MATT Findlay could be pulling on the keeper’s gloves for a few weeks for Orange City.
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The change is expected to come after regular wicketkeeper Lincoln Duncan dislocated his left shoulder during Orange City’s Orange District Cricket Association first grade loss to CYMS last Saturday.
Duncan said it will be at least a month before he’s playing again.
“It looks like I’ll be out for four to six weeks. Probably leaning more towards six weeks,” Duncan explained.
“It all depends on how I recover. They put it back in ok. We just have to see how the muscle damage pulls up.”
Duncan was diving for a run during Saturday’s second day of play at Wade Park when he suffered the dislocation.
“It wasn’t much fun. I just dove in, stretched out and my hand got caught and my shoulder popped out,” he explained.
“It hurt a fair bit.”
This is Duncan’s first season back in Orange after some time in Newcastle.
He spent some time on the sideline previously after an ankle reconstruction.
“That’s the annoying part because I was just starting to get back into it and get fit. I was loving getting back into it,” Duncan said.
Orange City captain Dave Boundy said the team talked about their keeping options after Saturday’s match.
Findlay kept for 13 overs during CYMS’ second innings on Saturday and his performance impressed his teammates.
“Matt Findlay kept for a few overs on Saturday after Lincoln injured himself and he did a pretty good job,” Boundy said.
“We were surprised. He took a good catch. So we might take that tack.”
Boundy said Findlay won’t be called on as much as expected as the team has the bye in the next round - a two-day fixture.
But they will have to line up in their first Royal Hotel Cup match on November 23.
“We play Cavaliers in Royal Hotel Cup. It’s only 20 overs so I’d say Matt would keep in that,” Boundy said.
City’s next ODCA first grade game is scheduled for December 1 and 8 against Kinross.
Duncan’s injury also rules him out of this Sunday’s Western Premier League match between Orange and Cowra.
Duncan admitted even when he does come back, he may not put the keeper’s gloves on straight away.
“I might not keep the first few weeks back until its strengthened up,” he said.
Orange City are also without spinner Ben Findlay who broke a finger during a game.