Reflecting on Hugh Middleton's summer so far you'd probably expect him to square-up against the new ball at next week's McDonald's Country Cricket NSW Colts Championship, after all, he opens up in clubland and dominated at the top in Orange's Western Zone Under-18 Carnival triumph.
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But judging on the make-up of the Western side that will chase a championship at Bathurst, Cavaliers' young ace looks more likely to play his major role with the ball and, somewhat incredibly, potentially not even bat in the top six.
With the likes of Brock Larance, Blake Weymouth, Lachie Coyte, Ben Wheeler, Ben Mitchell and the Brien brothers, Cooper and Bailey, all likely to play primarily as top-order bats, Middleton looks likely to slide down Western's order and become a genuine, front-line, spinning all-rounder.
They weren't coming out great at the start (of the season) but the more I bowl the better they go.
- Western Zone tweaker Hugh Middleton
Dubbo wicketkeeper Tom Coady is in that mix too, although fortunately Western can play 13 on each day - with two non-batters and two non-bowlers - as per the championship rules.
That's a fair nod to the side's depth, considering Middleton belted 132 from 101 balls against Dubbo a fortnight ago and he's averaging around 40 for Cavaliers in the Bathurst-Orange Inter-District Cricket competition as an opener.
Not that he's been told specifically what his role will be yet, but even Middleton admitted he's expecting to be called upon largely as a tweaker.
"Probably as a bowler," he said, when asked what role he expected to play.
"I haven't been told yet ... I'd like to bat, if I get the chance I'll take it. I'm feeling a lot better with batting (this summer), going up to opening (but) it has been a challenge some days.
"(I've had a) change of mindset, I'm used to coming out and bashing the ball I have a look and knock it around, I'm liking the change."
Although Middleton hasn't bowled as much this summer as in seasons past, he's still been effective when thrown the ball, particularly for the Baby Bluebaggers.
He snared two wickets to go along with his ton against Dubbo on day one of the Under-18 Carnival and then took four in Orange's decider win over Bathurst the next day.
"They weren't coming out great at the start (of the season) but the more I bowl the better they go," Middleton said.
He'll be part of a strong Western Zone attack set to be spearheaded by Harry McGregor, Jack Goodsell and Tanvir Singh. Middleton will also combine with Larance and Ethan Muller in a three-pronged, spinning combination.
Western clash with North Coast to in their championship-opener on Monday before facing ACT-Southern Districts on Tuesday.
They move into the shortest format with two Twenty20 blockbusters against Illawarra and Central Coast on Wednesday, then face Central Northern in a final-round, 50-over-a-side game on Thursday.
"I reckon we're in with a chance of winning it," Middleton said.
Western finished third last summer at Narrabri, with Larance, Singh, Mitchell and Wheeler the only returning players.
- WESTERN ZONE: Bailey Brien, Ethan Muller, Tanvir Singh, Ben Wheeler, Blake Weymouth, Cooper Brien, Tom Coady, Lachie Coyte, Jack Goodsell, Brock Larance, Harry McGregor, Hugh Middleton, Ben Mitchell
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Max Stainkamph
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
