GC talent making mark on Big Bash
GOLD Coast cricket coach Trent Keep predicts Wednesday night’s Big Bash clash which featured four of the club’s standout players is only the start for the Dolphins in the national arena.
Max Bryant, Matt Kuhnemann and Xavier Bartlett’s Brisbane Heat side were undone by Hayden Kerr’s Sydney Sixers by two wickets in a finalball thriller at the SCG.
Young gun Hugo Burdon missed out on selection while Michael Neser was unavailable due to Test cricket duties.
All-rounder Josh Kann plys his trade for the Hobart Hurricanes, delivering a grand total of seven players from the backto-back Queensland T20 champions to the Big Bash stage this season.
Coach Keep said he expected the proud day for the club would be the first of many still to come with a talent pipeline bursting with talent.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on people with big futures by naming them but we have players in all age groups who have the ability to play white-ball cricket for Queensland,” Keep said.
“The work with those guys (on Wednesday) was already done by Chris Swan as their former coach and we’re just supporting them as best we can.
“It was awesome to see and I’m sure they’re getting all the accolades within the Heat system.
Speaking to Xavier briefly they’re frustrated they’re not getting as many wins as they like but that’s very much the T20 game.”
Keep said the Dolphins’ chances of reuniting with their Big Bash players for the Queensland two-day finals would depend on how deep the Bulls can progress into the Sheffield Shield competition.
If the Queensland side makes the finals the Dolphins will press on without some of the Gold Coast’s elite talent.
“A lot depends on the Shield season but I hope Queensland are playing in the final, which means we won’t have them,” Keep said.
“That said, we won the T20 final at the Gabba with them all missing so we have depth at the club. At the end of the day their profession is to play for the Heat and we’re beneficiaries when they can’t.
“We love having them as people, first and foremost, and their cricket ability is just a bonus because they’re loved around our club.”
The Dolphins resume against Sunshine Coast on January 15.