OUT OF THE GROUND
Drama as Coast players boycott after rep snub
GOLD Coast Thunder coach Simon Belston and star batsman Josh Nelson have revealed their dismay at South Queensland selections following the shock withdrawal of three Kookaburra Cup stars from this weekend’s representative battles with North Queensland at Beenleigh.
Having finished runners-up to Darling Downs in the Schaeffer Shield this month, the Thunder were rewarded with the naming of Nelson, Jimmy Spargo, Sam Winton and Nic Peterson in a 12-man South Queensland side to face northern rivals in two Twenty20s yesterday and two onedayers today and tomorrow.
But it was the non-selection of Mudgeeraba Nerang pair Kevin Chapman, who was chosen as a shadow player, and wicketkeeper Mitch Daly that surprised the Thunder camp.
Both were Queensland Premier Cricket regulars for the Dolphins in 2018-19 before returning to Mudgeeraba this season. Chapman immediately made himself unavailable after the South Queensland side was named, while Nelson (Mudgeeraba) and Peterson (Southport Labrador) have also since withdrawn.
While Thunder captain Peterson stepped aside due to work commitments, Nelson initially told the Bulletin he and Chapman had similar commitments before conceding politics had played its part.
“They got selections wrong. They had a really good opportunity to have a real South Queensland team but they went for ‘more experienced’ (players),” Nelson, who made scores of 65 and 4 for the Thunder, said.
“I think they had half the side already picked before games were even played. It wasn’t fair on some of the others.
“Mitch Daly was pretty unlucky not to make it, he should have been the keeper. Kevin Chapman was a standout.
“I wouldn’t say we’re protesting, just that there’s a lot of politics in sports and selections had a part to play there.”
Belston said there was no denying the fact the snubbing of Chapman and Daly “put a few noses out of joint”.
“My main concern was to get a good bunch of blokes together wanting to play for Gold Coast and we got that,” he said. “In saying that, the reason the best 12 cricketers play representative is to get selected for higher honours. Cricket is full of divided opinion (but) we were disappointed not to be able to get (more) blokes in the 12.
“We find out there’s four or five Wide Bay players picked in front of our boys and it’s difficult to digest. We felt as though Mitch Daly, coming out of Brisbane grade cricket, not to even be looked at as a South Queensland keeper (was rough). Kevin wasn’t all that pleased and he wanted to make that known.”
Chapman, Peterson and Nelson will now play in this weekend’s Kookaburra Cup.