The saying goes that when Regional Queensland Cricket is strong, then Queensland Cricket is at it’s best and when Queensland Cricket is strong, Australian Cricket is at it’s best… We are a one-eyed bunch up here in Queensland but there could be some truth to it.
The Bulls Masters mentors have arrived in Cairns for the under 16 Youth Cup. One past Queensland representative joins each Regional QLD zone to add their wisdom to a bunch of young cricketers who are at that crucial stage of development.
Queensland under 17 coach, Gavin Fitness is in town to mentor the Sunshine Coast Scorchers but he’s straight off the plane and down to the nets with young Atherton wicket-keeper batsman, Rhys Johnston who’s in the mix for the state under 17’s.
Fitness is happy to go the extra mile to help the young kids who are keen to advance their craft.
“He’s got a very good skill-set of both wicket-keeping and batting. He bats up the top, he’s got great hands and nice touch and can show a bit of power at times too”, Fitness says.
“He’s very mentally tough and he’s always up for the fight”, Fitness identifies that Rhys has more than just the cricket talent to continue on and become another great Far North player.
“Through the Bulls Masters programs we’ve been lucky enough to find quite a few of these kids now who make it into the pathways and I think Rhys can come down to Brisbane and play his way into first grade and who knows what can happen from there”, Fitness says.
Rhys is excited to learn from Fitness through the Queensland under 17 pathway. “I’m keen to get out in the middle more and take my opportunities that come”, Rhys says.
He’s excited to take his cricket to the next level. “Yes definitely, I feel like I’m ready. I want to make that higher level”, Rhys says.
Fitness is also casting his eye over all of the talent in the Youth Cup and hoping to find a few gems. It seems Regional Queensland has un-earthed some elite talent that are filling the pathways and helping to push Queensland Cricket in the upward trajectory.
The Queensland under 19’s are enjoying a strong National Championships, with two Far North cricketers contributing to their success. Aiden Firman has been scoring runs as opener and Seth McGinty has been contributing wickets and a few handy lower order runs.
The production line of Far North and Country Queensland cricketers has been a storied one with the likes of Jimmy Maher (Babinda), Luke Feldman (Townsville), James Hopes (Townsville), Mitchell Johnson (Townsville), Andrew Symonds (Charters Towers), Grant Sullivan (Mackay) and Joe Scuderi (Ingham) to name a few coming through the ranks to push Queensland to the top of the Sheffield Shield and the new brigade is looking strong to keep Queensland at the top for many years to come.
The Bulls Masters programs are a big part of the success of the North. The Bulls Masters programs provide elite coaches and higher levels of competition for the kids and help identify the Regional kids who need to be in the Queensland pathways.
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