Left-arm spinner Zanden Jeh and all-rounder Hayden Kerr will both wear Queensland colours in 2025-26, the state confirming its final contract list on Thursday.
Jeh, 22, is the headline move. He has never played a Sheffield Shield match yet found himself bowling for Australia A in Darwin earlier this month. Two four-day games and a one-day outing against Sri Lanka A were enough to trigger Cricket Australia’s automatic upgrade clause, so Queensland had to make room – hardly a chore, given the early signs. The Tasmanian-born slow-bowler picked up four wickets on tour and, more importantly, impressed coaches with his rhythm and calm approach.
Kerr, 29, arrives on a two-year deal after New South Wales let him go in March. A right-hand bat who swings the ball left-arm, he has shown flashes in nine first-class and 13 List A appearances, plus several productive Big Bash campaigns for the Sydney Sixers. Ben McDermott’s decision to head back to Tasmania opened the vacancy; Kerr fills it and, the Bulls hope, strengthens a pace group that lost Liam Guthrie to an English county contract.
Queensland’s general manager of elite cricket, Joe Dawes, summed up the twin signings in practical fashion. “We are very excited to have Zanden on our list after he narrowly missed out on a contract this season,” Dawes said. “He no doubt learnt a lot and performed really well in Darwin, and I know the coaches are excited at having him in and around the group fulltime.
“With Liam Guthrie relocating to England, Hayden will reinforce our pace bowling depth and add his left-arm variety to the squad. He’s a talented all-round cricketer who has had a few injury setbacks in the past, so we’re excited to provide an environment for him to showcase his skill.”
Those comments reflect two broader themes. First, Queensland have quietly chased variety in recent years; Jeh’s left-arm orthodox spin offers something different to leg-spinner Mitch Swepson and off-spinner Jack Sinfield. Second, the Bulls are banking on fresh legs rather than big-name signings as they rebuild after finishing mid-table in both Shield and One-Day Cup last summer.
Squad in full
Lachy Aitken (rookie), Tom Balkin (rookie), Xavier Bartlett (CA), Max Bryant, Hugo Burdon, Jack Clayton, Lachlan Hearne, Zanden Jeh, Hayden Kerr, Usman Khawaja (CA), Marnus Labuschagne (CA), Angus Lovell, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Jem Ryan (rookie), Matthew Renshaw, Gurinder Sandhu, Jack Sinfield, Mark Steketee, Tom Straker, Mitch Swepson, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Tom Whitney, Jack Wildermuth.
Plenty of youth, a sprinkling of internationals, and now two fresh faces who know opportunity when they see it.
