ANGUS McNeill has two big weeks fast approaching as he prepares for another tour with the Northern NSW Under 21 Emu Colts.
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McNeill, 19, turns 20 on January 19 and leaves with his Emu teammates this Sunday for a two week tour of the South Island that includes seven games.
Three of those games are two-day matches, one of which is for the reconstituted Boomerang Trophy between the Emus and their Kiwi opponents.
“I can’t wait,” McNeill said after taking 4-21 in his 10 overs against Albury Wodonga in Saturday’s SCG Country Cup quarterfinal win at Kevin Walsh Oval, Jamberoo.
“It’s going to be a good tour. I had a ball on the first one (two years ago). This time I’m rooming with Jack (McVey) down here (at Country Cup finals). He’s been bowling pretty sharp too and it’s going to be a good tour with him in the side too.”
McNeill was delighted to finish with four scalps Saturday and a run out.
However he puts plenty of those wickets down to the new ball partnership he’s formed with South Tamworth team-mate Col Smyth over the past couple of seasons.
“I owe a few of those to Col,” he said.
“The pressure he’s been putting on from the other end makes it easier for me.
“We’ve been getting pretty good at it together too.
“We’ve played together for the past couple of seasons (club and rep) and we work well together.”
McNeill has had plenty of cricket this season and knows only too well the value of bowling in partnerships.
“It’s started to take off this year,” he said of the bowling partnership with left armer Smyth.
“And now Jack is bowling so well too.
“He deserved a couple more wickets today (against Albury Wodonga).”
While McNeill took 4-21 against Albury Wodonga and Col Smyth went wicketless on Saturday, it reversed yesterday with Smyth claiming a brilliant 5-18 from his 10 overs while McNeill finished with 0-33 from his eight overs.
Jack McVey also signalled he will be a handful for the Kiwis too when he captured 2-18 from his 10 overs against Lake Illawarra yesterday.
EMUS TOURING TEAM
Tom Irwin, Drew Olsen, Michael Rees, Trent Dierick, Michael Dawson, Ben McMahon, Darren Bourke, Cameron Ross, Jack McVey, Brian Warren, Angus McNeil, Nathan Essex. Coach - Peter Clifford, Manager - Warwick Glaves.
