NESTLES co-captain Scott Kelly predicts a bright future for teenage bowler Matt Price.
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Price is opening the bowling for the pre-season premiership favourite — just three-and-a-half-matches into his Warrnambool and District Cricket Association division one career.
“He is someone with a fair bit of ability and we’d planned to give him a taste,” Kelly said.
“Having said that, he’s gone further than our expectations, playing every game and opening now.”
Kelly said Price “hasn’t missed a beat” and the youngest member of the Factory’s top team had cemented his spot.
“He’s opening for us and hopefully it’s something he’ll do for the next 10 years,” he said.
“He’s a very intelligent kid, always thinking about his batting and bowling.
“I don’t see him out of the side.
“He’s an important part of what we are starting to do.”
Price, 16, has taken three wickets in his three division one innings to date.
While the wickets aren’t falling as freely as he would like, he’s learning with each innings.
“Everyone is a bit more serious and there is a bit more value for your bowling,” Price said.
The right-arm paceman said while opening the bowling was at times daunting, he enjoyed the challenge.
“There is a little bit of pressure but you have to be confident when you bowl, if not the batsman will hit you,” he said.
“I’m trying to be an all-rounder but at the moment I’m probably a bowler working hard on batting at training.”
Price paid Cam Williams and Brett Eldridge particular credit “being good batsmen themselves”.
He is working diligently on his batting and wants to be “a bit more busy at the crease and not get tied down”.
Nestles is searching for its first win of the season after dropping its opening three games.
The Factory made 214 on day one against fellow winless side East Warrnambool YCW.
Price, who started with Nestles when he was nine, will pick up the new ball today.
“We have to be more consistent with bat and ball,” he said.
“Everyone is doing their job but we need to be more consistent.
“You have to do your job all the time, not some of the time and then switch off. I think we are in a good spot if we bowl line and length.”
Port Fairy is in a commanding position against Brierly Christ Church after Pirates bowler Sam McCartney took 6-26 in a devastating spell on day one.
The Bulls were bundled out for 96 and the Pirates are 4-69 in reply.
In other division one games, Russells Creek, Dennington, Merrivale and Wesley CBC will all attempt to chase down totals on day two today.
justine.mc@standard.fairfax.com.au