Hopes to lead QAS in opener

Allrounder James Hopes will captain the Queensland Academy of Sportteam in its opening ACB Cup 2nd XI match next week in a team aboundingwith XXXX Queensland Bulls squad teammates.Hopes is one of eight Bulls contracted players in the 12-man team thatwill take on Victoria in the four-day 2nd XI match at Allan BorderField from Monday.Hopes, who played the final three matches of the Bulls ING Cupcampaign with a stress fracture in his foot last season, is joined inthe team by batsmen Jerry Cassell, Daniel Payne and Clinton Perren,wicket-keeper Chris Hartley, pace bowlers Damien MacKenzie and ScottBrant and left-arm spinner Matthew Anderson. All bar Hartley havefirst class experience.The rest of the team is made up of QAS squad players Chris Simpson, aBulls rookie contracted player in 2002-03, Duncan Betts, MatthewPetrie and Scott O’Leary, a Bulls squad member last season.The Bulls and QAS squads are presently on South Stradbroke Islandenduring a “Survivor-style” training camp that continues untiltomorrow.Queensland Academy of Sport v Victorian 2nd XI, Monday Oct 7-10:James Hopes (c), Jerry Cassell, Duncan Betts, Daniel Payne, ClintonPerren, Chris Simpson, Chris Hartley, Damien MacKenzie, Scott O’Leary,Matthew Anderson, Scott Brant, Matthew Petrie (all 12 to play).