A former wicketkeeper has grabbed a share of the lead as a wicket-taker.
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Teenager Lachie McMillan took the gloves throughout the juniors and lower grades, but has been a surprise as an off-spinner, snaring eight scalps after the first four rounds.
“My opinion of Lachie McMillan mate is he’s a very good kid, who can do a lot of things right on the cricket field,” captain Matt Jaensch said.
“He’s a good wicketkeeper, I think he’s going to be a great bowler and I think he’s going to be a very, very good batsman.”
And while the keeping was his forte, like most juniors, the 17-year-old had done some bowling, starting in the most unique way.
“I actually started way back in the under 14s in a North East Knights trial,” he said.
“I was in the field and just bowling off-spin to the person in the field next to me and (team official) Neil Gregg actually said to me, ‘do you bowl off-spin and I told him, no’, and he said ‘right, we need you to bowl off-spin down at the carnival’.
“I stuck with the keeping and just every now and then I’d get a bowl and just ended up taking some wickets.”
The Year 11 Catholic College Wodonga student had played provincial prior to this season, but was determined to seal a spot.
“Lachie sat down and spoke with me and said, ‘I’ll do whatever it takes to play in the A grade side, whether that be wicketkeeping, batting, bowling’,” Jaensch said.
“We said with Zac (Simmonds) being away for the first however long, you are our number one spinner mate and he’s taken that mantle on with both hands.
“He has been fantastic and last week showed that coming up against Nathan Thompson and in the T20 against the likes of Brett Davies and Nathan Brown.”
Jaensch says the youngster is extremely composed.
“I think he varies his pace very well, he doesn’t get flustered by the situation,” he said.
McMillan says the key is variety.
“I like to change up my pace a little bit, in flight, I don’t want to be too predictable with how I bowl,” he said.
“They’ve been coming out alright.”
McMillan’s family has a rich history at the Eagles, with his parents Richard and Linda life members, along with his uncles John and David.
Belvoir claimed its first premiership two years ago and then made last season’s preliminary final.
But the Eagles started slowly, albeit against Wodonga and Lavington, before toppling Tallangatta.
Belvoir is away to East Albury on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Wodonga is home to Albury, Lavington hosts Tallangatta, St Patrick’s face Raiders and North Albury tackles New City.