T20 Max Preview - Ipswich

Men 

Coach: Mark Rasmussen 

Captain: Noah Emmerson 

Home Ground: Baxter Oval 

2023 Placing: 1st 

Reigning champions Ipswich will be out to do the double in this year’s KFC T20 Max. Unfortunately for the Hornets, they have three crucial players not returning for this year’s tournament – Dan and Anthony Wilson, and allrounder Harry Wood. South Australian Jake Lehmann bolsters their batting, while fellow Redback Liam Scott is a pace-bowling all-rounder who impressed last season. Noah Emmerson has taken over the captaincy, the once young wildcard now maturing into a seasoned First Grader. First-time Queensland Bulls rookie Jem Ryan and Sean Lutter lead the bowlers once again, with young Charlie Lachmund ready to make the leap from Taverners Boys U17 to the KFC T20 Max. 

Players to Watch 

Jack Wood has completed an almighty transformation from spinner to Heat contracted batter. He is incredibly athletic and can rip a game open in a very short space of time. Very few players in the country can hit the ball as hard, as early in their innings as Wood. You can’t miss a ball when he’s batting, anything could happen. 

Jake Cross provides genuine X-factor for Ipswich. His top score last KFC T20 Max was 37, but that innings completely flipped momentum and won his side the final. A boundary hitter, Cross can launch from ball one and often has to, coming in at number 6 or 7. 

Women 

Coach: Darren Koch 

Captain: Jess McFadyen 

Home Ground: Baxter Oval 

2023 Placing: 7th  

Ipswich bring in a number of high-quality interstate recruits looking to shake up this year’s KFC T20 Max. New Zealand duo Rebecca Burns and Jess McFadyen will provide experience at the top of the order, while Tasmanian recruit Tabatha Saville brings plenty of firepower to the middle order. Hurricanes’ bowler Julia Cavanough, a former Queenslander, is a great addition with her left-arm swing bowling. Keely and Hannah Friedberg will again be important for the Hornets and bring a wealth of experience to the young side. Trinity Doyle and Felicity Koch, who both played in the Queensland U19 team last season, will both be looking to make their mark as First Grade all-rounders. 

Players to Watch 

New Zealand recruit Jess McFadyen shapes as a huge inclusion for Ipswich. A member of the New Zealand Cricket Team which beat England to win a bronze medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, she brings much needed experience and class to young Hornets squad.

Young South Australian Callie Wilson will look to bowl fast and light up this year’s KFC T20 Max. Having moved to Tasmania for an opportunity two seasons ago, Wilson struggled with injuries. Fit and firing, she will be ready to lead the Hornets bowling unit.