BRISBANE, May 20 AAP - Jimmy Maher took the final step available to him in Queensland cricket today when he was appointed the state's new captain.

Maher was preferred to his Australian one-day teammate Matthew Hayden and Bulls veterans Martin Love and Wade Seccombe when selectors decided on a replacement for Stuart Law, who stepped down in March after leading the Bulls to their third successive championship.

The appointment completes the Queensland playing resume for the 28-year-old Maher, who had long been tagged a future first-class player during his teenage years in Babinda.

He led the state under-17 team and quickly forced his way into the state senior team before the historic Sheffield Shield final triumph in 1994-95.

But Maher, in the nicest possible way, would prefer to be unavailable for Queensland next March when the Bulls try to win their sixth championship in nine seasons.

He would rather be playing in Australia's World Cup defence in South Africa after breaking back into the national one-day team two months ago.

"Everyone wants to play for their country and hopefully I can push into the World Cup and beyond," Maher said.

"And I'm still dying to get into the Test team at some stage but it's a tremendous honour to be named captain of Queensland and it's something that you dream of as a kid.

"I hold no fears about the role and with the unit we have and the experience around and the young guys, there is plenty to look forward to."

Maher is seen as a link between Queensland's ageing group and its emerging players, including by 20-year-old international spinner Nathan Hauritz.

Maher led Queensland against South Australia in February, when Law and Hayden were unavailable, scoring 66 and 52 as the Bulls marched to a 106-run victory in his 100th career match.

Like Australian one-day captain Ricky Ponting, who attended the cricket academy in the same year, Maher has grown up with cricket and has matured over the last few years.

His wife Deb is expecting the couple's first child in June, when Maher will be in camp with the Australian team for the three-match one-day series against Pakistan.

"It is exciting times and you're always waiting for something bad to happen so hopefully we don't lose our first game," he said.

If Maher retains his place in the national one-day team, he will miss at least half of the next domestic season, while Hayden probably won't play a match if he remains in the Test and one-day squads.

Maher will have the support of Law, Love and other regular faces like Michael Kasprowicz and Seccombe and the new skipper wants to involve his team.

"It's not going to be a Jimmy Maher-run show," Maher said.

"I'm the sort of person that will listen to a lot of people's ideas, whether they've played one game or a hundred games."

© 2002 AAP

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.