IT is almost time to kick off the 2022/23 season of the Marsh One-Day Cup, with the first game scheduled for September 23. Fresh off a thrilling final in March, the competition is set for another cracking campaign, as each state’s best cricket talents battle it out in the 50-over format.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be taking a look at each side’s prospects for the season, and next up are the Queensland Bulls, who had a decent campaign last year, but could not turn it into a winning record and missed out on appearance in the finals, albeit in reasonably unlucky circumstances.

Queensland Bulls
2021/22 record – 3-3

The Bulls showed signs of excellence last year, putting together a few impressive wins across the course of the season. However, a lack of consistency saw them a step behind the very best sides and could not lift themselves into the top three for a finals appearance.

Despite missing the finals, the Bulls could consider themselves slightly unlucky, as they only missed out on third spot due to the fact that they played and lost two more games than the Tasmanian Tigers. Unfortunately, because the Tigers had two ‘no results’, their Net Run Rate (NRR) was slightly higher than Queensland’s and saw them sneak into third.

Queensland’s campaign started in less than ideal fashion, falling to the Redbacks, who posted the highest score of any side in the 2021/22 season, but the Bulls managed to bounce back and lose just two more games.

There were quite a few positive signs for the Bulls throughout 2021/22, and they will be looking to build on those heading into their first match against South Australia on September 26.

Their batting lineup was solid all year last season, and they surpassed 275 runs in a game on a number of occasions, a feat they will be eager to repeat again. Led by Usman Khawaja, the Bulls have plenty of aggressive players they can put at the crease, which will get them to winning scores.

The area of improvement comes in the form of their bowlers, with the side allowing their large run totals to be chased down a number of times last year. Despite some impressive work at the crease, the Queensland bowling attack struggled to find a wicket at times.

However, the Bulls have made moves to amend this, recruiting pace bowling duo Kane Richardson and Liam Guthrie. The pair are renowned for their wicket-taking ability and should prove handy inclusions as Queensland looks to get back on top.

Contract list

Xavier Bartlett
James Bazley
Max Bryant
Hugo Burdon
Joe Burns
Jack Clayton 
Blake Edwards
Liam Guthrie
Sam Heazlett
Usman Khawaja (c)
Matthew Kuhnemann
Marnus Labuschagne
Michael Neser
Jimmy Peirson
William Prestwidge
Matthew Renshaw
Kane Richardson
Gurinder Sandhu
Jackson Sinfield
Mark Steketee
Bryce Street
Connor Sully
Mitch Swepson
Sam Truloff
Matthew Willans
Jack Wildermuth