EVEN when the going is tough, young people with the right attitude can offer considerable hope for the future.
That’s the case at the Marburg-Mt Crosby Thunder where a group of players aged 15-17 are enthusiastically learning in the Cricket Ipswich A-Grade competition.
Batsman/wicketkeeper Henry Brown is among the rising talents displaying a positive approach as the team looks for its first win after the Christmas break.
Brown gains confidence having shared in back-to-back under-15 premierships with a core of this year’s Thunder side.
“And we were pretty dominant,” he said.
After his team’s latest outright loss to Northsiders, Brown was eager to stick with his teammates searching for longer-term victories.
“It should be good in the future with all us boys together,” Brown, 17, said.
“In the next couple of years, we should be pretty successful.”
His similarly aged Thunder teammates include Jack Verrenkamp, Brady Turner, Jed Turner, James Bent, Thomas Armstrong, Lachlan Pfeffer and Cohen Munt.
“You’ve just got to keep positive around the boys,” Brown said.
“It’s a good vibe between all the players.
“No one gets angry at each other.”
Thunder batsman Henry Brown gives the ball to Northsiders wicketkeeper Nathan Fisher during a first-grade match this season. Photo: LYLE RADFORD
Brown, who grew up in Mt Crosby, recently finished year 11 at Ipswich Grammar School.
He appreciates having captain Mitch Raine, a HPE teacher at Walloon State School, being a major influence.
“It’s good with him and a couple of older players leading us through and teaching us,” Brown said.
“We’re always looking for a bit of positivity.
“We’ve just got to keep our heads down, keep pushing forward.
“It’s hard but it’s good to see the boys rock up every week.”
Being a senior player aged 27, Raine enjoys encouraging the teenagers keen to learn.
“It’s just making sure they keep turning up and having a good crack each week,” Raine said.
“Every time I go to field, I’m happy with the boys. They try hard.”
Raine said his players aged 15-17 were “very coachable”.
“They listen and they learn every week,” he said.
“They have a good attitude. They are a good bunch of kids.
“It’s all good fun.”
Brown said new head coach Brad Murphy was also assisting the team around his Queensland coaching commitments.
“We have a fielding session on Tuesday,” Brown said.
“And then going into the nets, he has been helping everyone with their batting from first grade to third grade, which is good.”
Brown is a right-handed batter who shares the wicketkeeping duties.
Photo: LYLE RADFORD
Injured spearhead Ray Coleman (pictured) is hoping to return after the Christmas break.
“He [Coleman] would have been good on this wicket,” Brown said leaving the Cribb Park field at North Ipswich.
“But unfortunately he’s been out the last couple of weeks.
“He came down last weekend to support the boys, which is good.”
Brown said another young bowling prospect Pfeffer was stepping up.
“He’s been taking a few wickets every week,” Brown said.
But for Brown and his teenage teammates, the main focus is becoming better cricketers facing more seasoned opponents in teams like Centrals, Laidley and Northsiders.
“It’s good experience to face those people, the stronger sides,” Brown said.
“Even Gatton [the Vikings] have been pretty good this season. So its been good, especially being in that younger age group.
“We haven’t really experienced that before.’’
Thunder’s next first grade encounter is a two-day clash against Laidley at Bichel Oval starting January 13.