Queensland Cricket has unveiled its latest crop of talented young players with the announcement of the State male and female Under-19 teams for the National championships next month.
U19 Teams Unveiled
The Under-19 female team will play on home turf next month when Brisbane hosts the National championships, while the male squad will travel to Albury in Victoria for their title.
There are nine members of the women’s squad which played in last year’s championships, including captain Sianna Ginger, who has played for the Queensland Fire in the WNCL this season, and pace bowlers Lucy Hamilton and Bonnie Berry, who are both members of the Fire and WBBL Brisbane Heat squads.
Ginger and Hamilton were Australian Under-19 representatives earlier this year.
The women’s squad also contains a strong nod to regional cricket, with Lucinda Bourke (Warwick), Tarah Staines (Monto), Taylor Stumer (Bundaberg), Grace Collins (Maryborough), Hamilton (Bundaberg), Berry (Emerald) and Ginger (Townsville) all gaining starts in their respective home towns.
Queensland Under-19 Women's Team
National Championships, Brisbane, 14-21 December
Tarah Staines (Sunshine Coast)
Lucinda Bourke (Valley)
Sianna Ginger (Valley)
Isabel Goffage (Western Suburbs)
Holly Hogan (Valley)
Grace Collins (Wynnum-Manly)
Lucy Hamilton (Sunshine Coast)
Lily Bassingthwaighte (Western Suburbs)
Trinity Doyle (Ipswich)
Taylor Stumer (University of Qld)
Darcey Johnson (Sandgate-Redcliffe)
Naiya Varidel (Western Suburbs)
Bonnie Berry (Sunshine Coast)
The men’s team includes Alexander Procopis from last season’s National Under-17 championship winning Queensland team and seven players who competed at last year’s tournament when Queensland fielded U-19 Metro and Country teams.
The two Queensland teams have been condensed back to one side for the 2023-24 nationals, with Cairns left-hander Matthew Wilkins, a century-maker for Country last, selected from Far North Queensland and Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba batsman Rex Tooley chosen from Western Suburbs.
The squad features recent Australia Under-19 pace bowlers Callum Vidler and Cody Reynolds and wicket-keeper Lachlan Aitkens who made his Queensland 2nd XI debut last month in the Maroons’ Toyota 2nd XI win over Tasmania at St Lucia.
Also named in the squad is Gold Coast allrounder Zac McDermott, the son of former Test great Craig, and brother of current Bulls batsman Ben and former Queensland quick Alister.
University of Queensland leg-spinner Brayden Meegama was a reserve player for the Queensland Under-17 championship team last season but has earned a spot In the Under-19 off the back of strong showings in the KFC Queensland Premier Cricket competition.
Queensland Bulls rookie contracted allrounder Hugh Weibgen, the Australian Under-19 captain on their winter tour of England, will miss the titles as he recovers from a back injury.
An Australian squad to compete at the ICC World Youth Cup in Sri Lanka in January and February will be selected following the championships in Albury.
Queensland Under-19 Male Squad
National Championships, Albury, 2-8 December
Alexander Procopis (Northern Suburbs)
Angus Tolhurst (Western Suburbs)
Ashton Gumm (Gold Coast)
Brayden Meegama (University of Queensland)
Callum Vidler (Valley)
Cody Reynolds (Gold Coast)
James Pullar (Redlands)
Lachlan Aitken (Gold Coast)
Luke Wegner (South Brisbane)
Matthew Wilkins (Mulgrave CC, Cairns)
Rex Tooley (Western Suburbs)
Tom Campbell (Western Suburbs)
Zac McDermott (Gold Coast)