SPIN bowlers have emerged from the batter-friendly short-form game with bags of wickets to rival statistics produced by the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association’s best pacemen.
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Leading wicket-taker and Russells Creek spinner Joe Kenna, who tops the association with 23 dismissals, has thrust his name before Melbourne Country Week selectors.
Kenna is one of six spinners picked in the preliminary squad, while Wesley-CBC’s Ben Evans and Nestles’ Bailey Jenkinson are also pressing a case for selection.
The 23-year-old said he felt “better prepared” for the rigours of the short-form of the game leading into the season.
The construction worker is averaging 7.13 with the ball.
“I came in feeling a lot better about it. Our fielding has been great and that’s definitely helped me out with a few wickets from great catches,” Kenna said.
“I’ll be bowling 15 to 20 over spells in the two-day stuff, and that’s about bowling really tight and letting the batsman make a mistake.
“It helps me having such a good pace attack to come in, too. I reckon we’ve probably got three of the best seam bowlers in the competition in Jimmy (Elford), Izzy (Yaddehige) and Pepsi (Matt Petherick).”
Statistics reveal Wesley-CBC spinner Ben Evans is also on course to match his 38-wicket haul from last season.
Evans is currently sixth in wicket-taking standings and averages 12.46 with ball-in-hand.