Chris Hartley's career changed dramatically on September 21, 2005, when he was catapulted on to Australia A's tour of Pakistan on the same day Wade Seccombe announced his retirement after 12 first-class seasons. Brad Haddin, Australia's No. 2, had succumbed to a broken finger and Hartley, the 23-year-old Queensland understudy, beat Victoria's Adam Crosthwaite and Western Australia's Luke Ronchi into the squad for the three-match one-day series.

An Australia Under-19 and Academy representative, Hartley, a hard-hitting left-hander, became the first Queensland player since Matthew Hayden to score a century on state debut when he made 103 against South Australia in 2003-04. The 2005-06 season was also productive with the bat - he hit 401 runs in the Pura Cup and added 188 at 31.33 in the one-day competition - but it was his glovework that was most impressive. Collecting seven catches in the Pura Cup final victory, he finished his first full summer with 53 dismissals, and backed up with another 48 the following year and 33 last summer. Useful batting gains, including 355 Pura Cup runs in 2006-07 and 333 in 2007-08, added value as he continued the fine tradition of Queensland wicketkeepers.
Peter English August 2008

Australia Under-19s 1999/00

Club: Northern Suburbs

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