T20 Max Preview - Ipswich

Men

Coach: Brendan Creevey

Captain: Anthony Wilson

Home Ground: Baxter Oval

After a slow start last season, Ipswich will be looking to take their late red ball form across into the new season. With a core group of cricketers who have now had seasons to gel and blossom, the Hornets will sprinkle through some First Class Kiwis in the hope of giving the KFC T20 Max a real shake.

Imports Leo Carter, Josh Clarkson and Michael Rae bring together nearly 200 professional T20 games between them, as well as over 400 professional games in total. All players provide unique skillsets to the side. The left handed Carter will steer the batting innings, while Clarkson is a middle order power hitter who can provide handy overs. Fast bowler Rae will look to hit the deck hard in search of pace and seam movement.

The young pace pairing of Josh Creevey and Jem Ryan will all the better for their Frist Grade experience last season. With the addition of Michael Rae, Ipswich’s pace battery of Adam Smith, Sean Lutter, Harry Wood, Creevey and Ryan is as good as any in the competition.

Noah Emmerson and Bryn Llewellyn will hopefully learn a lot from the club’s international and interstate recruits. Both batters have shown their ability to succeed in First Grade, and will be eager to test their T20 skills.

Players to watch – Jack Wood – In the two games Ipswich won last year in the T20 Max, Jack Wood went ballistic with the bat. Scoring 101* (59) and 89* (54) opening the batting, Wood showed Souths and Sandgate-Redcliffe how destructive he can be. The former Brisbane Heat Big Bash player is also a skillful left arm leg spinner. His combination with their pace attack will be a major key to their success. He is coming off a match-winning effort in the Final of the NT Strike League in Darwin where he struck a decisive century.

Harry Wood – Not to be outdone by the presence of older brother Jack, the former Peter Burge Medalist is arguably the single most important player to any side in the competition. Bowling, batting, fielding, he does it all. A team man, Wood will be leading the side through action despite not being named captain. If Ipswich are to take on the Max, expect Harry to be at the front of the charge. This is a player who hit back to back double centuries in red ball cricket last summer so he knows how to influence the outcome of a game.

Women

As the 2023 T20 Max edges closer, all eyes are on the Kiwi infiltrated Ipswich Hornets as they gear up for this thrilling competition.

Joining the newly appointed Head Coach Melissa Lewis, who has made the journey out to Ipswich from Souths where she helped the Magpies to back-to-back Jodie Purves Shield Second Grade titles, are ten new faces including some key threatening interstate recruits – one who will be taking on her former teammates.

Left-arm Tasmanian pace bowler Julia Cavanough, originally from Sandgate-Redcliffe, has been developing down south in their WNCL squad and on her most recent journey home, taught the Queenslanders never to underestimate the youngest of challengers.

Cavanough returns as an impact player this year and brings with her another young Tasmanian prodigy in Ava Curtis. They will be joined by fellow recruits Emily Sidgreaves, Heidi Cheadle and formidable New Zealand batters, Jess McFadyen and Rebecca Burns.

With their two international recruits lifting six domestic T20 titles together and both being called up to the White Ferns off the back of impeccable recent form, there’s no doubt the New Zealand duo will make a sizeable dent on the T20 Max.

Alongside these highly experienced recruits, are three underage locals who are hoping to transcend expectations at the next level. Last year, batters were found out against 16-year-old in-swing bowler Lucy Williams (previously at UQ), who whilst seemingly flew under the radar, took some of the most crucial wickets of the tournament and further dominated as a bowler in the U19 Premier competition.

Stephanie Baldwin will tie together this newly acquainted group as captain for the Ipswich Hornets, setting the stage for a strategic and determined campaign. With her exceptional Queensland Country acumen and inspirational demeanour, Baldwin is all set to guide her team towards triumph in the upcoming competition. 

Coach: Melissa Lewis

Captain: Stephanie Baldwin

T20 Premierships: 2011/12 

2022 Placing: 8th 

Players In:

• Jess McFadyen (New Zealand)
• Rebecca Burns (New Zealand)
• Julia Cavanough (Tasmania)
• Emily Sidgreaves (NSW Premier)
• Heidi Cheadle (NSW Premier)
• Ava Curtis (Tasmania Premier)
• Erin Moran (Wests)
• Eloise Schabe (Wests)
• Lucy Williams (UQ)

Players Out:

• Olivia Winter (Gold Coast)
• Lucy Neumann (Gold Coast)
• Sarah Walker (Gold Coast)

Players to Watch

 Julia Cavanough – Despite her recent entrance onto the professional scene, Cavanough has quickly asserted her dominance, taking career best figures of 3-0 off the first over for Tasmania in a crucial WNCL match. Her boosted skillset, courtesy of opportunity in Tasmania, has turned her from an everyday local to a rising star. Cavanough’s unique experience growing up on the First-Grade scene to now learning from current Australian players, will aid her newfound home of Ipswich to strategically target all players across the competition. 

Rebecca Burns – With a knack for breaking through tough bowling line-ups and her powerful six hitting ability, Kiwi import Rebecca Burns positions herself as a key asset in their quest for victory during this T20 Max. Burn’s experience at the national level will provide a balanced viewpoint to the Ipswich side, whilst they exploit her seasoned experience to gain an advantage over any competitor. All eyes will be on Burns, to watch if her previous contributions are anything to go by, bringing success to the Hornets this year.