A YOUNG Jimboomba spin bowler won selection to represent Queensland in their under 15 cricket squad this year.
Cameron Steinhardt, 14, played six games for the Queensland side since he was appointed on January 17 for National Under-15 Championships.
The specialist off-spinner took two wickets in his first match against ACT with Queensland winning the game.
The under 15 Queensland side made the finals stage against NSW Magenta but lost by 30 runs chasing a total of 270 on Thursday, February 14. at the Sunshine Coast.
Queensland finished on the top of Pool A and secured a spot in the finals after defeating Tasmania in a low scoring affair, easily chasing down 96 runs.
Steinhardt said playing at a state-level was an eye-opening experience.
"It is a pretty big achievement and I was surprised I got selected," he said.
"Being a part of the side is just huge for me. Playing at that level is a new experience. It is a lot more challenging and you have to have more nerve.
"All of my team mates are pretty good mates.We are all from different regions and gelled well enough to make the finals which was pretty impressive."
The Jimboomba Cricket Club member said his priority would be to improve his batting in the future.
"I would say I'm a pretty good bowler...I have a lot of variation and got a few wickets. I would say I'm above average," he said.
"I want to work on my batting as I am pretty low in the (batting) order. I would like to go up to bat at number seven or eight. I'm currently batting at 11."
Steinhardt has been a rising star at the Jimboomba Cricket Club for some time.
The side competed against a range of metro and regional cricket teams.
At the time of selection, Steinhardt said he saw it as a potential stepping stone to play for Queensland.
Steinhardt also has ambitions to play for Australia.
He has identified the most successful leg-spin bowler in Australia's history Shane Warne and Brad Hogg as inspirational players.
Successful cricketers including Shane Watson, Andrew Symonds, Chris Lynn, James Hopes and Nathan Hauritz have progressed through each youth level in the Queensland side before representing Australia at Test or one-day international level.