Vines in with shot at Shield after ton
GEELONG skipper Eamonn Vines has emerged as a “player of interest” after a brilliant century for Victoria yesterday.
Cricket Victoria highperformance academy coach Jarrad Loughman made the observation after Vines crafted an unbeaten 154 in the Futures League clash against South Australia.
The knock at Dandenong’s Shepley Oval takes his season tally to 562 in just six matches and has him banging down the door of selection with the Bushrangers.
“As a non-contracted player, he’s doing everything right,” Loughman said.
“When you come from outside the contracted list, you do need to go above and beyond and it’s not easy. It’s obvious that you need to score runs but you need big runs.
“How close is he? There’s some really good batters in that Shield side and all he can do is worry about the next ball that’s in his face.
“But if you’re racking up runs it gives you credits. It may not be right now, but if there’s an opportunity, he could be in a position (for a call-up).
“Without knowing where he sits, he’s a player of interest. To get a 100 and then get to 150 overnight is really big as well. He’s doing all the right things.”
Vines registered 18 boundaries as Victoria went to stumps at 7-340 from 96 overs on day one of the four-day clash.
“He played beautifully,” Loughman said.
“He faced 246 balls and it was almost the perfect opener’s innings in a four-day game where he had the blend of batting time but also keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
“There’s good value for money square of the wicket at Shepley Oval and any time they (South Australia) bowled short he punished them or if they bowled wide he drove the ball square very well. “It was a great innings.” Vines has attributed much of his early-season form to coach Andre Borovec, who urged him to be patient and occupy the crease.
Loughman said Vines’ ability to dig in was a highlight of the first day’s play.
“What he showed today is he’s in form, so regardless of the format, he looked like a guy who’s made 400 runs,” he said.
“He was just so crisp with his footwork and the positions he was getting in.”