Clinton Perren

A 1995 Academy graduate who made his first-class debut in 1998-99, Clinton Perren grew into a first-choice batsman for Queensland over the next decade and sealed his place in the state's history during the record-breaking 2005-06 Pura Cup final. The Bulls lifted the trophy after Perren's 173 put them on track for a first-innings total of 6 for 900 declared and he combined with Shane Watson in a 329-run stand, which set a new Queensland mark for the fourth wicket.

Big partnerships and big scores have been a feature of the career of Perren, a versatile right-hander who broke through as Pura Cup player of the Year in 2002-03. That summer he collected the fourth-highest score by a Queenslander at the Gabba with 224 when opening against South Australia, and was picked on a national assimilation tour to India. In 2003 he was chosen to play for Australia A against South Africa A, and posted 369 for the second wicket with Stuart Law against Western Australia in 2003-04.

Perren has completed regular club stints in England and his desire to improve has made him a heavy contributor in both forms of the game. His maiden ING Cup century came against Tasmania in 2004-05 and last summer he became the second player to appear in 100 one-day games for the Bulls. He is currently Queensland's second-highest run-scorer in the 50-over format, but was left out of the 2008-09 final victory over Victoria. In a difficult summer, he made 274 FR Cup runs and appeared in only three Sheffield Shield matches and no Twenty20s.

In 2005-06 he played in every game for the Bulls, picking up 753 Pura Cup runs at 47.06 and 336 at 33.60 in the one-day arena, and the following summer led the FR Cup competition with 470 at 58.75. Four fifties, including a 99, and a 110 against New South Wales boosted his domestic first-class collection by 594. However, he was cut from the Pura Cup and FR Cup teams towards the end of 2007-08 after below-par contributions, but was told by the selectors he remained in their plans.
Peter English May 2009