Bulls face testing fortnight without key pair

Mt Barker will be out to consolidate their position inside the top four of theAlbany Cricket Association A-grade competition over the next fortnight without skipper Jeremy Wood and leading run scorer Nathan Crosby.

Wood and Crosby have travelled to Victoria with the WA Country XI to compete at the Australian Country Cricket Championships and will miss the Bulls’ next two matches against North County and Royals.

The Bulls are third on the ladder and are set to regain key fast bowler Jacob Wintle from serious injury this week, which would help offset Wood’s loss.

The competition’s leading run scorer Nathan Crosby, who has amassed 370 runs in seven digs this season, will be a big loss at the top of the order along with their regular No.3 and strike bowler in Wood.

Wintle’s imminent return is a major boost for the Bulls in their finals hopes, given he took 29 wickets at an average of just over 10 in a sensational 2017-2008 season.

Bulls seamer Alex Fergie is the competition’s leading wicket taker this season with 20 scalps and he will be relied on with the ball in an attack likely to figure Wintle, Steven Scott and Noah Middleton against the Bulldogs.

Collingwood Park will face the Lions in round 10 on Saturday and in the other match, Railways will be without captain Zane Marwick and all-rounder Nathan Crudeli when they tackle Denmark.