FORMER COP’S APPEAL

BOWLER’S BEST PUTS BULLS IN CHARGE

COUNTRY cricket cult hero and world’s greatest appealer Luke Feldman has shouted himself hoarse with a career-best all-round performance to put the Bulls in a commanding position in their Sheffield Shield contest against Tasmania.

The 33-year-old former Innisfail police officer, affectionately known as ‘The Fox’ to his bevy of diehard fans, helped skittle the Tigers for 115 with a haul of 6-32 at the Gabba yesterday, putting the Bulls in sight of the top of the ladder.

Feldman’s bowling feats followed his highest first-class score of 47 in the Bulls’ first innings – the No. 11 leading a 72-run 10th-wicket partnership with Mitchell Swepson to help Queensland post 255 in the first innings.

The former Innisfail and Mulgrave player happily admits to an “old-school” attitude to the game, working his police job part-time to supplement his cricket.

It clearly works for the former Australian Country representative, who leads the wickets tally for Queensland this season with 23 scalps and sits among the top five in the 2017-18 Sheffield Shield.

Feldman, originally a junior cricketer at Caboolture, north of Brisbane, first made his name in north Queensland with a posting in Charters Towers and eventually rose to the Australian Country side in 2009.

Queensland Country Cricket president Kev Maher, who was in charge of the Brahmans that year, said it was the paceman’s time to shine after sitting on the sidelines during BBL07.

“He’s a good fella. He’s a real down to earth country lad and he did extremely well that year, then he made the move down to Brisbane

“He keeps himself in good nick. Queensland seems to prefer him in the longer form of the game. They hold him in very high regard.

“He’s been one of our most consistent bowlers in the longer form of the game.

“He had a real good break while the Big Bash League was on so coming back into Shield cricket he’d be well rested and really fit.

“He’s obviously continued to work hard during the break.”

Cairns cricket fans were robbed of a chance to watch Feldman in action when Queensland played South Australia at Cazalys last month due to a side strain.

But the humble toiler made sure he had an impact on the next generation of stars, staying to hand out caps to Cricket Far North representative players on the first day’s play.

Feldman will be in line for his first 10-wicket first-class haul.

Queensland will start today on 6-195, leading Tasmania by a massive 335 runs.