English recruit playing it cool

HE could yet play a key role in Gold Coast’s pursuit of another major Queensland Premier Cricket scalp but laidback Englishman Will Chapples is making no promises today will be his day.

Still looking to solidify his first grade spot after joining the Dolphins in the off-season, Chapples will be next to bat as teammates Liam HopeShackley (94 not out) and Hugo Burdon (36 not out) resume their rescue mission against Norths at Robina this morning.

Brought together at 3-18 on day one, Hope-Shackley and Burdon produced an unbeaten 130-run stand to put the Dolphins on track for victory after dismissing the Vikings for 181.

With just 34 runs required for first-innings points, today could be a golden opportunity for 26-year-old Chapples, who has posted first-grade scores of 31, 1 and 0 not out after smashing two second-grade hundreds in three knocks.

The former Lancashire Academy member said he was putting no pressure on himself.

“I’m batting next (but) I’m not that person to say I’m going to solidify my spot because then I sound like a twat,” said Chapples, who also offers part-time offspin.

“I reckon I need a couple more performances to solidify my place.

“I don’t really know if I’m in form or not because the next day you can get out for a duck.

“I haven’t come here just to play cricket, my partner is from the

Gold

Coast. I’m not trying to play for the (Queensland) Bulls or anything.

“I’m not trying to make cricket a professional career. I’m just taking it as it comes, there’s no stress.

“I thought it would be a good standard (of cricket) and it is tough. I’ve found it fun.

“The boys are quite welcoming and I’ve tried to fit into the club well.”

With the Dolphins “in a good space” against Norths, Chapples (pictured) heaped praise on his teammates.

“We’ve got some unbelievable talent in our first team, I think our first team is really strong,” he said.

“Liam is an absolute weapon of a player and he’s shown that the last couple of games. Hugo is a class act. He’s very calm and collected so I call him the iceman of the team.

“Obviously we lost wickets early in our innings (last weekend) but Iceman and HopeShackley rebuilt unbelievably. We’re looking quite good.

“I really don’t know what the plan is (today), hopefully we can get as many run as we can and whenever we feel confident we will send them back in and have a crack at them.”

Play against Norths, the 2017-18 champions, resumes at 10am today.