DENNINGTON veteran Terry Beks vows he will be able to bat in Saturday’s final day of the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association (WDCA) grand final, despite being on crutches on Monday.
The 47-year-old yesterday declared he would bat if needed when play resumes on Saturday. The Dogs need a further 151 runs to win the division one premiership, with all 10 wickets in hand.
Beks, who took 5-11 from 16.1 consecutive overs, suffered a calf injury as he attempted the second ball of his 17th over on Sunday as the Dogs restricted Merrivale to 153 in the rain-delayed grand final.
Beks said he had strained his calf but after being on crutches on Monday to take the weight off, he was walking yesterday.
“I didn’t know how bad it was,” Beks said of the need for crutches.
“But I’m able to get around now.
“I will be right to bat.”
Beks, a member of seven premierships with Dennington in a distinguished 310-game career, has not missed a match through injury since the 1989-90 season.
But he had a big workload in the semi-final, bowling 11 overs unchanged as he helped the Dogs defeat Woodford, before being asked for a big effort again on Sunday when Merrivale looked set for a score of more than 200 when it was 3-104 at tea. Beks, with his marathon stint after tea, saw the Tigers lose 7-49 in 36 overs.
He left the ground and started icing the injury on Sunday before heading to Warrnambool’s beach for a wade in the water.
He is continuing to seek treatment from physiotherapist Tony Pritchard and attended training last night, albeit as a spectator.
Beks said he might not need to bat on Saturday.
“I’m down the order. Hopefully it’s done before they get to me,” he said.
If he is needed, Beks is no stranger to making runs under pressure. Three times this season he has made crucial scores in the 20s, including a match-winning unbeaten 24 against Port Fairy in round three.
WDCA general manager Michael Harrison said if a player sustained an injury during the game, he was able to request a runner while batting.
But he said the decision on whether a player could bat with the aid of a runner was up to the umpires’ discretion.
Dennington resumes at 0-3 on Saturday with Mick Howley unbeaten on three and makeshift opener Peter Shepherd yet to score.
Co-coach Dustin Drew, who usually opens the batting, said he would bat at the fall of the first wicket.
grbest@fairfaxmedia.com.au
