Wayward Hurricane may strike
YOUNG gun Riley Meredith may be spraying them far and wide but the tall quick still has the backing of Hobart Hurricanes captain Matthew Wade.
After starting the season on fire, turning heads nationwide with his sheer pace, Meredith has struggled with no balls and wides in his return after missing two games with gastro.
The 22-year-old finished with 1-43 from three overs against the Renegades in his first game back, with 23 taken from his first over, and then 1-52 from four against the Thunder in Canberra.
All up, he has bowled nine wides and six no balls in his past two games.
He remained in Canberra to play the first day of the Futures League in a quest to find some rhythm and form ahead of tonight’s semi-final against the Melbourne Stars.
Wade said the Hurricanes had full faith in Meredith.
“It would be nice if he wasn’t overstepping and bowling wides – that’s the last thing we really want – but I think he’s got the X-factor that can tear a game open,” Wade said.
Despite missing two games, Meredith is 10th on list for most wickets in the BBL and Wade is backing the quick to take wickets against the Stars’ strong batting line-up.
“In the powerplay, teams are coming really hard at us and I still feel Riley can get us two or three wickets,” Wade said.
“He did go for a few the other night but he still picked up (Shane) Watson, and in big games you need players who can do that and we are confident Riley can do that.”