By Peter Johnston
It’s time for Premiership hopefuls to hone their skills and settle on their best batting line-up as the minor round of local cricket nears completion.
North’s top order batting was rested last weekend when they only had to chase a paltry score of 48 set by Central. The Bulldogs took advantage of the opportunity to give their lower order batters a chance to spend some time in the middle, which they more than capably handled.
Unfortunately, against South today the same may apply if the Roos bat first at the Alma Oval. The Southerners have struggled for runs for the majority of the season and they may struggle to get to triple digits today unless Tristen Smith can get going with the willow and receive support from Jawad Azam and Nick Christos who were good last weekend.
It will be interesting to see if North again throw their batting order around if they only have to chase a low tally. Form is a fluky thing and if you meddle with it too often it can come back and bite you.
Ben Jurd has struggled with his form a little since Christmas while Tobias Hack has found good form lately but you are only as good as your last innings. The constant in North’s good form all season has been Austin Wilson who is enjoying a great season, both with bat and ball.
If North do win the toss they seem certain to put the South bowlers under pressure. Nick Christos has been South’s standout bowler all season while Azam has lent good support in recent times. Sean Wilson had his first bowl for his newly adopted club last weekend and got better after the opening over. Outside of this trio the Roos don’t look to have many options to worry the likes of Jurd, Hack, Wilson, and Codie Howard.
North will undoubtedly win this game. It just depends who wins the toss as to how long the game will progress and how much batting practice North will get.
