Wanderers desperate to get frontline attack fit
IF they are all fit, Wanderers stand in skipper Grant Dilger is adamant his first string bowling attack is the best the side has had for a decade.
The only issue is he hasn’t seen them all together at once.
The addition of Brothers premiership winner Dylan Debenham has provided raw pace to a Wanderers attack that includes emerging frontline bowlers Caleb Giddy and Jarrod Edmondson.
But with both of their opening seamers sidelined with leg injuries, Debenham has been left to lead the Brown Battlers’ attack alongside exciting juniors Ayman Adiat, Bailey Gould and Declan Murray.
The three teenagers will come
into the A Grade side as Wanderers aim for their first success of the season against fellow winless outfit Northern Beaches at The Green.
“If we lose this weekend, we will have to have a seriously hard look at ourselves going 0-5 to start the season,” Dilger said. “It will be a game we have got to win if we want to factor at all late in the season.
“It will be tough missing our two opening bowlers. Giddy got our player of the match last week against Wests after his figures of 0-28 from 10 overs against a side that scored 250. He has done a knee strain and Jarrod has done a calf muscle, they will be out for a bit.”
Dilger said it was great for Wanderers to have a speed weapon like Debenham return to the club this season after spending the past few years with the Fish.
The young fast bowler, who has been picked in the North Queensland under-21 squad, will add plenty to a Wanderers side desperate to bring success back to the club.
“He is a Wanderers junior who went off in search of a premiership and won one at Brothers and now he has come back to his home team,” Dilger said.
“He said he has always wanted to come back and it is great to see him taking the new ball for us.
“It is the most exciting attack we have had in the last eight years, add in the economy bowlers like Phil Angel and Chris Ahern, and it is a really well balanced bowling attack.
“The three fast bowlers can go hell for leather at one end and we should be keeping teams to 150 and letting us batters go to work.”
Early season frontrunners Wests will go head-to-head with Norths at Mick Downey Oval while Brothers host Sub Parks at John Mcculloch Oval.