T20 Max Launches In Style

The guest players will join current contracted Queensland Bulls, Queensland Fire and Brisbane Heat male and female players in the competition that aims to provide high quality T20 playing opportunities and a pathway to the Big Bash.

The competition opened last night with South Brisbane turning the tables on last year's defending champions to win a high-scoring clash against the Gold Coast. A dashing 88 from 47 balls by New Zealand-based left-hander Dylan Hunter at the top of the order, complemented by quickfire contributions from wicket-keeper Brendan Faber (66 off 38 balls) and Claye Beams (24 from 10) lifted the Magpies to 4-231/ Gold Coast challenged, with Xavier Bartlett's 67 from 47 balls an eye-catching effort before they were dismissed for 9-169. 

Harmon Sandhu (3-37) and older brother Gurinder (1-19 from 4 overs) were strong with the ball while leg-spinner James Rosewarne (2-34) and former Queensland U-19 quick Sam Geyer (2-33) were solid as well.

Tonight features the opening women's T20 Max match with defending title-holders University of Queensland playing Valley at Allan Border Field in one of the 12 KAYO Freebies matches on show during the competition. 

Valley will feature Australian allrounder Jess Jonassen, with the WBBL Heat and Queensland Fire captain joined by WBBL compatriots Mikayla Hinkley (Heat) and Georgia Prestwidge (Renegades), while UQ will have Heat players Charli Knott and pace bowler Nic Hancock and New Zealand pace bowler Hannah Rowe to call upon.

Clubs have been able to attract a host of current and former KFC BBL and Weber WBBL players for the three-week competition, with several ex-Queenslanders linking with their former Premier Cricket clubs.

Among the prominent interstate BBL players are Australian white ball representatives D’Arcy Short (Redlands) and Billy Stanlake (South Brisbane) as well as Sydney Sixers 119-gamer Jordan Silk (Redlands), Adelaide Strikers trump Jake Weatherald (Valley), Sydney Thunder dasher Ollie Davies (University of Qld), Perth Scorchers duo Nick Hobson (Wynnum-Manly) and Cooper Connolly (Wests) and Hurricanes spinner Paddy Dooley (Wests).

Hobson and Connolly combined to sink the Brisbane Heat’s BBL hopes in the thrilling final over result in the Final in Perth last season.

Brisbane Heat and Australian players Marnus Labuschagne (Redlands), Usman Khawaja (Valley), Michael Neser (Gold Coast), Matthew Kuhnemann (Gold Coast) and Mitch Swepson (Sandgate-Redcliffe) are also expected to turn out across the competition.

Labuschagne, who will tune up ahead of joining the Australian ODI squad in South Africa next month, is expected to play on Saturday morning at Peter Burge Oval at Wellington Point against Gold Coast.

Leading interstate WBBL stars such as Jemma Barsby (Sandgate-Redcliffe), Katie Mack (Sandgate-Redcliffe), Hannah Darlington (Sunshine Coast), Chloe Piparo (Wynnum-Manly), Josie Dooley (Wests), Sammy-Jo Johnson (Gold Coast), Maddie Penna (University of Qld) and Courtney Webb (Sandgate-Redcliffe) will link with contracted WBBL Heat and Queensland Fire players in the women’s T20 Max competition.

Among the overseas contingent is Indian World Cup allrounder Shika Pandey (Wynnum-Manly), former New Zealand keeper/batter Rachel Priest (Sunshine Coast) and White Ferns pace bowler Hannah Rowe (University of Qld) and her NZ squad mates Jess McFadyen (Ipswich) and Rebecca Burns (Ipswich).

A trio of male New Zealand players in Michael Rae, Josh Clarkson and Leo Carter had agreed to join Ipswich prior to their selection for New Zealand ‘A’ this week to play Australia ‘A’ at Allan Border Field and in Mackay from next week, and their availability will be determined soon.

Wynnum-Manly have renewed their ties with young Canterbury allrounder Zac Foulkes while Valley have secured former Pakistan pace bowler Muhammad Irfan Jnr who is an Australian resident who lives and plays in Sydney.

The 200cm paceman has played first class and domestic one-day cricket in Pakistan as well as T20 in the PSL.

The inaugural competition last season was able to unearth promising talent who enjoyed the opportunity to achieve higher honours.

Josh Brown and fellow Heat breakout star Spencer Johnson (Redlands) received BBL opportunities following their efforts in the T20 Max competition, while the likes of Nathan McSweeney (Heat), Ross Pawson (Thunder) and Paddy Dooley (Hurricanes) also caught the eye during the competition last season.

Johnson's spectacular rise from saw the tall left-arm quick make his first class debut for South Australia and go on to be named in the Australiab T20 and ODI squads for the tour of South Africa. The Heat quick will play for the Oval Invincibles in the Final of The Hundred in England this weekend before heading to South Africa.

Brown, announced yesterday as a re-signing for the Heat for BBL|13, said he was grateful for the opportunity that the KFC T20 Max competition had provided last season.

“I just want to keep playing as much cricket as I can and that is why I’m really looking forward to the T20 Max,’’ he said.

“I’m back with Norths, and it’s a great competition to play in at this time of year. There are so many quality players coming along,” he said.

The first two matches will be streamed live on Kayo Sports from 6pm, with a total of 12 men’s and women’s games to be broadcast. Viewers must register for a Kayo account, but no payment is required to access 'Freebies' content – with full match replays available.

All men's and women's T20 Max games will be streamed by Sportradar through the Frogbox system, which can be viewed at https://matchcentre.premier.qld.cricket.com.au/

The Women’s Final is on Sunday 3 September under lights at Allan Border Field while the men’s Final will be held on Saturday 9 September, also at Allan Border Field, with the match following the Brisbane Heat Fan Day.

For more information, including full fixtures and club previews, visit: https://www.qldcricket.com.au/kfct20max