Queensland will step up its preparations for the start of the 2024-25 first class and one-day cricket seasons when it hosts the opening Toyota Second XI match next week in Brisbane
Burdon To Lead 2nd XI
Queensland will take on South Australia at Bill Albury Oval at Carmichael Park, Tingalpa in a four-day match from Monday.
Queensland and South Australia have played a series of practice matches this week at nearby Peter Burge Oval, after the extended Queensland squad played a similar series last week against Tasmania at Trevor Hohns Oval at Deagon.
The Queensland selection panel of chair Chris Hartley, Greg Moller and Luke Feldman has named a Second XI squad that contains eight players with domestic one-day or first class experience.
Gold Coast batter Hugo Burdon, who made his Queensland Bulls debut last season in the One Day Cup, will captain the team after hitting 122 in a one-day trial last week against Tasmania.
Bulls and Brisbane Heat batter Max Bryant has the chance to translate recent white ball form into red ball preparations, with his clean-hitting leading Valley to last weekend’s KFC T20 Max title.
Dashing Norths batter Scott Palombo, the second highest runs-scorer in the T20 Max with 363 runs at 51.86 including a 49-ball century, will make his Queensland 2nd XI debut in the match.
The 25-year-old right-hander is originally from the Gold Coast and has played Premier Cricket for the Dolphins and Toombul.
Toombul quick Tom Balkin (5-45) and left-hander Lachlan Hearne (79no, 70, 50) also made the most of their chances during the State practice game block.
Australian Under-19 World Cup winner Tom Straker, who joined Queensland from NSW during the winter, will make his 2nd XI debut for his adopted State.
The right-arm paceman caught the eye with a strong T20 Max series for champions Valley as well as a haul of 6-27 from 8.4 overs in a one-day practice game win over South Australia earlier this week.
Several players were not considered for selection as they manage injuries, including Jack Wildermuth (back), Hugh Weibgen (finger), Jem Ryan (hamstring) and Callum Vidler (groin).
Queensland Academy coaches Greg Moller and Hamish Bennett will coach the team.
The Second XI match starting Monday will follow this weekend’s opening round of the KFC Queensland Premier Cricket competition with men’s and women’s first grade getting underway.
The Queensland Bulls open their season at the end of the month, playing One Day Cup games against Tasmania (25 September) and Victoria (27 September) in Melbourne.
Queensland’s initial first class game of the summer will come from October 8-11 against defending Sheffield Shield title holders Western Australia at the WACA in Perth.
Toyota Second XI
Queensland v South Australia
Bill Albury Oval, Carmichael Park, Tingalpa
Hugo Burdon (c, Gold Coast)
Lachlan Aitken (wk, Gold Coast)
Tom Balkin (Toombul)
Max Bryant (Valley)
Liam Guthrie (Wynnum-Manly)
Lachlan Hearne (Toombul)
Angus Lovell (University of Qld)
Scott Palombo (Norths)
Jack Sinfield (Redlands)
Tom Straker (Valley)
Bryce Street (University of Qld)
Connor Sully (Toombul)
Live scores at: https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/org/cricket-australia-state-competitions/toyota-second-xi-summer-202425/toyota-second-xi/ab94569a/R1