![\"Nick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/1794033861_39_441fcc43b663461ee537a1fa43bde38dbfcd68a8.png\")
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November 7, 2026 \u2014 2:40pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n No gift articles left<\/p>\n You’ve used all of your gift articles. 3 more will become available on the 1st of every month.<\/p>\n Close<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Jokes radiate throughout Queensland\u2019s cricket scene when it comes to Jem Ryan, though there would be few quips that are as flattering as what the blossoming paceman receives.<\/p>\n His teammates often refer to him as \u201cTemu Barrel\u201d or \u201cBaby Barrel\u201d, according to former New Zealand international Hamish Bennett, for his similarities to Test sensation Scott Boland in how he goes about his business on the field.<\/p>\n \u201cHe sort of possesses [the Boland traits] \u2013 he bowls over perpendicular, he can move the ball and wing the ball both ways if he wants, but he just focuses on control, which is one of his strengths,\u201d the Bulls bowling coach told this masthead.<\/p>\n \u201cHe doesn\u2019t try to get too fancy or too clever, he just repeats and repeats ball after ball, and it\u2019s really impressive to watch. I think he\u2019s probably someone who is just a born bowler.\u201d<\/p>\n Bennett laughed that Ryan perhaps considered himself to be a budding AFL star before honing his focus on cricket, given his older brother Samson managed 31 games for the Richmond Tigers between 2021 and 2026. The latter has since inked a contract with the North Melbourne Kangaroos.<\/p>\n But the 22-year-old has pursued his ambition to become a future spearhead of the Baggy Green, as he leads a contingent of six Queensland quicks all aged 22 or under eager to announce themselves as potential successors to Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.<\/p>\n Related Article While Ryan had battled some stress-related injuries in his juniors, Bennett said those setbacks had not been cricket-caused, until he suffered a side strain in the Bulls\u2019 drawn clash with Victoria at the Gabba last week.<\/p>\n That concern kept him from bowling on day four, having taken three wickets in each innings \u2013 including the scalps of former Test batsmen Peter Handscomb and Marcus Harris in each knock, and international squad member for the South Africa series Sam Harper in the second dig.<\/p>\n Ryan has now claimed a wicket in each of his Sheffield Shield innings across six matches, with Bulls interim skipper Mitch Swepson revealing changes to the youngster\u2019s run-up had been key in reaping rewards.<\/p>\n \u201cI know that was one thing this preseason he worked a lot on, and the more preseasons you do the stronger you get, the more you trust your body, and the more you get your recovery right, so he\u2019s ticking all those boxes,\u201d Swepson said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d think he\u2019s been playing for seasons, he just locks in, and it\u2019s unfortunate he\u2019s done a little injury \u2013 we\u2019ll see how long that puts him out for. Hopefully, he gets back soon because he\u2019s in a lovely rhythm at the moment \u2026 and adds a lot to our attack.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re seeing out there a pretty formidable bowler when he gets it right.\u201d<\/p>\n Bennett elaborated that run-up tweak came back to shortening his charge, having approached the crease in a \u201cstatic\u201d fashion only to have now found greater rhythm.<\/p>\n But Ryan is not alone in pushing his credentials as a man for national selectors to watch once the nation\u2019s superstar trio draw the curtain on their careers.<\/p>\n Within the Bulls\u2019 ranks is an emerging cartel \u2013 Charles Lachmund, Callum Vidler, Thomas Straker, Tom Balkin, Ollie Patterson and Ryan \u2013 who are all in the fledgling stages of their professional tenures, and bring versatile assets to the state set-up.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cThe great thing is they\u2019ve all got different character traits and different skills. Some possess pace, some possess height, some swing it, some nip it, some are bounce bowlers, and some rely purely on air speed,\u201d Bennett said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the variety of the bowlers is probably the most exciting bit; not one of them is the same, and when you go against different state teams it\u2019s always nice having that variation in your attack and those subtle differences.\u201d<\/p>\n Injuries have derailed several of the group throughout the fledgling stages of their careers, with Vidler \u2013 who regularly clocks speeds of well faster than 140km\/h \u2013 slowly being managed back from stress fractures in his back, having not been sighted on the field since March 2025.<\/p>\n Related Article Lachmund, meanwhile, took 12 wickets at an average of 16.33 at this year\u2019s Under-19s One-Day World Cup and got his first opportunity with Queensland\u2019s Second XI this summer. Bennett hinted the teenager \u2013 capable of bowling regularly beyond 140km\/h \u2013 would be eased towards higher honours.<\/p>\n \u201cThe delicate thing with these young guys who bowl fast is making sure you slowly expose them. White ball cricket is ruthless when you miss your area, the margin for error is small \u2026 and then the demands for Shield cricket are so hard physically,\u201d Bennett said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just about trying to time your run perfectly with whatever format he is going to debut in.\u201d<\/p>\n Bennett said Vidler was working towards hitting top flight around Christmas during the Brisbane Heat\u2019s Big Bash League campaign, referring to the red-haired tearaway as a \u201cFormula One car \u2013 a young 21-year-old kid who can bowl 150km\/h out-swingers\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s looked really impressive in the nets, we clocked him the other day at 145km\/h, so he\u2019s going now, but he\u2019s a Formula 1 car \u2013 you have to slowly get all your mechanics right, and sometimes the slight misalignment or misjudgement can set you back a couple of weeks,\u201d Bennett said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe actually got quite sick in the winter, so he had three weeks off training which really set us back. He\u2019s had some obstacles and hurdles, but we\u2019re looking pretty good now for the BBL.<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully on December 15 we can see him steaming in under lights.\u201d<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Ryan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/15ae66331b26a5803c7509edf9e62c6a4fcdc489.jpeg\")
Ryan is poised to lead the next generation of fast bowlers.AAPIMAGE<\/p>\n![\"Queensland](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/e2d113f66a0b306dc2204f1aa2be00f41a67d12e.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Steve](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/87251d12cdea0937b006a118428c96e81197314f51e5606524db8f494062551a.gif\")
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