Top Tiger’s green light
THE Tigers’ surprise equal leading run-scorer is confident he will be right for their next clash after receiving a frightening blow in the victory over Western Australia.
Lawrence Neil-Smith was awarded player of the match in the Tigers’ three-wicket win over the Warriors in Perth, despite only playing two of the four-day contest after being subbed out with concussion.
After taking his maiden five-wicket haul in the first innings, Neil-Smith was elevated to No.3 on day one as nightwatchman, and produced a knock of 60 – the highest individual score of the match.
But in that innings, NeilSmith copped a direct blow from a Lance Morris bouncer on day two. He batted on but failed a cognitive test overnight that saw him replaced by Riley Meredith.
“It is a funny one to take in and then to have to sit on the sidelines for the next two days is a pretty strange feeling,” Neil-Smith said.
“It is only game two of the season and looking at it I would rather sit out those two days and play the rest of the year out with no concerns rather than take it on and take another hit, which could really complicate things.
“I’m sitting pretty happy with the decision.”
He has already resumed light running and will partake in full training on Saturday, with a strong hope to be available for the Tigers’ Shield clash with Queensland in Townsville starting on Thursday.
It was the third innings in a row he has done the nightwatchman role, but has returned 159 runs at 79.5 (only equalled by Jordan Silk) and a Tigers’ second-best six wickets at 14.9 with his fast-medium bowling delivered from a great height.
“It has been an unbelievable start, and one I probably I wouldn’t have even predicted myself,” he said.
“I was really confident with my work with the ball coming into the year so to see some results early on the board reinforces that belief I had during the pre-season.
“But to be able to do the tricky job of nightwatchman with the bat and get some decent success has been a surprise to me as well as a lot of other people.
“I’m stoked with both results. I’ve always had that confidence in my work with the bat as well so to put away a few of those doubts in people’s minds has been really good.”
Despite being just 22, it is the former Australian under-19s player’s fourth season with the Tigers, having crossed down from NSW.
“It is certainly doesn’t feel like four seasons,” he said.
“I’m really starting to develop some strong connections, especially with the group we’ve got at the moment.
“There is a really strong belief in this team we can have a really, really good year and doing it with some really good guys as well, so absolutely I feel part of the team.”
brett.stubbs@news.com.au