Queensland's 2023-24 domestic cricket season came to an end today with a five-wicket defeat at the hands of NSW. But while the wooden-spoon was an unwanted outcome from the first class summer, there were green shoots to emerge.
Vidler Enjoys Memorable Debut
"Well done mate." With a comradely pat on the shoulder, NSW spearhead Chris Tremain quietly handed over a match stump to rookie Queensland Bulls fast bowler Callum Vidler as the 18-year-old first-gamer lined-up to do a post-play interview on Cricket Australia's Marsh Sheffield Shield livestream coverage from Allan Border Field.
The experienced Tremain, who took nine wickets for the match as NSW completed a five wicket win over Queensland on the last day of the regular season, knew that the first time for any debutant bowler was special, and having been a highly touted youngster himself earlier in his career, didn't miss the chance to make a telling gesture of welcome to the fast bowlers' club.
Vidler, who took two wickets in the first innings and three in the second NSW innings, acknowledged NSW had been tough but welcoming opponents for his debut for Queensland.
"Obviously not the result we wanted from the game, but it was cool to be out there on debut, and NSW were very decent to me. It was good fun; the most fun I have had,'' the Australian Under-19 quick said.
"I'm very happy to debut; as I say, not the outcome we wanted but it was a great thing to experience. Being around players like 'Muff' (Jack Wildermuth) and 'Stek' (Mark Steketee) who i have been able to play alongside with at Valley, and now for Queensland, is very special. And Xavier Bartlett was great to be around out there when I was batting as well as when I bowled."
Vidler, who has started a finance and economics degree at university, is already looking forward to the off-season and pre-season ahead in the wake of a summer that saw him sign a Local Replacement Player contract with the BBL championship Brisbane Heat, win the ICC Under-19 World Cup with Australia in South Africa, and make his first class and Shield debut for Queensland.
"The four Queenslanders who went over to South Africa - Hugh (Weibgen), Tom (Campbell), Lachy Aitken and I - had a very memorable experience there and now it will be exciting to see where we go with our cricket."
Queensland will look back on a summer that promised much but ultimately faded as their Marsh One Day Cup (5th) and Sheffield Shield (6th) saw the squad finish off the pace in both domestic competitions.
Batsmen Jack Clayton (555 runs at 33 with two centuries and a score in the 90s) and wicket-keeper Jimmy Peirson (512 runs) were the two players to go past 500 runs for the season while Steketee (35 wickets) topped the wicket-takers ahead of Gurinder Sandhu (31) and Mitch Swepson (30).