JAN JUC SPINS UP A PLAN
JAN Juc is set to load up on spin in a bid to quell an unbeaten Drysdale side when BPCA action resumes tomorrow.
The Sharks, who currently sit seventh on the BPCA ladder with three wins, are set to play three spinners alongside sole paceman Lyndon Mitchell, with fellow pace bowler Josh Norman unavailable.
Number four batsman Will Tamassy will also miss the rest of the season because of preseason football commitments.
Captain-coach Ben Grinter revealed leg-spinning allrounder Jack Duffy would make his A-grade debut, slotting into the middle-order and joining Iva and Lyle Priest as the side’s brigade of spinners.
“At this stage we’ll probably look to go with one front line paceman and three spinners … we’ve got Josh Norman who’s overseas at the minute so he’ll be unavailable to play this week so there’ll be a few changes,” Grinter said.
“We’ll be a different-look side, we’ve lost Will Tamassy now for the season due to Geelong Falcons commitments so we need to fill a big hole at number four there.”
Tamassy’s absence is set to be felt hard, with the batsman sitting eighth on the A-grade run-scorers’ list this season with 206 at an average of just over 34. The likes of Will Pomorin or Lyle Priest are set to move up the order in his place.
Grinter also indicated the trio of spinners would likely lead the attack early in their bowling innings at Drysdale Recreation Reserve after employing the tactic in their Round 6 loss to reigning premiers Colendina.
“We opened up with Lyle Priest and Iva Priest against Collendina, and they still managed to chase our runs five or six (wickets) down, but we feel early on when sides are looking to get their innings up and going, if you can take the pace off the ball and bowl tight it puts a lot of pressure on them and it makes them have to take a risk to get the ball either through (the field) or over the top,” he said.
Second-placed Drysdale will also be looking to start the new year on a good note after a close shave against bottomplaced Little River before the break.
“Hopefully we can get lucky and get Jason Malcolm and ‘Cutters’ (Shane Cutajar) and Jacko Mallet nice and early but we’ll just see how it pans out, (or) hopefully we win the toss and have a bat, but we’ll have to wait and see,” Grinter said.