MATTHEW Love believes fledgling wicketkeeper-batsman Luke Wilson can become a regular fixture atop Brierly-Christ Church's order.
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Love and Wilson combined for a 67-run stand to help the Bulls rise above West Warrnambool on Saturday.
Wilson clunked 25 runs before he was out caught but Love, a former Victorian Premier Cricket captain-coach, said the signs were positive.
The shift - Wilson batted at number six the match prior - came as Love and coach Kalon Wilkie hoped to get the reigning premier back to its best after a stumbling start.
"I think Lukey is suited to the top of the order. He plays the short ball well and drives well for a young player," Love told The Standard.
He's an exceptional timer of the ball and facing the new ball and having it come on suits him.
- Matthew Love on Luke Wilson
"He's an exceptional timer of the ball and facing the new ball and having it come on suits him. He can play shots 360 degrees.
"He just strikes the ball beautifully."
Love, 41, arrived at Brierly-Christ Church as captain this past season. He blasted 375 runs - including one 140-run haul - at an average of 31.3 an innings.
His season was hampered by injury, including a split webbing in his hand prior to Christmas.
Love said he was hoping to be "more consistent" this season.
"Every competition is going to be different. If you look at the scores in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association, it's pretty low-scoring," he said.
"You're playing on a lot of footy grounds which are pretty lush at the moment. Curators are volunteers and they're doing a fantastic job. When you're playing on the bigger, lusher grounds early you have to adjust your game.
"Every ground is different and on some, you're happy with a total of 120 or 130 and on others you're looking at 200 plus.
"It's a great challenge, to adapt, but I'm just hoping to put in more consistent performances."
Love said his start to the season - which has featured scores of 75 and a 72 - had been on the right side of luck.
"I've definitely ridden my luck a little bit," he laughed.
"You need to make sure you can go on when you're getting 20s and 30s and doing that when I get to that point (is important).
"It's been a bit scratchy but adapting to the early conditions can be challenging as you're shifting between hard wickets and turf. It's a big change."
Love will lead Brierly-Christ Church into battle against Allansford-Panmure on Saturday.
He said while the Gators are winless at zero and three, the Bulls were expecting a hard-fought contest due to their bowling strength.
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