HYDE IN PLAIN SIGHT

Lachlan Hyde is not one to shirk an issue. Even given his prodigious talent as a young player, the now 20-year-old could not have assigned himself a more difficult task than to break into the two-time GCA1-winning North Geelong side. Raised in Cobram, with an all-round game honed on the fast, hard tracks of the Murray Valley Cricket Association, Hyde delivered on the faith shown by Magpies skipper Tom Mathieson to claim a game-shaping 4-24 against Bell Post Hill. Reflecting on his meteoric rise, that first began as a 13-year-old in the border’s A-grade competition, Hyde spoke with GCA1 reporter WES CUSWORTH.

WES CUSWORTH:

Congratulations on how your maiden GCA1 season is playing out. I believe it was former Magpies coach Nathan Fitzpatrick who was the connection to getting you to North Geelong.

LACHLAN HYDE: Yes, Fitzy had coached me in Northern Rivers representative cricket. I was heading to Geelong for university, so he put me in contact with Jack Hall at North. Initially I was able to train there while I was going back to play at Cobram on the weekend. I wasn’t diving straight into the deep end when I first arrived at North. I had played some Southern Riverina representative cricket with Layton and Alistair McCann, along with Brayden McGregor.

WC: In recognising the talent you were competing with at North, you clearly had no qualms about backing yourself.

LH: Moving into pre-season Mitch Troy had indicated that there was a spot in the ones, but not straight away. I was doing a lot of batting work in preseason, so they didn’t really know much about my bowling. It wasn’t until we got into the practice matches and intraclub games that they saw my bowling. Being named in the ones from the start of the season came as a bit of a shock and it’s something I’m proud of.

WC: Who has taken you under their wing at North Geelong?

LH: Layton McCann has done a bit of work with me in a batting sense. In terms of bowling, I’ve been able to feed off the knowledge of Tom Mathieson. We know he is one of the best bowlers in the GCA. Mitch Troy has pushed me along, trying to get the best out of me. It’s something he does with everyone.

WC: I am aware that you played in the unique Goulburn Murray region franchise-based T20 competition, which is a bit like the Big Bash League. Given there are a few of the Magpies who head north for that competition, did that give you some connection to the club too?

LH: I got to know Layton and Alistair McCann, along with Mitch Troy when I was playing for the Panthers against their side the Mud Dogs.

WC: The 2016-17 season proved a real breakout summer for you with 21 Murray Valley A-grade wickets at an average of 15.05, particularly given you were still only 15 by season’s end.

LH: I was pretty shocked at the end of the season and when I look back on that it was a decent effort. I was opening the bowling and we had some pretty good players in what was a strong competition, so I’m pretty happy with that.

WC: Your record at Cobram shows you had a far more significant role with the bat than you enjoy at North. Do you just have to accept that you’ve come into a batting side with great depth that has pushed you down the order?

LH: Pretty much. At

Cobram I was batting top three, but I knew in talking with (co-coach) Craig Biddiscombe that I was going to be more of a bowler in the ones. It forced me to work more on my bowling and making sure that I was hitting my lines. We do have depth, it’s crazy because we have Tom Mathieson batting at nine now. He could bat top five in our team. I’m not disappointed about not getting a bat each week, I’m just happy to be playing ones. I’ll be happy to take my opportunity when it comes, so I’ll keep working on both aspects of my cricket.

WC: The sunbaked region of the Murray Valley makes for some hard and fast tracks, while we know that Geelong can be a little different and offer a bit of variety in conditions over any given summer. Has it taken much to adjust to Geelong wickets?

LH: It has a little. The pace isn’t there, like up at Cobram. It has an impact on where you bowl and the fields that you set. Geelong wickets offer a little bit more off the seam. There are some slower outfields too, which means that when you’re batting you try to hit your sweepers rather than hit fours.

WC: Is there anyone at the elite level that you’ve modelled your game on?

LH: I was at a Vic training session and one of the coaches asked if I’d modelled my bowling action on Jimmy Anderson, because he thought it was similar. Pushing forward I reckon someone like Mitch Marsh as he is a traditional all-rounder. He has the potential to take the game away with both bat and ball.

WC: Tom Mathieson has thrown you the ball at various times, often when batsmen are set and really going. How has it felt to be trusted by Tom to put the clamps on and claw back the run rate?

LH: It’s been great to be given that responsibility and to know the captain and club have the belief in me. I was pretty nervous for my first few overs, but that role of bowling the middle overs rather than upfront is something I have been able to perform with Cobram. I suppose that was evident in the last game where Bell Post Hill got to 1-90 and I was able to get a few quick wickets and change the game.

WC: You have St Joseph’s this week, one of a number of clubs you’ll see for the first time over the remaining eight rounds. Are you happy to take those challenges as they come, or do you rely heavily on the advice of your teammates?

LH: I’ll speak with Tom Mathieson about certain batsmen, their strengths and weaknesses, so I know where to bowl and what field to set. I do get some feedback from the playing group, but I’ll adapt as the game goes on.