TIPS FROM A MASTER SPUR SETH
All-rounder Seth McGinty tells how an ex-Test star has helped him build his craft
ONE-on-one coaching with a former Australian pace bowler has a young Cairns cricket gun looking at a bright future in the game.
Rovers all-rounder Seth McGinty is arguably one of the region’s best young sportsman.
He made his Cricket Far North Agrade debut in 2020 when he was just 14, and with consecutive summers playing against the region’s best cricketers.
A consistent threat for Rovers, he showcased his suite of skills last year in his grand final-winning knock for Dare Devils in the Barrier Reef Big Bash.
But he could become a greater threat after the opportunity for oneon-one coaching with former pace great Ryan Harris added a few more weapons to his arsenal.
“He (Ryan Harris) was the bowling coach for the Queensland under-17s side,” McGinty said.
“It really helped me because he got me to change small things and not just focusing on pace and speed.
“Was more the different ways to work the ball and watching the batsmen’s movements just a little bit more.”
McGinty was part of the Queensland state side that defeated New South Wales in Hobart at the national under-17s championships in January.
The talented all-rounder showed glimpses of his brilliance with the bat in game three when he hit 50 from 36 balls, slapping the Victorian bowlers to fence five times and clearing it twice.
Usually batting in the top order for Rovers, McGinty found himself batting towards the tail end of the order for Queensland.
“It was a bit different batting so low because you have to go out a bit more aggressively because there is about 5-10 overs left in the innings,” McGinty said.
“It was a different type of feeling and I was up against better quality bowlers down there.
“You’ve got four pace bowlers bowling 120km/h plus and hitting consistent spots where here in Cairns you have one bowler who can hit that pace and placement consistently.”
The McGinty family moved to Cairns from Victoria 17 years ago and have been involved at Rovers cricket club since they arrived.
The youngest of three brothers, Seth has been around cricket his whole life.
“My dad has been involved in cricket for a long time, he played for the under 17s Australian team,” McGinty said.
“My uncle played for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield and my Pa played a high level of district cricket in Victoria.
“They all taught me how to play cricket and that is why I got into it, it’s in my blood.”
There is plenty of potential for the young quick bowler that could see him relocate to Brisbane or Melbourne to further his skills.
“There is a lot of tweaks to do and a lot of training,” McGinty said.
“I don’t want under 17s to be my pinnacle of cricket.
“I am hoping to get further than that but there is a still a lot of training and a lot of hard work that needs to be done.”