Gold Coast Dolphins all-rounder Josh Kann admits surprise at National U19 Championships form

GOLD Coast Dolphins all-rounder Josh Kann admits he surprised even himself with a National Under-19 Championships campaign that has catapulted him into Australian colours.

With 228 lower-order runs at 32.57 and 11 wickets at 20.7, Kann was an obvious choice in the Australian under-19 squad following Queensland’s loss to ACT/NSW Country in a rain-affected final on Thursday.

The 18-year-old will now turn his attention to next month’s tour of Sri Lanka, where the Australians will play three one-day matches (January 3, 5 and 7) before a three-day fixture from January 10-12.

Having snuck into the Queensland squad alongside Dolphins teammate Hugo Burdon, Kann said his efforts in Adelaide were a more-than-welcome shock.

Gold Coast Dolphins' Josh Kann in action for Queensland at the National Under-19 Cricket Championships in Adelaide.

“Going back a little while I didn’t even think I was going to make the Queensland team so I did surprise myself,” The Southport School product said.

“I thought I had a pretty good carnival with bat and ball. I think the team helped me out a bit with batting, they set me up with a good platform with batting.

“It’s a goal I’ve had for a while (to make Australian under-19s) and I’ve been working hard for a long time for it, especially in the last six months. I’m just really looking forward to play in Australian colours but also adapting my game to the conditions over there (in Sri Lanka).

“I’ve never been overseas. I think it will be quite challenging.”

Dolphins and Queensland under-19 batsman Hugo Burdon.

Before then, Kann will fight to keep the Dolphins in the finals hunt in Queensland Premier Cricket’s Twenty20 competition away to Ipswich-Logan ON Saturday.

It is the final game before the two-week Christmas break and follows the opening weekend of T20 fixtures, where the Coast side registered one win and two losses.

“We have a really good team on paper so hopefully we can get a win tomorrow and set us up for January. (T20) is pretty similar to what I have been playing the last couple of weeks,” Kann said.

In the Katherine Raymont Shield one-day competition, the Dolphins’ women will look to consolidate their top-four spot at home to University of Queensland on Sunday.