February 2010 - Queensland Cricket

QUEENSLANDERS AT THE AUSTRALIAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS20UNDER 19 BOYS- 7th -Captain Jason Floros won theprestigious player of the tournamentaward, but therewere precious few other highlightsfor the Australia PostQueensland side at the blueribandAustralian U19 titles inCanberra.While competitive inmost games, theyoung Maroonsfailed to land the killerblow when it wasrequired and finishedseventh out ofeight teams.Queensland scored7-346 against NSW but conceded8-347 after being inthe box seat. It was a similarstory with WA, who chaseddown 351. Queensland couldnot finish off Tasmania andhad to be satisfied with adraw, finishing two wicketsshort of victory. They alsolost a close Twenty20 to theACT with three balls remaining.The only thrashings were byVictoria in a two-dayer andSA in a one-dayer, where thebatting collapsed for 109.Floros, who joined fellowQueenslanders Alister McDermottand Nick Buchanan asmembers of the Australianside that won the U19 WorldCup in New Zealand lastmonth (pictured), scoredback-to-back centuries at theJason Floros at theWorld Cupnational championshipsagainst eventual championsNSW and WA and finishedwith 354 runs at an averageof 59. Lachlan Pfeffer wasnext best with 179 runs at35.80.Floros joined an elite list ofplayers including SteveWaugh, Ian Healy, Adam Gilchristand Callum Ferguson tohave won the player of thetournament award.Guy Connew was Queensland’sNo.1 wicket-takerwith 11 at 22.27, while spinnerRyan Meyer collectednine at 22.78. and Jake Hannannine at 34.67.Final Placings: NSW (33),Vic (25), WA (24), SA (24),ACT (15), Tas (12), Qld (10),NT (0).Queensland squad: CoreyBarsby (S/R), Nick Buchanan(Uni), Guy Connew (S/R), JasonFloros (W/M - captain),Tim Gregory (Norths), JakeHannan (Wests), AlisterMcDermott (G/Coast), RyanMeyer (Souths), Lachlan Pfeffer(Valley), Michael Simmers(Nth Rockhampton), AndrewTazelaar (Wests), Jason Tibbetts(Toombul), NicholasWalden (Wests). Coaches:Jeff Thomas, Justin SternesUNDER 17 BOYS- 5th -The heat was on in Adelaidewith temperatures regularlyin excess of 40 degrees, andthe Australia Post QueenslandUnder 17s went off the boilwhen it counted. They couldhave finished as high as thirdwith a win in their last game,but failed by two wickets in atense finish against SA.The highlight was a bonuspoint win over eventual runners-upVictoria. But therewere near-misses elsewhere,with a draw against lowlyTasmania when they wereeight down. The Maroons alsohad NSW 7-140 but the babyBlues got the last 35 runswithout losing a wicket.Sam TruloffEventual champions WA alsoeked out a tough 10-run winover the Queenslanders in apivotal T20 on the first day.Marburg batsman Sam Truloff(left) was the star for the Maroons,topping the aggregatewith 349 runs at 49.86. Heneeded 61 in the final gameto pass Gary Hayden’s carnivalrecord for Queensland,but he made just seven.Truloff was nonetheless amodel of consistency withfive half-centuries. Next bestwas Trent Clemments with186 runs at 31, while keeperJames Pierson hit two halfcenturiesand averaged 36.Sunshine Coast spinner SamGardiner, who bowled a remarkable53 overs in the finalgame, was the State’s leadingwicket-taker with 12 at24.42, sitting 11 th overall butonly three behind the leaders.Leg-spinner CameronBalcomb nabbed 10 victimsat 23.50.Final Placings: WA (37), Vic(25), ACT (23), NSW (17),Qld (15), SA (12), Tas (5),NT (0).Queensland squad: AnthonyAtkinson (Toombul),Cameron Balcomb (Norths),Trent Clemments (BrothersT’ville), Sam Gardiner(S’shine Coast), RyanGleeson (G/Coast), JoshMcClelland (Norths), BenMcDermott (G/Coast), CoreyMcMahon (G/Coast), StevenMoss (Redlands), James Pierson(Redlands), Nick Stevens(G/Coast), Sam Truloff(Wests/Marburg), Harry Tyler(W/M). Coach: Wayne Niven.