassroots level. “Just to see how genuinely happy the kids were to see us wasreally rewarding,” Perren said.Ryan Broad ate on therun (above), Clinton Perrensigned away (below)and Chris Hartley foundthe tour most appealing(top right).This is the eighth year that Suncorp has provided their much valued sponsorshipto the tour, and Hartley, Perren and Broad attended a special lunch at theSuncorp Bundaberg branch for staff and clients as a means of thanks.The players also attended sportsman’s nights in Hervey Bay and Bundaberg,which raised much needed funds for the local cricket associations.13

TORRES STRAIT TOURGROWING THE GAME IN REMOTE COMMUNITIES14Saibai is one of thenorthernmost islands inthe Torres Strait, sittingjust 6km off the coast ofPapua New Guinea. Oneday, Saibai Island mightjust have its own cricketteam.That is the dream ofQueensland Cricket,which continues to fosterthe game throughout theTorres Strait, introducingthe game to schoolchildrenand encouragingsenior cricketers.QC development managersBarry Weare andAndy Richards spent twoweeks touring the top ofCape York and the TorresStrait in August,dropping in on nine differentcommunities topromote the game.It is one part of theEddie Gilbert Program,which is aimed at fosteringIndigenous players.“We’re trying to developcricket first and foremost,”said Weare, pcituredabove with Saibaistudents. “It’s participationfirst in the TorresStrait – it’s more so onthe mainland like atBamaga where we arelooking for players whowe can pick in ouremerging playerssquad.”Weare has been visitingthe larger Thursday andBadu Islands from thepast five years on an annualbasis, but spreadhis wings to the outerTorres Strait due largelyto a Cricket Australia initiative.“They had the‘Biggest Game of Cricket’promotion earlier thisyear where all schools,clubs and communitieswere encouraged tohave a game of cricketon the same day. A coupleof schools applied, sowe rewarded them bygoing out there,” Wearesaid.“Since they put theirhand up to do a cricketprogram, we said ‘we’llcome and see you’.”Weare added the ironywas that several of theouter islands play morecricket than the largecentres, where the focusremains because of thebigger population bases.“The QC duo mostly ranclinics and played gamesat schools at each oftheir stops, wanting thechildren to embrace thegame first and have a bitof fun. We’re developinginterest before we startcompetitions,” Wearesaid.Badu and Mabuiag playan annual game, andThursday Island hoststhe odd game betweenlocal police officers,teachers and an islandteam, but a lack ofpitches and propercricket facilities makes itdifficult for regular competitionto take place.“When we go to Badu,it’s more trying to doskills, particularly withthe adults, because theyhave the game with Mabuiag,”Weare said.“We would like to have acomp up in the TorresStrait like they rugbyleague. That’s their mainsport. They have interislandgames and bigcarnivals.“I don’t think we’re faroff that, but in sayingthat, we need a facility –that’s our biggest push –and somebody driving it.If we can get a facilitythat’s quite central, everybodywill be keen.”Weare is currently writinga submission to thegovernment about thefacilities issue.In the meantime, theschools and communitiesat Horn Island, ThursdayIsland, Bamaga, YorkeIsland, Coconut Island,Saibai Island, Dauan Island,Badu Island andMabuiag Island will keeppracticing with thecricket gear and skills inheritedfrom the latestvisit.More pictures, page 15

TORRES STRAIT TOUR 15Barry Weare (centre) introduces Thursday Islandkids to a new form of cricket.Students play a game atThursday Island State SchoolThe tranquil shores of Thursday Island look outover to nearby Prince of Wales Island.Students from Yorke Island State School enjoy a form ofcricket amid their tropical surrounds.Boat is the main way of travel betweenthe islands, as the sun sets on anotherperfect Torres Strait day.The staff and students at BaduIsland like their cricket.

16THE GABBA TESTAUSTRALIA HAS HISTORY ON SIDEQueenslanders Matt Haydenand MichaelKasprowicz played starringroles the last time SriLanka visited Australianshores for a Test series.It was July 2004 and Australiahad destroyed thevisitors 3-0 in Sri Lankaonly four months earlier.The two-Test Sri Lankantour was played in thenorthern centres of Darwinand Cairns, and thevisitors were without theirtop wicket-taker MuttiahMuralitharan.Nonetheless, the SriLankans sent a scarethrough the camp bybowling out Australia for207 on the opening day inDarwin, with ChamindaVaas the wrecker with 5-31. Retribution was swiftas Glenn McGrath took 5-37 as the visitors werebundled out for just 97.A cautious 80 run out byAdam Gilchrist and DarrenLehmann’ssecondhalfcenturyof thematchsawAustraliascrapetogether201 inthe secondinnings,LasithMalingataking4-42.ThelionheartedKasprowiczstepped up to cut aswathe through the SriLankans in the second innings,taking 7-39 as thevisitors were bowled outfor 162.Hayden then scored doublecenturies in both inningsof the second Testin Cairns, a doublecenturyopeningstandwithJustinLanger inthe firstinningshelpingset up a62-runlead, withMarvanAtapattuhitting133 inreply.Australiaset SriLanka355 towin, but the match wascut short with the visitorsin deep trouble at 8-183.Michael Kasprowicz celebrates one ofhis seven wickets in the first Test ofthe last Sri Lankan tour to Australia.The presence of Muralitharanand the emergenceof skipper MahelaJayawardena and KumarSangakkara as batsmenof immense class makesfor a fascinating re-matchin 2007, especially withAustralia havingto find replacementsforMcGrath, Langerand Shane Warne.Be there for thedawning of thenew era in Australiancricket whenthe first 3 Testagainst Sri Lankatakes place at theGabba fromThursday 8 Novemberto Monday12 November.Tickets pricesstart at $25 foradults and $8 forchildren, and canbe purchasedfrom Ticketmasteron 1300 136 122or on-line at ticketmaster.com.auDINE WITH GREATSThere is always abuzz in the citywhen the Testmatch comes totown, and alongwith it comesthree of the bestsporting functionsyou could wish toattend.The traditional 3Test Match Luncheontakes place inthe grand ballroomof theSofitel Hotel onMonday 5 Novemberand alwaysfeatures some ofcricket’s greats asguest speakers.Several membersof the competingAustralian and SriLankan teams willalso be guests.There will also beentertainingbreakfasts on theopening two days,with colourful formerexpress pacebowler RodneyHogg among theguests on Thursday8 Novemberand the alwaysengaging IanHealy at the Friday9 Novemberbreakfast.Call Lauren atQueenslandCricket on 32923119 to reserveyour place.

WORLD CRICKET AWARDSHAYDEN’S ONE-DAY STOCKS CONTINUE TO SOARMatthew Hayden’s gritand determination, alongwith his sheer class, resultedin the big Queenslanderwinning the ICC’sOne Day Player of theYear award last month.Hayden refused to giveup on reclaiming his placein the national one dayside, despite 14 monthsin the wilderness, andwhen he was given achance again there wasno stopping him.In the voting period fromearly August 2006 to2007, he scored the mostruns of any player in internationalcricket.He also topped the averageswith his 1368 runsat 62.16 in 26 matches.Hayden scored five centuriesthrough his goldenrun, with a top score of181 not out in New Zealand,and enjoyed a strikerate of 87.69 runs perover. The award crowneda memorable seasonand was justreward for theenormous amountof hard work thathe put in to regaininghis one dayplace.It culminated inHayden playing alead role in Australiasnaring the 50-over World Cup inthe Caribbean inApril, where he becamejust the secondman in historyto accumulatemore than 600runs at the prestigetournament."It was a greathonour to receivethe award – it wasnot so long ago that myplace in the side was farfrom certain,” Haydensaid.In his acceptance speech,he also paid tribute toopening partner AdamGilchrist, with whom hehas formed one of themost damaging openingcombinations in the historyof one day cricket.“Batting with Adam Gilchristis always fun. Isuppose the stylewe adopt could beregarded as riskyand it's definitelysomething we havetalked about,” hesaid."For us it's notabout fifties andhundreds. Forteams like Australia,scoring rates aremore important andgetting the team offto a good start sothat the guys comingin can make themost of it."The awards reflectedAustralia’sdominance of bothforms of the gamein 2006-07, withskipper Ricky Pontingwinning the ICCPlayer of the Year awardfor the second straightseason, and Captain ofthe Year.Hayden and Ponting wereincluded in both the ICCTest and One Day Teamof the Year, with teammatesMike Hussey andStuart Clark making itfour Australians in theTest team.Hussey was made 12 thman in the one-day side,with the retired GlennMcGrath claiming one fastbowler’s spot.Paceman Shaun Tait, whowas the third leadingwicket-taker in the WorldCup, won the EmergingPlayer of the Year award.Popular umpire SimonTaufel was named theworld’s best in his fieldfor the fourth consecutiveyear.Pakistani MohammadYousuf’s record aggregateyear earned him the TestPlayer of the Year award,while India JhulanGoswami was namedWomen’s Player of theYear.

ICC TWENTY20 WORLD CUP18RAZZLE-DAZZLE MAKES AN IMPACTMatthew Hayden confirmedhis status as one of thegenuine superstars of worldcricket with another blazingperformance at the ICCTwenty20 World Cup inSouth Africa last month.Fresh from being anointedthe ODI Player of the Yearat a ceremony before thetournament, Hayden(pictured) set about blastingfour half centuries in six inningsto be the leading runscorerin the tournamentfrom all nations.It replicated his performancein the Caribbean justfive months earlier, whereMOST WICKETSUmar Gul (Pak) 13 at 11.92Stuart Clark (Aus) 12 at 12.00RP Singh (Ind) 12 at 12.66Shahid Afridi (Pak) 12 at 15.66Daniel Vettori (NZ) 11 at 11.63he was easily the leadingrungetter in the 50-overWorld Cup.Hayden’s form was notenough to get Australia inthe final, the Aussies crashingin the semi-finals toeventual champions India.Both acting captain AdamGilchrist and new coach TimNielsen openly admitted theteam’s preparation had notbeen the best for the tournamentcoming off a longbreak.One of the downsides to thefortnight long ‘carnival’,which earned rave reviewsfrom much of the world’scricket press, was a numberof hamstring injuries to Australianplayers.Shane Watson broke downin his first game back fromongoing hamstring problems,while skipper RickyPonting was also lost midwaythrough the tournament.Middle order batsman MikeHussey tore his hamstringand Brad Hodge had to becarefully nursed through thefinal games with his legmuscle also threatening tostrain or tear.The good news story, especiallyfor Queenslanders,was the form of left armpaceman Mitchell Johnson.Johnson took eight wicketsat 19.12 and his economyrate was 6.37, which puthim in the top 10 in eachcategory.Having toured the Caribbeanbut not played in a singlegame during the 50-overWorld Cup, it was an impressiveeffort by a manwho has been waiting in thewings for some time.Gilchrist made special noteof Johnson at the end of theSouth African tour, beforeBEST ECONOMY RATE(Runs per over)Daniel Vettori (NZ) 5.33Chaminda Vaas (SriL) 5.55Umar Gul (Pak) 5.60Stuart Clark (Aus) 6.00Morne Morkel (SAf) 6.00the squad headed to Indiafor a seven-match one-dayseries."I really like the way the ballis coming out for him at themoment," Gilchrist said."Our bowlers were prettyspot-on every game."Queensland’s other nationalrepresentative, Andrew Symonds,faced just 71 ballsfor the tournament due tothe success of Hayden andAdam Gilchrist at the top ofthe order. Symonds contributeda useful 107 runs at35.66 at a strike rate of150.70.Continued page 19

From Page 18Despite missing the enormoustalents of battinggreats Sachin Tendulkar,Sourav Ganguly and RahulDravid – plus the world’sleading Test wicket-takerthis year Zaheer Khan – Indiatriumphed over Pakistanin a thrilling final before acapacity crowd at WanderersStadium.India made 5-157 off their20 overs with GautamGhambir blasting 75 off 54balls with eight fours andtwo sixes. Umar Gul’s 3-28was in vain as his batsmenfell five runs short for 152.Top scorer Misbah-ul-Haqwas the last man out for 43with three balls remaining,sparking wild celebrationsfrom the large Indian portionof the crowd in theMOST RUNSMatthew Hayden (Aust) 266 at 88.33Gautam Ghambir (India) 227 at 37.83Misbah-ul-Haq (Pak) 218 at 54.50Shoaib Malik (Pak) 195 at 39.00ground and across theircountry at home.Irfan Pathan was namedMan of the Match for his 3-16 with the ball off fourovers.With three matches playedon most days and the tournamentover inless than twoweeks, critics ofthe 50-overWorld Cup complimentedtheICC for learningfrom their mistakeswith theTwenty20 version.Ticket pricesICC TWENTY20 WORLD CUPwere also kept to an affordableminimum, and the emphasiswith security firmswas on friendliness, makingfor an enjoyable tournamentfor all involved.ICC chief executive MalcolmSpeed was delighted withthe outcome, but said thegame’s governingbodywould notoverreact tothe newcraze.He said theplaying ofinternationalTwenty20matcheswould belimited to seven per yearper Test-playing nation."What we have now is a newphenomenon to go alongwith 50-over cricket,” Speedsaid. “We need to make surewe blend the two and thepie gets bigger rather than itremaining the same size,but is divided among thethree forms of the game.“Our priority will be to preserveTest cricket. We needto make sure that Testcricket remains strong andthat is the iconic form of thegame. And 50-over cricket isthe financial driver of thegame."It's one of the challengeswe face to make sure thethree forms of the game remainvibrant. It's a terrificproblem."BEST STRIKE RATE (min 4 games)Shahid Afridi (Pak) 91 runs at 197.82Yuvraj Singh (Ind) 148 runs at 194.73Mohammad Ashraful (Bang) 87 runs at 181.25Craig McMillan (NZ) 163 runs at 181.1119AUSTRALIA’SRESULTSQualifyingZimbabwe 5-139 (Taylor 60*,Masakadza 27; Clark 2-22,Bracken 1-25) d Australia 9-138 (Hodge 35*, Symonds 33;Chigumbura 3-20, Brent 2-19)Australia 2-136 (Hayden 67*,Gilchrist 45; Flintoff 1-25,Schofield 1-31) d England 135(Flintoff 31, Pietersen 21;Bracken 3-16, Johnson 3-22)Super EightsAustralia 1-124 (Hayden 73*,Gilchrist 43; Al Hasan 0-15,Kapali 0-23) d Bangladesh 8-123 (Iqbal 32, Ahmed 31; Lee3-27, Bracken 2-14)Pakistan 4-165 (ul-Haq 66*,Malik 52*; Clark 3-27, Johnson1-28) d Australia 7-164(Hussey 37, Hodge 36; Tanvir3-31, Hafeez 1-31)Australia 0-102 (Hayden 58*,Gilchrist 31*; Fernando 0-12,Dilshan 0-13) d Sri Lanka 101(Mubarak 28, Sangakkara 22;Clark 4-20, Bracken 2-14)Semi FinalIndia 5-188 (Singh 70, Dhoni36; Johnson 2-13, Clarke 1-13)d Australia 7-173 (Hayden 62,Symonds 43; Sreesanth 2-12,Sharma 2-37)

Redlands all-rounderRyan Le Loux made themost stunning start possibleto the XXXX GOLDGrade cricket season withan alltime record scorelast Saturday week.Le Loux bludgeoned 302out of his team’s total of466 in a huge win overBeenleigh-Logan at PeterBurge Oval.The 23-year-old becamejust the second man inthe 110-year history ofthe State’s First Gradecompetition to score a triplecentury, and overhauledSandgate-Redcliffe’s Matthew Goggin,who held the recordwith 300 not out in the2002-03 season.“It was one of those dayswhere everything goesyour way,” Le Loux saidnonchalantly. “It wasprobably a once in a lifetimething. It was a goodday, I enjoyed it.”Le Loux was dropped on40, but didn’t give anotherchance until he was300. “I made them pay abit, so it was good,” hesaid in something of anunderstatement.GRADE CRICKETRED-HOT LE LOUX MAKES HISTORYRyan Le Loux (inset), and batting for the QAS Second XI lastweek against Tasmania at Allan Border Field.Le Loux opened the inningson the first weekendwhen Redlands wentto stumps at a precarious2-22, chasing Beenleigh-Logan’s 265. He waseight not out. He graduallybuilt momentumthrough his innings thefollowing week, not hittinga six until he hadreached 120. By 220 hewas in full flight andbelted another sevensixes between there andhis triple century.“It came pretty quickfrom there to get to the300,” he quipped.The magic milestonecame with a deft flick offhis toes for two. “I nearlyran to the boundary withmy celebration,” he admitted.Le Loux’s highest score inGrade cricket last seasonwas 96, and his best everscore came in a one-dayagainst Toombul last yearwhen he cracked 132.Le Loux became the firstleg-spinner in 12 years tobe chosen for the XXXXGOLD Queensland Bullswhen he made his Statedebut in 2004-05, butbowled just the one overagainst Tasmania. Hemanaged one more firstclass game the followingsummer against the WestIndies, but was supplantedin the team byDaniel Doran.Bowling remains his firstlove, although he hasworked diligently on hisbatting over the past sixmonths during a stint inHolland and on his return.302: Ryan Le LouxRedlands, 2007-08300no: Matthew GogginS’gate-R’cliffe, 2002-03285no: Peter CliffordToombul, 1986-87258no: CF MorganValley, 1904-05243: RM LevyValley, 1931-32242no: FC ThompsonUniversity, 1913-14242: RM LevyValley, 1934-3520HIGHEST SCORES242: Ryan BroadWynnum-Manly, 2005-06“I’ve been working reallyhard on my batting – I’vehit a lot of balls,” he said.Le Loux has lost a substantial10kg over winterand firmly believes it hashelped him. “I spentthree days a week in thegym - people say it’s gotnothing to do with it, butContinued page 21

RECORD BREAKER LOOKS TOKEEP ON IMPROVING HISBATTING AND BOWLINGFrom page 20I think it helps you mentally,”he said.Le Loux played for Vorborg,a small town outsideof The Hague in Holland,where he playedalmost exclusively as abatsman.“In my two years I didn’tscore a hundred and theclub was on my backabout it, although I didscore 600 runs in eachseason,” he said.A fitter and turner bytrade, the Dutch connectioncame through hisgrandfather, who emigratedto Australia in the1950s after fighting forHolland against Indonesiain the War of Independence.He could qualify toplayer for Holland in theWorld Cup, although thatwould require him toplay anothertwo seasonsintheNetherlandsand giveus hisAustralianstatus.“At thisstagethere’snochanceof thathappening,”hesaid.In Redlands’campaignlastsummer,he scored304 runsGRADE CRICKET (continued)in 12 matches at an averageof 25.33, so heshould surpass that injust two games thisyear. He took 14 wicketsat 42.39 as well lastsummer, but is workinghard to improve on thatreturn.Ryan Le Loux tasted the big time when heacted as 12th man for Australia in the2005 Gabba Test against the West Indiesin the absence of Stuart MacGill21Le Louxisawarehe willneed todosomethingspecialbeingon theperipheryoftheQueenslandBullsside,and iskeen todo itwiththeball,ratherthanthe bat. “Scoring runs isa bonus, but in that aspectit has to be mybowling that has to bemore special,” he said.“I’m always trying topush (for a Bulls berth).As long as I’m playingfirst Grade and secondXI, I’m still going to betrying.”Le Loux admitted hetook some momentumout of his massive battingeffort into the QAS/Qld Second XI matchagainst Tasmania lastweek. He took the earlywicket of Tasmaniandanger man David Dawsonand finished with atidy 1-45 in the first innings.“I’ve been bowling wellin the nets, and onlybowled a few overs lastweekend, but felt goodwith them,” he said.“The ball’s coming outwell - I was a little bittoo keen today, butother than that I’ve beenfeeling good.”QC WEBSITEPLAYER OFTHE WEEKOne of the new features ofthe 2007-08 season is theintroduction of a GradeCricket Player of the Weekby the QC website.The best performer acrossall grades – be it first,second, sixth, under 19sor womens - will be recognisedby bulls.com.au.The standout effort will bejudged by the QC GradeCricket coordinator and aninterview with that playerwill be featured eachweek.The opening two weekshave seen batsmenemerge as winners.Promising Norths Under19s player Joe Burns wonthe Week 1 nomination forhis 189 not out in a onedaygame, while Ryan LeLoux’s record score inWeek 2 could not be overlooked.Visit bulls.com.au earlyeach week to see who isPlayer of the Week.

AUSTRALIA ‘A’ TOURJAMES GETS HIS HOPES UP WITH TOP FORM22Unheralded XXXX GOLDBulls all-rounder JamesHopes caught the gaze ofthe national selectorswith a series of fine displaysin Pakistan lastmonth.Hopes is currently participatingin the seven-gameone-day international seriesfor Australia againstIndia and has given himselfevery chance of beingpart of the Australiansummer.The determined 28-yearoldstarred in two unofficialTests for Australia Aagainst Pakistan A, at thesame time as New SouthWelshman Phil Jacquesmade the first big play forthe vacant national openingberth.Hopes took wickets andscored runs in both fourdaymatches, whileJacques accumulated twobig centuries and a fighting82 to outshine WestAustralian Chris Rogers.James Hopes on the attack in India last week.Hopes began the tour inthe right vein with aspanking 55 off 46 balls,top scoring in an eightwicket loss in swelteringLahore. Jacques was nextbest with 46.He and fellow Bulls pacemanAshley Noffke foundthe batsman friendly conditionstough going in thefinal two one-dayers,where Rogers scored acentury in the finalmatch.Pakistan’s top orderdominated the one-dayseries, but were foundwanting in the four-dayversion of the game.Hopes and NSW openingbowler Doug Bollingerran through the oppositionin the openinginnings of both unofficialTests.Hopes bowled 10-5-20-2 in his first stint at thebowling crease and followedthat up with astunning 144.He also got the prizedwicket of two-time centurymaker in the oneday series YasirHameed in the secondinnings, taking 1-5 offnine overs.Noffke bowled well in thesecond innings, taking 1-24 off 14 overs as AustraliaA won by an inningsand 203 runs.Jacques and DavidHussey both scored bigcenturies in a comprehensiveteam performance.Rain caused the secondunofficial four-day Test tofinish in a tame draw, butnot before Jacques andmiddle order batsmanHussey scored anotherton each in the second innings.Hopes made a useful 34in the first innings, didn’tget to bat in the second,and took the wickets ofPakistan’s No.3 and No.4to finish with 2-21 off 12overs.Going into the Indiantour, he had played nineone day internationals forAustralia between March2005 and April 2006, andtwo Twenty20 matches.He has an ODI top scoreof 43 and taken fourwickets for 269 runs, althoughhis economy rateis a handy 4.6 runs perover.

WHAT’S ON23HOLIDAY CLINICS ARE POPULAROne of the most popularevents on the cricket calendarfor youngsters isthe KFC Junior Bulls Clinics,which are held eachDecember and January.Places at the three-dayclinics are filled well in advance,so parents ofyoung players who arekeen to participate needto act fast.Highly accredited coacheswork with small groups ofplayers at the clinics,which are open to boysand girls aged 8-14.The youngsters are putthrough a range of activitiesand skills similar tothose training drills thatare used by the XXXXGOLD Queensland Bulls.The clinics also feature abarbecue and autographsession with the playerson the last day of each.The pre-Christmas clinictakes place at Allan BorderField from 18-20 Decemberand the post-Christmas group from 15-17 January.To register, or for more information,please contactQueensland Cricket on3292 3100 or got to www.bulls.com.auUP CLOSE WITH THE BULLSEver wanted to play animpromptu game ofcricket with the Bulls?How about take an outfieldcatch on their catchingmachine? Or do youknow what speed youbowl at?You can do all thosethings and more at theannual Bulls Family Day.There will be rides, freeMilo and Pura Milk drinks,autograph signing andpicture taking sessions,and the opportunity towin a family holiday atthe magnificent KingfisherBay Resort on Fraser Island.Best of all, the whole dayis free.Don’t miss the Bulls’ FamilyDay on Sunday 25 Novemberat Allan BorderField, Bogan Street,Breakfast Creek.There is ample parkinginside and outside of thegrounds.BE THE JUNIORBULL FOR A DAYThe Bulls are again offeringthe opportunity for onelucky youngster to spend aFord Ranger Cup match daywith them in the dressingroom at Gabba matches.If you are aged from 8-14,you could be the Bulls’ 13 thman and get to help withthe drinks and mingle withyour heroes as they go intobattle with the VictorianBushrangers on Friday 23November.You will get to take homesome great souvenirs includingan autographed Bullsbat.Listen to radio Triple M(104.5FM on the dial) fromMonday 12 November andgrab a copy of The CourierMail on Friday 16 Novemberfor details on how to win thismemorable experience.

WOMEN’S CRICKETMEGAN WHITE EXCELS IN WELSH STINTA summer in Wales hasseen Konica MinoltaQueensland Fire allrounderMegan White improveher cricket andcreate her own slice ofhistory.The Hawarden CricketClub believes that Whiteand her teammate NatalieHeap are the first pairof female bowlers to takethe new ball for a men'steam in a competitionmatch.The talented duo took awicket apiece and thenWhite made a matchwinningunbeaten 31 tohelp clinch the Gladstone-LytteltonShield forHawarden againstWorcestershire's Hagley.Hawarden's Aussie-borncaptain Tim Newhousehad no hesitation in givingthe new ball to Whiteand Heap."They are outstandingMegan White batting.outswing bowlers whoask a lot of questions ofopposition batsmen," hesaid. "Megan kept thingsreally tight, only goingfor 17 runs in her sevenovers. Both her andNatalie would have hadtwo wickets if we'd heldour catches.“But she was bowling sowell I couldn't take heroff." A key third-wicketpartnership of 42 betweenNewhouse (21)and White then helpedthe home side clinch aseven-wicket win in theShield encounter, whichdates back to 1867.Newhouse says Britain'sslower pitches havehelped further developWhite as a cricketer."Megan has always beena great striker of theball, but she is nowadept at working the ballaround too,” he said."Her move to bowl offspinas well as mediumpace has also paid handsomedividends. Queenslandand, hopefully,Australia will be thebeneficiaries of her improvement."Pictures: Pinpoint ImagesMegan White scored runs, took wickets — and catches."I had planned to getMegan to bowl four oversof medium pace and thenreturn later for threeovers of off-spin.24Megan White opened the bowling for Hawarden.

NASH ON TARGETFormer XXXX GOLD BullBrendan Nash has madean immediate impact in hisquest to play for the WestIndies by being included inJamaica’s 17-man squadfor next week’s KFC Cupone-day competition inGuyana.Nash, 30 in December,made the bold move lastmonth after losing his Bullscontract at the end of lastsummer.The popular top orderbatsman, whose fatherPaul is Jamaican and representedthe country as anOlympic swimmer, scored46 and 66 in a trial gameto clinch a spot.His Jamaican captain isWindies opener Chris Gayleand also includes DarenPowell, Jerome Taylor andMarlon Samuels.SOLID HIT-OUTThe QAS Regional Squadtraveled to Maryboroughlate last month to play a50-over and Twenty20match against a Wide Bayunder 23 side, giving theyoung players from bothrep teams valuable matchexperience.Top order batsman AndrewBoyle top scoredwith 66 in the one-daygame, with Wide Bay’sTrevor Brady also scoringa half-century in the‘home’ side’s keenlyfought seven-run win.Right arm pacemanRowan Murray took 4-40for the QAS.The QAS turned the tableswith an 18-run win inthe Twenty20, with Boyleagain top scoring with 46and Preston White making28. Marty Maloney took 3-38 for Wide Bay.Wide Bay were bowled outfor 119 in 18.2 overs, withAndrew Martel taking 2-11and Chris Sabburg 2-19.NEW COLUMNISTSKey Bulls players ClintonPerren and Chris Hartleywill both be heavily readthis summer.They dynamic duo will bewielding the pen as well asthe willow, providing columnsfor newspaper outletsthat will also be reproducedat bulls.com.auPerren is writing for SunshineCoast Daily’s Fridayliftout, while Hartley has aweekly spot in afternoonnewspaper MX.FUN AND GAMESThe Bulls players certainlymade a big impressionwith their efforts to keepthe passengers entertainedduring their long delay atMt Isa recently.While Daniel Doran wasthe Pied Piper with hishandball game, above,Nick Kruger also kept theyoung softball players intriguedby his uniqueway of reading anewspaper – laid outall over the floor.Young swing bowlerWorrin Williamscould get a gig onAustralian Idol if hehas any spare time,judging by the reactionto his impromptuperformanceof “I’ve BeenEverywhere Man” in themiddle of the terminal.TOUR MATCHMatthew Hayden, AndrewSymonds, Mitchell Johnsonand James Hopes will all beback from India and areset to play for the Bullsagainst Sri Lanka at AllanBorder Field from 2-4 Novemberas a warm up forthe first 3 Test the followingweek.The small boundaries atAllan Border Field couldmake for some crowdpleasingpower-hitting bythe in-form Hayden andSymonds, while Johnsonwill have the opportunityto press his claims for aTest debut.Tickets to the picturesquevenue cost $8 for adultsand $2 for children, whilehuge value corporate packagesare available in theolde style pavilion for just$85 for the day.Entry tickets will be availableat the gate at BoganStreet, Breakfast Creek,while you can call the Pavilionon 3292 3155 to reserveyour corporate package.WHEEL OF FORTUNERyan Le Loux’s stunningrecord Grade innings recentlymade for a colourfulwagon-wheel, above.For the record, he blasted14 sixes and 21 fours –that’s 168 runs of 302 inboundaries.25