It’s probably no surprise that triple champions South Wilts are once again riding high in the ECB Southern Electric Premier League on the back of a glut of early season runs.
What will raise an eyebrow or two is the unexpected statistic that, after two matches, Ryan Duffield, their Western Australia left-arm opening pace bowler, is still searching for his first wicket on English soil !
In South Wilts two wins so far, Duffield has sent down 15 overs for 74 runs – without, as yet, any tangible reward.
But Hampshire Academy captain Joe Weatherley, who faced the left-armer in the first Premier Division game of the season, knows it’s only a matter of time before the bearded Melville bowler hits his straps.
“Having faced him, I reckon he’ll take a lot of wickets. He has a great knack of swinging the ball in late to the right-hander and I fancy he’ll bowl a lot of batsmen and trap others leg before wicket,” he said.
“No one in the Premier League should be fooled by those early statistics : Ryan’s a quality bowler.”
Duffield will have extra incentive to break his wicket duck when South Wilts chase win number three against Ventnor at Newclose tomorrow.
Australia Under-19 prospect Sean Willis, part of the Elite International Sports Academy squad based at the Ageas Bowl, is in good nick for the Island club.
In-form Tasmanian teenager has so far made scores of 73 (v Havant) and an unbeaten 79 in Ventnor’s win against St Cross Symondians.
Sean Terry is back in the South Wilts top order after playing in Hampshire’s heavy loss by Yorkshire at Headingley. Spinner Rob Franklin misses his first match in three seasons, but Army all-rounder Steve Booth returns to provide seam support for Duffield and James Hibberd.
Ventnor: Holmes, Snell, Herridge, S Willis, Blackman, H Calloway, Cheek, Corbin, Perrin, C Calloway, G Willis.
South Wilts: Morton, Abel, Riddle, Terry, Hayward, Cranch, Hibberd, Duffield, Foley, Booth, Warner.
What will raise an eyebrow or two is the unexpected statistic that, after two matches, Ryan Duffield, their Western Australia left-arm opening pace bowler, is still searching for his first wicket on English soil !
In South Wilts two wins so far, Duffield has sent down 15 overs for 74 runs – without, as yet, any tangible reward.
But Hampshire Academy captain Joe Weatherley, who faced the left-armer in the first Premier Division game of the season, knows it’s only a matter of time before the bearded Melville bowler hits his straps.
“Having faced him, I reckon he’ll take a lot of wickets. He has a great knack of swinging the ball in late to the right-hander and I fancy he’ll bowl a lot of batsmen and trap others leg before wicket,” he said.
“No one in the Premier League should be fooled by those early statistics : Ryan’s a quality bowler.”
Duffield will have extra incentive to break his wicket duck when South Wilts chase win number three against Ventnor at Newclose tomorrow.
Australia Under-19 prospect Sean Willis, part of the Elite International Sports Academy squad based at the Ageas Bowl, is in good nick for the Island club.
In-form Tasmanian teenager has so far made scores of 73 (v Havant) and an unbeaten 79 in Ventnor’s win against St Cross Symondians.
Sean Terry is back in the South Wilts top order after playing in Hampshire’s heavy loss by Yorkshire at Headingley. Spinner Rob Franklin misses his first match in three seasons, but Army all-rounder Steve Booth returns to provide seam support for Duffield and James Hibberd.
Ventnor: Holmes, Snell, Herridge, S Willis, Blackman, H Calloway, Cheek, Corbin, Perrin, C Calloway, G Willis.
South Wilts: Morton, Abel, Riddle, Terry, Hayward, Cranch, Hibberd, Duffield, Foley, Booth, Warner.