Kruger to make Bulls debut

Teenage left-hander Nick Kruger will make his State debut this weekend when the XXXX Queensland Bulls take on Australia Country in Bundaberg.

Kruger, 19, was twelfth man for the Bulls in their outright Pura Cup win over the Western Warriors in Perth on Monday but will turn out for Queensland for the first time in the one-day match that is part of the Australian Country championships in Bundaberg.

Test batsman Martin Love will spearhead the Bulls line-up, which also contains Australia 'A' representative Nathan Hauritz.

Kruger, a graduate from the Queensland Under-19 team last season, is likely to bat down the order although he impressed facing the new ball during the Institute Challenge Series in Darwin in the pre-season, reeling off 116 not out, including a century in 68 balls, against NSW.

The captain of the team will be named on Friday. The Bulls will travel to Bundaberg on Saturday.

Queensland will use the match to prepare for next week's ING Cup match against the Southern Redbacks at the Gabba on Friday, January 17.

Queensland Cricket great Carl Rackemann will coach the Australian Country team. Interestingly, Bulls coach Terry Oliver is a former Queensland Country and Australian County coach.

The Australian County team will be named on Friday after the first two rounds of the championships. Queensland are the reigning title-holders and lead the championships part-way through their second game against Victoria following their comfortable win over NSW on Monday.

XXXX Queensland Bulls v Australian Country, Bundaberg, Sunday: Martin Love, Daniel Payne, Lee Carseldine, Clinton Perren, Brendan Nash, James Hopes, Nick Kruger, Wade Seccombe, Michael Kasprowicz, Nathan Hauritz, Damien MacKenzie, Scott Brant (all twelve to play, captain to be advised).