Queensland cricket team

 Queensland Bulls
Captain: Australia Usman Khawaja
Coach: Australia Phil Jaques
Colors:      Maroon      Gold
Founded: 1882
Home ground: The Gabba
Capacity: 42,000
First-class debut: NSW
in 1892
at The Gabba
Sheffield Shield wins: 7
One Day Cup wins: 10
Twenty20 Cup wins: 1(2012)
Official website: Queensland Cricket

The Queensland cricket team or the Queensland Bulls, is the Brisbane-based Queensland representative cricket side in Australia's domestic cricket tournaments:

History

1824 to 1926/27

The first European settlement in Queensland was a penal colony established at Redcliffe in 1824, which moved to Brisbane the following year. Free settlers first arrived in 1842.

The earliest evidence of cricket being played in Queensland is in 1857, two years prior to separation from New South Wales and statehood. A match between Brisbane and Ipswich was held in 1859 while in 1860 a Toowoomba team played Dalby. By 1862 there were also teams in Warwick, Maryborough, Gayndah, Gympie, Rockhampton and the Lockyer Valley.[1]

Queensland's first inter-colonial (i.e. representative) match was in 1864 when their XXII was beaten by a New South Wales XI.[2] In 1875, Queensland recorded their first victory when their XVIII beat the NSW XI. That victory was a catalyst for the formation of the Queensland Cricket Association in 1876.[1] Queensland was finally granted first-class status in 1892/93, winning its inaugural first-class match against NSW in that season by 14 runs.[3] Queensland rarely played more than two inter-colonial matches per season from 1892/93, with generally one match (and often both) against New South Wales. The tyranny of distance and non-professional status of the players severely limited opportunities for more first-class competition during this period.

The Sheffield Shield competition commenced in 1892/93 but Queensland's initial applications for admission were refused.[2] Despite their minimal first-class exposure, Queensland still produced four Australian Test players prior to their Sheffield Shield debut, though none played more than six Tests. The first was the colourful Arthur Coningham who played his only Test in 1895. Remarkably, he took a wicket with his very first delivery[4] (it was also the first ball of the Test). He also scored Queensland's initial first-class century, 151 against NSW.[5]

1910/11 was a very successful season as Queensland recorded three first-class wins for the first time, beating NSW home and away and Victoria in Melbourne in their only three games of the summer.[6]

1926/27 to 1963/64

Queensland was finally admitted to the Sheffield Shield in 1926/27 and had a successful debut year, defeating NSW in their first ever Shield match and also eventual winners SA in their only meeting. Like most new teams the side struggled to maintain that level of performance and finished last in the (then) four-team competition 15 times in its first 19 seasons. However the decision to include Queensland quickly paid off with the emergence of regular Test players such as Bill Brown, Don Tallon, Percy Hornibrook and Ron Oxenham. Brisbane hosted its first Test match in 1928/29 when Australia met England at the Exhibition Ground.

By the early 1950s Queensland had a very competitive side and was regularly finishing in the top three of the (now) five team Shield following Western Australia's admission in 1946/47. In 1956/57 they finished an agonising one point behind winners NSW.[7] More Australian players were produced, including Ron Archer, Wally Grout, Ken 'Slasher' Mackay and Peter Burge. Another highlight of this period was the dramatic Tied Test between Australia and the West Indies at the Gabba in 1960/61.

1964/65 to 1972/73

This period was undoubtedly Queensland's worst era, finishing last eight times in nine Shield seasons. Rock bottom was reached in 1967/68 when the side failed to win a single game. The QCA decided to recruit high-profile interstate players to revive the team's fortunes. Greg Chappell was vice-captain of South Australia under brother Ian and was lured north for the 1973/74 season with the promise of the Queensland captaincy. Emerging pace bowler Jeff Thomson followed the next year.

1973/74 to 1993/94

The addition of Chappell and Thomson to a side containing players such as Sam Trimble, Martin Kent, Tony Dell and Geoff Dymock had an immediate impact. Queensland gained four seconds and a third over the next five seasons, as well as winning the domestic one day cup in 1975/76, Queensland's first piece of silverware.

The Queensland teams of the 1980s were even stronger, featuring many outstanding cricketers, both "home-grown" like Craig McDermott, Carl Rackemann and Ian Healy and others attracted from interstate or overseas such as Vivian Richards, Allan Border, Kepler Wessels and Ian Botham. Queensland were runners up five times in seven seasons[8] in the 1980s (including a heartbreaking one wicket loss to NSW in 1984/85), and won the one-day trophy three more times in this period, but that first Shield win was still elusive.

1994/95 to date

The 68-year wait finally came to an end in the 1994/95 season when Stuart Law led Queensland to their inaugural Sheffield Shield win after finishing last the previous year.

Since their breakthrough win, Queensland has enjoyed a golden era winning the competition a further six times (including three consecutive seasons from 1999/2000 to 2001/02) and also finishing as runners-up six times. Their most recent title, a victory over the Tasmanian Tigers in 2011–12 saw the Bulls win by 7 wickets in one of the most closely contested finals of recent times. Since a final was introduced to the Sheffield Shield competition in the 1982/83 cricket season the Queensland Bulls have contested 18 out of 30 finals. Since Tasmania were admitted in 1977/78, the Bulls have finished in sixth (i.e. last) just twice.

Colours and Mascot

The primary club colour of Queensland Bulls is Maroon, which represents the state colour of Queensland. The secondary club colour is Gold, with additional contrasting colour of white.

The "Bulls" mascot and nickname were adopted at the commencement of the 1993/94 season.

Home grounds

The side plays most of its home games at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, generally referred to as "The Gabba", a contraction of the suburb name of Woolloongabba in which it is located. Matches are occasionally played at Allan Border Field in Albion, Brisbane and Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns. 28 first-class games and two Tests were played at the Exhibition Ground between 1893 and 1931.

Current squad

Players with international caps are listed in bold.

No. Name Nat Birth date Batting Style Bowling Style Notes
Batsmen
4 Usman Khawaja Australia 18 December 1986 Left-handed Right-arm medium Captain
5 Sam Heazlett Australia 12 September 1995 Left-handed Left-arm off break Rookie contract
9 Marnus Labuschagne Australia 22 June 1994 Right-handed Right-arm leg break
36 Nathan Reardon Australia 8 November 1984 Left-handed Right-arm medium
50 Chris Lynn Australia 4 October 1990 Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox
52 Jason Floros Australia 24 November 1990 Left-handed Right-arm off break
57 Nick Stevens Australia 20 May 1994 Right-handed Right-arm off break Rookie contract
62 Joe Burns Australia 6 September 1989 Right-handed Right-arm medium
66 Peter Forrest Australia 15 November 1985 Right-handed Right-arm medium
– Charlie Hemphrey England 31 August 1989 Right-handed Right-arm off break
– Matthew Renshaw Australia 28 March 1996 Right-handed Right-arm off break Rookie contract
All-rounders
15 Simon Milenko Australia 24 November 1988 Right-handed Right-arm medium
20 Michael Neser Australia 29 March 1990 Right-handed Right-arm medium
39 James Hopes Australia 24 October 1978 Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast
– James Bazley Australia 8 April 1995 Right-handed Right-arm medium Rookie contract
– Jack Wildermuth Australia 1 September 1993 Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast Rookie contract
Wicket-keepers
18 Chris Hartley Australia 24 May 1982 Left-handed —
59 James Peirson Australia 13 October 1992 Right-handed —
Bowlers
14 Peter George Australia 16 October 1986 Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium
16 Mark Steketee Australia 17 January 1994 Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium
31 Ben Cutting Australia 30 January 1987 Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium
49 Cameron Boyce Australia 27 July 1989 Right-handed Right-arm leg break
52 Cameron Gannon Australia 23 January 1989 Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium
54 Nick Buchanan Australia 3 April 1991 Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium
58 Luke Feldman Australia 1 August 1984 Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium
– Billy Stanlake Australia 4 November 1994 Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium Rookie contract

Source(s): Cricinfo, Queensland Bulls

Test players

Queensland versus South Australia in a Sheffield Shield match at the 'Gabba, during the mid-1980s
Queensland Bulls versus Victorian Bushrangers in a limited overs one-day cricket match at the 'Gabba during the mid-1980s

Queensland has produced more than 50 players who have represented Australia in Test matches,[9] while a number of Test players from other countries have played for the team. For a fuller list of players, see Queensland cricketers.

+ Not a Test player

Titles

Sheffield Shield

7 titles:

Domestic One-Day Cup

10 titles:

First-class records

Matthew Hayden

Batting records

Most runs for Queensland[10]

PlayerRunsCareer
Martin Love 10297 1992/93 – 2008/09
Stuart Law 9920 1988/89 – 2003/04
Jimmy Maher 9889 1993/94 – 2007/08
Sam Trimble 9465 1959/60 – 1975/76
Matthew Hayden 8831 1991/92 – 2007/08
Allan Border 7661 1980/81 – 1995/96

Highest individual score:

Most centuries:

Most runs in a season:

Highest partnership:

Highest team score:

Andy Bichel

Bowling records

Most wickets for Queensland[11]

PlayerWicketsAverage
Michael Kasprowicz 498 1989/90 – 2007/08
Andy Bichel 463 1992/93 – 2007/08
Carl Rackemann 425 1979/80 – 1995/96
Jeff Thomson 349 1974/75 – 1985/86
Craig McDermott 329 1983/84 – 1995/96
Geoff Dymock 309 1971/72 – 1981/82

Most wickets in a season:

Most wickets in an innings:

Most wickets in a match:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Pramberg, Bernie (27 January 2009). "From North Quay to the Gabba". The Courier-Mail.
  2. 1 2 http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/queensland/content/current/story/262298.html
  3. ↑ "Queensland v New South Wales, 1892–93". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN Inc. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  4. ↑ http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283520.html
  5. ↑ http://www.qldcricket.com.au/images/Between%20the%20Wickets/btwJanuary2005.pdf
  6. ↑ http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1910S/1910-11/AUS_LOCAL/OTHERFC/
  7. ↑ http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1950S/1956-57/AUS_LOCAL/SS/SS_1956-57_TABLE.html
  8. ↑ http://sports123.com/cri/maus-pc.html
  9. ↑ http://www.qldcricket.com.au/default.asp?PageID=415&n=Queensland+Test+Players
  10. ↑ "Most Runs for Queensland". Cricket Archive.
  11. ↑ "Most Wickets for Queensland". Cricket Archive.

External links

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