Sport
18 May, 2026
Johnston captains Qld team
LOCAL cricket superstar Rhys Johnston just recently returned from captaining the Queensland U19 schoolboys cricket team where he was also named team MVP.
Johnston captained the representative squad as part of the QLD vs NSW Under 19 Schoolboys Cricket Exchange, which was recently held over five days in Maroochydore.
The Exchange was supposed to include a three-day match, a 50-over match, and a T20 game, however, due to rain washing out days two, four, and five, only the three-day match went ahead.
Johnston said his team worked really hard throughout the match but NSW proved too gritty and patient in their approach. In the first innings, Queensland bowled first and spent 128 overs in the field, with their opponents scoring 345 runs.
“We then went into bat and scored 124 runs from 47 overs before rain interrupted play. Overall, the match ended in a draw, which meant NSW retained the trophy,” Johnston said.
Captaining the state team for his age group was a massive honour for the young cricket prodigy.
“Being named captain of the Queensland schoolboys team was a massive honour for me. Representing my state against a strong NSW side in a three-day match was something I am really proud of, and it’s an experience I’ll always remember,” the Malanda State High student said.
“Taking on the responsibility of captaincy was exciting but also challenging. I had to lead by example both on and off the field, make decisions under pressure, and help keep the team focused throughout a long-format game.
“It was a good opportunity because I got to compete with, and against, some of the best players in the country for my age group. Playing at that level pushed me to improve my own game and gave me a better understanding of what high-performance cricket looks like.”
