Queensland connection a boost for PNG cricket

Queensland's Academy of Sport cricket team are set to provide cricket in Papua New Guinea with a significant boost later this month.

The Papua New Guinea (PNG) side is touring northern Queensland as part of working relationship that has been established between Queensland Cricket and the PNG Cricket Association, a relationship backed by both the Australian Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council.

Promising Toowoomba allrounder Peter Reimers will captain the Academy team in a one and two-day match.

Matches will also be played against a Queensland Academy of Sport invitation team and Far North County and Far North City selections.

The QAS teams will include several members of the regional academy program as well as other regionally-based players who have been identified as talented performers.

The QAS side led by Reimers will include Queensland and Australian Under-19 leg-spinner Luke Davis from Beenleigh, Gladstone's Queensland Under-19 pace bowler Matt Turich, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission chairman's XI allrounder Damien Watts from Charleville and Queensland Colts batsman Aaron Maynard from Sunshine Coast.

The tour opens in Cairns on May 23 with a one-day game against a QAS Invitation XII. Then at Innisfail on May 24, PNG will play Far North Country. The team will then play a two-day game against the Academy side at Bundaberg Rum Stadium on May 25-26. They will have a rest day on May 27 and then a one-day game, at the same venue, against QAS.

The tour will end with a day/night game against Far North City on May 30.

The QAS invitation team is: Sean Death (Townsville), Todd Schloss (Townsville), Anthony Eden (Kingaroy), Graham Ashburner (Mackay), James Spargo (Townsville), Mathew Groves (Townsville), Matthew Burton (Townsville), Dean Hanrahan (Cairns), Michael Salerno (Mareeba), Mathew Jones (Cairns), Trevor Roy (Mareeba-Townsville), Scott Wells (Cairns). Coaches: Steven Baker, Richard Done.

The QAS team is: Luke Davis (Brisbane), Ryan Schulte (Bundaberg), Anthony Eden (Kingaroy), James Spargo (Townsville), Aaron Maynard (Sunshine Coast), Peter Reimers - captain (Toowoomba), Matthew Burton (Townsville), Graham Ashburner (Mackay), Reece Neyland (Mackay), Dean Hanrahan (Cairns), Tony Hampson (Toowoomba), Matthew Turich (Gladstone), Damiel Watts (Charleville). Coaches: Steven Baker, Richard Done.