Pooraka Cricket Club's Sam Costello and Krutarth Suthar lead SA juniors in bowling averages
ONE started playing cricket last year while the other has just reinvented his action due to a bad back, but statistically they are SA's best junior bowlers.
ONE started playing cricket last year while the other has just reinvented his action due to a bad back, but statistically they are SA's best junior bowlers.
Heading into the weekend, Pooraka Cricket Club pair Sam Costello and Krutarth Suthar had the state's top two bowling averages in underage competitions.
Paceman Costello has taken 13 wickets at 2.15 this season for the Bulls' under-16 side and spinner Suthar has claimed 13 scalps at 2.23 for the club's under-14s.
Costello, 15, puts his stellar form down to his new action, which he was forced to develop on doctors' orders.
"I changed my action because I was having troubles with my back last season and was barely able to bowl," the left-arm quick says.
"I went to the chiropractor and he said 'you need to change your bowling action', so I worked on it over the off-season.
"I've got a shorter run-up now and my action is a lot smoother."
Costello, who has helped his side to second place in the Para Districts Cricket Association competition, also played D grade for Pooraka at the weekend, taking 1/32 against Grange.
The Pooraka resident says grabbing career-best figures of 5/3 against Smithfield in November has been the highlight of his season.
"Hopefully I can take more wickets and try to improve more," he says.
Aside from the odd game in the backyard, Suthar is enjoying just his second season of cricket after joining the Bulls last year.
The 14-year-old says hours in the nets at Lindblom Park have helped him improve his line and length.
"I've been pretty happy with my bowling," the left-arm tweaker says.
"It's definitely a lot better than last season because I've trained more."
Suthar, who is also averaging 15 with the bat, took career-best figures of 6/2 against Atco in November.
He hopes to emulate hero Shane Warne and one day wear the Baggy Green.