Matador Cup team preview: Queensland

Just two years after winning back-to-back one-day titles, the myFootDr Queensland Bulls enter this summer’s Matador BBQs One-Day Cup with a number of question marks hanging over the side.

Test selection and injury threatened to unsettle the Bulls on the eve of the season, but new leaders on and off the field are set to provide a fresh feel for next month’s tournament in Sydney.

The squad

Peter Forrest will lead a 14-man squad into the three-week tournament as he becomes the state’s third captain in a matter of months after Usman Khawaja (Test selection) and Chris Lynn (injury) were named to fill the leadership role vacated by James Hopes at the end of last season. Khawaja is expected to return to the line-up towards the end of the series.

Usman Khawaja (c)*,Cameron Boyce, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Luke Feldman, Peter Forrest, Chris Hartley, Charlie Hemphrey, James Hopes,  Simon Milenko, Michael Neser, Nathan Reardon, Billy Stanlake, Mark Steketee. (*Marnus Labuschagne injury replacement).

Coach: Phil Jaques

The fixture

The Bulls begin their summer against Tasmania at North Sydney Oval in a rematch of last season’s epic encounter when Queensland chased down the Tigers’ total of 398 with 16 balls to spare.

Four of Queensland’s matches – against Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Cricket Australia XI – will be broadcast live in HD on GEM, as well as being streamed on cricket.com.au and the Cricket Australia Live app for fans with a Live Pass subscription.

What’s new?

As well as a new captain and coach, Queensland have included three uncapped one-day players – Hemphrey, Labuschagne, Stanlake – in the squad alongside experienced campaigners such as Hopes and Hartley.

Both Hemphrey and Labuschagne made appearances at first-class level last season, while the latter made a new for himself with a stunning catch as a substitute fielder in the second Commonwealth Bank Test against India at the Gabba.

Aussie sub fielder takes a ripper

Former Bulls paceman Ashley Noffke returns as an assistant coach and will work closely with the army of quicks to be led by Ben Cutting.

A hamstring injury to Peter George – the team’s leading one-day wicket-taker last year – will present an opportunity for Steketee and Neser to step up after they only featured sparingly last season.

What to expect

The Bulls will be lacking some class without star batsmen Lynn and Khawaja to start the tournament, but if anyone can find a way to grind out some victories against the odds, it’s probably Queensland.

Hartley, Burns and Forrest will shoulder much of the load at the top of the order, while you can just about lock in some miserly overs and handy lower-order runs from former captain Hopes.

One fascinating aspect of the Bulls’ season will be their use of talented leg-spinner Boyce. The 26-year-old will provide a genuine wicket-taking option for Forrest, but the selectors may have to think carefully about when and where they opt to use him with two matches at the tiny North Sydney Oval.

Quotable

"It's not only us, but also Cricket Australia are very interested in him and I'm looking forward to seeing him bowl throughout the tournament," Noffke on Stanlake.

Player to watch

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At 204cm, the big Bulls quick Billy Stanlake is going to be hard to miss! The 20-year-old can crank up the pace and is set to provide some excitement on the domestic stage after spending time developing his skills in the U19s system.

Last season

Queensland came within two balls of making it through to last year’s final, largely on the back of sensational performances from opening duo Khawaja and Hartley who combined for 926 runs.

Predicted finish

Sixth. The Bulls haven’t finished outside the top four in one-day cricket since the 2010-11 season, but the team from up north will face a significant challenge with Lynn on the sidelines and Khawaja only available in the back half of the tournament.

Quick Single: All you need to know guide

Team preview: Cricket Australia XI

Edited on October 2 after the Bangladesh Test tour was postponed