GLEN Innes might have some selection headaches when it comes to picking a side for its big Country Plate game against Lower Clarence in a couple of weeks.
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Sunday’s win over the Dumaresq Colts proved the town has some depth at the moment, even with a number of first-choice players out of action.
“We’ve played 18 or 20 blokes in our rep games so far this year,” captain Adrian Sippel said.
“We had six of our best bowlers all out this week.
“But others have stepped up and played really well.”
One of those is young paceman Nick Whan.
The teenager played his first game of senior rep cricket in Sunday’s win at Armidale and wasn’t out of place.
In fact, his spell of six overs with the new ball saw him bowl three maidens and take 2-16.
He might be hard to keep out of the side in the near future, even with the frontline bowling attack available.
“It’ll be good to give him a few games in the Connolly Cup,” Sippel said.
Ben Lonergan also took two wickets with the new ball before Sippel showed off his own bowling ability.
Better known as a keeper-batsman, the skipper traded the gloves for the ball late in the game and took 3-8 from two overs to help clean up the Dumaresq tail.
“I did it in another game as well actually,” Sippel said.
“Against Inverell they had a couple of blokes who were having a swing so I thought I’d come on.
“Blokes aren’t used to leg spin because there’s not many around.”
Earlier in the day Sippel combined with Joel Jackson for a big partnership that set up the total of 197.
Jackson top-scored with 42, Sippel made 31 and Shawn Mepham added 35 down the order.
That was a pretty good batting effort from a side that reckons it has never seen a turf wicket.
But Sippel is still glad his side will be on the matting against the Lower Clarence side on December 9.
“It’s at home at Glen Innes and on synthetic, which will be an advantage for us,” he said.
“There were some blokes playing their first games on turf today.”
A win in that game will see Glen qualify for the Country Plate finals series at Yass.