For the first time in a number of years, the AIC Cricket season was able to play almost every round of the season with little or no disruptions. After the previous 3 years that have resulted in the cricket season being disrupted by severe weather, COVID or in some cases both, the 2023 season allowed AIC Cricket players an opportunity to shine every week.
1st XI Competition
This season’s First XI competition was one of the closest on memory with up to six schools still in contention to win the premiership with only two rounds to play. The closeness of the competition was further highlighted with the large number of fixtures throughout the season coming down to the final over of the game, and in some cases, the final ball of the match. Congratulations to Marist College Ashgrove who claimed the First XI premiership. St Patrick’s College and Villanova College were joint runners-up.
Year Level Premierships
Year level premierships were shared amongst 5 schools in 2023. Villanova (7A, 9A, 9B, 2nd XI) and St Patrick’s (7C, 8A, 8B, 8C) led the way with 4 premierships each outside the First XI competition. Iona (7B, 10A), Marist College Ashgrove (10B, 3rd XI) and St Laurence’s (8C) also claimed premierships at the end of the season. Across the divisions that premierships are not awarded, including primary years, a number of schools also went through the season undefeated.
Aggregate Competition
The overall aggregate competition was retained by Villanova College. This was the sixth time in AIC history Villanova had won the title as champion overall Cricket school. 2023 success joined their other aggregate winning years of 2012, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021. St Patrick’s College were the huge improvers in the overall aggregate, finishing 2nd, the best finish in this competition for St Patrick’s in the 25-years of AIC. St Patrick’s has strong foundation from this year and should push for the overall aggregate in 2024. Iona College finished 3rd.
Outstanding Performances
This season there was a number of outstanding performances with the Bat, Ball and in the Field. Arguably the two most outstanding performances in individual innings for the season came from Zayne Thomas – Iona First XI – 252 not out; and Toby Collins – Iona 10A – 245 not out. Scoring a century in any AIC fixture is a huge accomplishment, scoring double centuries in an AIC innings is almost unprecedented.
Both boys in those innings combined with team mates to score partnership records for the AIC competition.
First XI Record Partnership: 317 – Zayne Thomas and Harley Malpass (118no)
All Age Record Partnership (10A Fixture): 403 – Toby Collins and Joshua Ritchie (128 no).
Other batting achievements included William Nickelson – Marist College Ashgrove First XI – scoring two centuries and two half-centuries in the competition to finish the season with an average of over 100. In the 7A competition, St Laurence’s Gus Jones-Sheppard became the first student from that College to score back-to-back centuries in consecutive weeks in the 25 years of AIC competition.
On the bowling front, Louis Morris (Marist College Ashgrove) was outstanding in the First XI with match figures throughout the season including 4/12 (10 overs) and 5/7 (10 overs). A number of boys in the year level competitions claimed 5 wicket hauls and elusive hat-tricks.
In 2023, the Association further strengthened its relationship with Queensland Cricket. This relationship with the governing body in our State, will benefit all cricketers in the AIC in the future.
