Paceman Riley is ready to strike

TASMANIAN fast bowler Riley Meredith is ready to rock the foundations that keep the turf wickets at Marrara Cricket Ground in place.

The 23-year-old right arm fast man is in Darwin as part of a month-long T20 campaign by the Hobart Hurricanes to capture the TIO Men’s Strike League title.

Meredith made his List A debut for a Cricket Australia XI in January 2017, before playing in his first Sheffield Shield match for Tasmania against Victoria in Melbourne nine months later.

Capable of reaching speeds of 150km/h, Hobart-born Meredith likes the look of the central wicket on Marrara’s No.1 ground.

“It’s a good opportunity to get on some outside wickets and get some game time in, so hopefully I can let a few loose and we’ll see what happens,’’ he told the Sunday Territorian.

The Hurricanes meet a Northern Tide side well stocked with batsmen in a 10.30am clash.

West Australian Matt Spoors and Sydney Thunder wicketkeeper-batsmen Jay Lenton starred with the bat in the Tide’s first win of the series on Wednesday.

Meredith is confident there are more kilometres to come.

The kid who found he had something special when he turned 18 after churning out stock standard medium pacers, is one of several emerging pacemen in Australia.

“I think there’s still a few kilometres to go, so hopefully I can continue to speed things up a bit and keep going in that direction,’’ he said.

Like any fast bowler with an eye to the future, Meredith wants to pull on a baggy green cap for his country.

“Hopefully down the track I’ll play for Australia. In the meantime I’ll just keep playing for the Hurricanes and Tigers performing my role,’’ he said.

“That means keep taking wickets and hopefully from that, start to win some games.’’

And his message to his Strike League rivals?

“Good luck, the deck looks pretty quick so let’s see what I can do,’’ he said.