Gibbs ready to lift with prestigious honour
CRICKET: After being in the Webb Shield wilderness for so long, Toowoomba is battling to keep their season alive.
After going eight years without success dating back to their drought-breaking win in 2017, Toowoomba’s hopes of claiming their third consecutive title hinge on tomorrow’s clash with Ipswich and Moreton Bay at Captain Cook Reserve.
A win sees them progress to the final against Warehouse, while a loss sends them back to the drawing board.
Keiran Gibbs has been named to captain the side, and with a number of players out with other duties, he knows they will have to be at their best to take down their rivals.
“It’s going to be hard, especially against Ipswich. We played against them in the Schaeffer Shield and they were really competitive,” Gibbs said.
“We’ve lost some quality players like Chris Gillam, Kris Glass, Cam Brimblecombe and Chris Hall, so there is a bit of a younger brigade.
“These are blokes who have done well at the start of the season last year and in the new year as well.
“It’s good for them to get the opportunity, and if they play well their names are certainly in the fold for the next rep season.”
With a new line-up for the key fixture, Gibbs is calling on himself to lead by example, and believes the side has the personnel to be successful.
“It’s my job to lead the boys on the day and do what I do as an all-rounder, so I have to set an example,” he said.
“If we can all do our jobs we will be in a good position.
“With Louis Reen and Jack Potter opening the batting, if they can get us off to a good start it helps set the platform.
“It allows blokes in the lineup to come in with no pressure and play some up-tempo cricket.”
With the years rolling on, Gibbs remained unsure if he would be back in the representative mix, however he didn’t anticipate the honour bestowed upon him.
After being named as captain, the all-rounder is set to become the first indigenous captain of a top-grade Toowoomba Webb Shield side.
“It’s a good honour. My family has been around Toowoomba cricketer for a long time,.
“My uncle Joe Marsh and cousin Keith Charles have been in some premiership winning sides in the TCI.
“At 34 I didn’t think I’d get the chance to play rep cricket coming back to Toowoomba. It’s an honour to captain any side, and even just getting in, I’m glad to be picked, so hopefully we can be be successful tomorrow.”
The match starts at 9.30am tomorrow at Captain Cook Reserve 7.
WEBB SHIELD TEAM: Jack Potter, Louis Reen, Aaron Paul, Sam Neale, Matt Hallas, Luke Neale, Keiran Gibbs (c), Hamel Shah, Brandon Walker, Matt Elford, Daley Martin, Jack Carter.