Tasmanian Tigers quick Riley Meredith compared to Pat Cummins
A young Tigers quick has only played 10 first-class games, but he’s already been compared to the world’s best Test bowler.
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AS a Blue, Ben Rohrer saw the talent in a young Pat Cummins that has seen him become the world’s top ranked Test bowler — and Rohrer says he sees the same in Tiger quick Riley Meredith.
The Tigers have flown out to Perth ahead of the start of their 2019-20 campaign with 50-over games against Victoria on Monday and WA on Wednesday.
Meredith impressed all in last summer’s Big Bash with the Hurricanes, but also has had a strong start in the longer format, taking 29 wickets in his first 10 Sheffield Shield games.
Rohrer, a Tigers assistant coach, said the 23-year-old from Clarence was a future Test player.
“Definitely in future years to come,” Rohrer said.
“Whether it’s this year or two or three years down the track, there’s obviously some high quality fast bowling as you’ve seen in the Ashes recently so he may have to bide his time which is great for us at Tasmania.
“He’s got the all the tools to do it. He reminds me of Pat Cummins a lot so hopefully he can follow that path.”
The other young gun with high expectations is left-hand top-order batsman Caleb Jewell.
Jewell was another to shine in the BBL, and then dominated the Strike League in Darwin during the off season.
With captain Matthew Wade to miss the opening two games after returning from the Ashes and Test skipper Tim Paine to miss the one-day start while resting his broken thumb, Rohrer said Jewell would have plenty of chances at the top of the Tigers batting order.
“We saw glimpses of it in the Big Bash last year and he’s definitely got the tools to do it,” he said.
“I think just the experience side of things he’s had the talent, the ability, to do it.
After finishing runner-up in all three formats across the past two seasons, Rohrer said it was now time to turn finals into trophies.
“I think we’ve had two years now with … second placings across the three formats and we really want to win one now,” Rohrer said.
“That’s been the big driver all pre-season.
“The boys have trained their butts off really as you’d expect but that number one goal is now to win stuff.”
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