TWO BLUES BATTING STAR CAUGHT SHORT OF TON
WHILE the weekend’s inclement weather hit pause on the Geelong Cricket Association season once again, it also momentarily held up a richly deserved, and unexpected milestone for Newtown & Chilwell allrounder George Chisholm.
Primarily regarded for his exploits with the bat, the season’s seventh washout sadly left the Two Blues’ popular spinner hanging on 99 First XI wickets for another week.
“As a batting all-rounder it’s never something that I thought I would do, but to tick off 100 first XI wickets will be a really cool achievement,” Chisholm said.
“It’s certainly something that I don’t take for granted, it’s something that I will be super excited to achieve and hopefully I can get it next week.”
The unseasonal weather also momentarily halted Chisholm’s blistering start to the season with the bat.
The elegant stroke-player crafted an opening round 101ball 65 against Lara, only dismissed in the desperate late quest for runs to push the tally beyond the Cats’ reach.
“I was genuinely thrilled with that start,” Chisholm said.
“Moving down to Geelong from Melbourne I’ve been able to get a pretty decent pre-season under my belt, so to be able to see the work that I’ve done come to fruition was really pleasing.
“I must say I’d been batting for 20 overs and was pretty tired by that late stage against Lara, so I was out trying to get one over the top with just a few balls remaining.”
While another George – English-import George Rhodes – stole the limelight with an imperious 107-ball 104, Chisholm was more than happy to assume second fiddle in the Two Blues’ destructive 121-run stand for the fourth wicket.
“It was really nice to be able to post that partnership with George in the first round,” Chisholm said.
With the opening round success under its belt,
Chisholm is highly optimistic for Newtown’s prospects, particularly following the appointment of Tom Meredith to build on the significant foundation laid by former director of coaching Dev Royce and departed coach Shane Murdoch.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing alongside Shane for the past few seasons and Dev has been a role model and like an older brother to me for a long time; when he gives me advice it’s not something that I take lightly,” Chisholm said.
“But Tom Meredith has come in with a new way of going about things, training is a lot about working hard on the things that each player is good at.
“For me personally I get to have a bit more time in the nets because I am in that top order and then I get to spend a little time on my bowling.”
To tick off 100 wickets will be a really cool achievement. GEORGE CHISHOLM