Sheffield Shield: Sam Heazlett delisted by Queensland, Kane Richardson likely to join freelance circuit, Ben McDermott heads home
Once identified as a future star, Sam Heazlett has been axed by Queensland. But an Aussie white-ball blaster has rejoined the state and a paceman is set to become a freelancer.
Handed an Australian debut at 21, Sam Heazlett has been let go by Queensland at 27, while white-ball specialist Kane Richardson is also likely to drop off the Bulls list as he explores a future on the short-form circuit.
They are among the noteworthy likely changes to the Bulls’ list for 2023-24, set to be formally unveiled in the coming days and which will feature white-ball blaster Ben McDermott who has returned home from Tasmania.
McDermott, who has played five one-day internationals and 23 Twenty20 internationals for Australia, started his career in Queensland before coming into his own in the Apple Isle. However having started a family, McDermott will continue his career in maroon, where his father Craig is a legendary figure.
Heazlett finds himself in the wilderness however, more than six years since his lone and shock ODI appearance for Australia.
The left-hander was drafted into the Aussie squad at 21 for a white-ball tour of New Zealand in early 2017 despite having not yet played a one-dayer for Queensland.
He was out for four in Auckland in a match probably best remembered for a Marcus Stoinis century that almost drove Australia back from the brink.
The decision to pick Heazlett was controversial at the time, with national selector Greg Chappell, renowned for backing young talent, strongly defending the call.
“We believe Sam is a young bloke who has a great future and he was going to get the most benefit out of it,” Chappell told Fox Sports.
“It’s a fabulous investment and we would’ve been negligent in our job if we hadn’t taken that opportunity (to play Heazlett).”
Heazlett has not kicked on as hoped though, averaging less than 30 through 41 first-class matches.
On one-day performances he can consider himself more unlucky to be discarded, given he averages 42.58 in List A cricket with a strike rate of 97.37.
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As recently as February, Heazlett posted a one-day ton against Victoria at the MCG.
He has also been on the fringes of the Brisbane Heat team, making 34 in the Big Bash League final loss to the Perth Scorchers earlier that month.
Paceman Richardson, 32, has been around the fringes of Australia’s white-ball sides for years and played at the most recent T20 World Cup. He spent one season on Queensland’s list after making his way in South Australia but is no longer centrally contracted, with his probable omission from the Bulls’ list set to allow him greater flexibility with lucrative T20 leagues.
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