Michael puts Vics in a spin

By Paul Pickering
SHANE Warne, Cameron White, Bryce McGain – Michael Wallace?
Victoria has a proud recent history of producing Test leg-spinners and Berwick teenager Michael Wallace took a giant step towards joining that trio this month.
The 18-year-old ‘leggie’ was selected in the Victorian under-19 team for the national championships in Canberra beginning on 29 November, when he will don the big V for the first time.
Wallace, who played juniors with Berwick before joining Premier Cricket powerhouse St Kilda three years ago, said he was genuinely surprised to get the nod.
“I wasn’t overly confident, because the last four years I’ve made it to the last stage and been cut, so I figured this year would be the same,” he explained.
But his persistence – and recent good form with St Kilda’s second XI – had paid off, catching the eye of state selectors, including Cricket Victoria high performance manager Tim McGaskill.
“Michael’s been an emerging leg-spinner in our high-performance programs for the last three seasons and he’s made steady progress,” McGaskill said.
“He provides the attack with the variety that we’re looking for. The wickets in Canberra suit the spin bowlers, so we’re looking for him to play a big part, particularly in the two-day games late in the carnival.
“This is an ideal opportunity for us and for him to see how he’s progressing when compared to other leg-spinners from all round Australia.”
Wallace, who sat his last VCE exam at Beaconhills College in Pakenham last week, says he’s feeling comfortable with his form in the lead-up to his representative debut.
And why not? He’s taken 14 wickets at an average of 16 for the Saints this season.
It will be tough for him to oust incumbent first XI spinner Michael Beer, widely regarded as one of the best in the competition, but Wallace is in no hurry.
After all, leg-spin is arguably the hardest skill to master in the sport.
“It’s a lot harder to bowl (than pace or off-spin) and it takes a lot more practice to perfect, but I thinks it’s more exciting – something a bit different,” he said.
That point of difference made Warne arguably the most damaging bowler of his era and the great man has already passed on some advice to Wallace.
Warne, who also played club cricket for St Kilda, addressed Wallace and four other emerging spinners for strategy session early last year.
Now Wallace is hoping to use that insight to deceive some of the country’s best young batsmen next month.
The Vics won the title in 2007 and finished third last year, so they will be hoping to return the trophy to its rightful home at Cricket Victoria’s MCG headquarters.
They will begin their campaign with Twenty20 clashes against the Northern Territory and South Australia on Sunday, 29 October, to be followed by one-dayers against the ACT and Tasmania on the Monday and Tuesday.
The biggest test will come during two-day clashes with Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland, which will conclude to round-robin event.
Wallace is typically laid back about his expectations for the carnival.
“I’m just excited to go up there, bowl well and see what happens,” he said.