ASK any captain of a Bathurst District Cricket Association first grade team what he would like to add to his team more than anything and chances are that he would opt for a genuine spinner, preferably a leggie.
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While each of the six first grade sides have generally boasted at least one slow-bowling option, proper wicket taking tweakers have been few and far between over recent seasons.
However, in Pawan Saini newly merged side Oxford Centennials may well have discovered one who can help win them matches on a regular basis.
The Indian-born wrist-spinner bagged 6-14 after surprisingly taking the new ball against City Colts in his debut for the club, helping skittle them for just 39.
He was rushed into the Bathurst side for the President’s Cup and once more opened the bowling, taking a wicket in his first over.
Today at the Sportsground he will be looking to continue the impressive start to his local career against Rugby Union.
“I came to Australia from India five years ago and moved to Adelaide where I did my teaching degree,” he said.
“From there I went to Sydney, worked there for a while, spent a month in Nyngan and then ended up in Bathurst earlier this year.
“I met [Oxford Centennials quick] Chris Novak at the pub and he mentioned he played cricket and I started playing indoor cricket in Orange with their team and now I’ve managed to find myself playing for them this summer.”
Saini in fact has more of a fast bowling background, but after experimenting in the nets with his leg-spin, has been encouraged by his team-mates to take it up on a more regular basis.
“I’ve been playing cricket here and there for five or six years and obviously back in India and I had always been a medium pacer,” he explained.
“Chris [Novak] and Kesh Pillai both said I bowled okay with my spin so I’ve been giving it a go.
“Everybody in the side has told me that as a spinner around here that makes me a bit of a rare breed, as far as I know there aren’t a lot of them. The fact that I’m new here and none of the other teams have really seen me bowl gives me a bit of help I think.”
Saini has been given plenty of assistance from Greg Griffith since joining the club as he tries to expand his repertoire and already there is no doubt that he’s happy to be where he is.
“It is a really nice team to be a part of, Russell Gardner is a good captain and an awesome batsman, Kesh can obviously bat, Rowan Ross and Chris Novak are both good seam bowlers and Josh Toole is a very good batsman as well, so I think we have a nice mix there,” he said.
“Greg has been working on a few deliveries with me, I’ve been trying to develop a wrong’un but it hasn’t quite come out right yet, but Greg is helping me out.”
Another big bag of wickets from their new spinner would be most welcome for Oxford Centennials who will be without the backbone of their top order this afternoon as Gardner and Toole line up for the Mitchell side in Parkes.
Experienced right-hander Troy Oxley will captain the side in their absence, and the likes of himself, all-rounder Craig Windus and Pillai will be vital to their cause with the experience they bring to what is a relatively young side.
Rugby are also coming off a first-round victory after defeating Old Boys by two wickets in round one.
OXFORD CENTENNIALS: Troy Oxley (c), Kesh Pillai, Craig Windus. Joel Bell, Adam Orme, Rowan Ross, Pete McCleary, Andrew Brown, Chris Novak, Jamie Wicks, Pawan Saini.
