Queensland Bulls wicket-keeper Chris Hartley is hopeful a bouncy Gabba wicket and an "imposing" new debutant can help him clinch a piece of Sheffield Shield history.
Hartley is just seven catches away from claiming Queensland's first class catching record, while he needs nine more dismissals to become the state's most prolific wicket-keeper.
Wade Seccombe currently holds both records but Hartley is closing in fast, and could overtake him if the Bulls' pace battery fires in their Shield clash with South Australia, which begins on Saturday in Brisbane.
"Right now while I'm still playing it'll be another catch," Hartley said.
"But those are the sort of things when you finish playing that you look back on and from a personal perspective, you're very proud of.
"We're at the Gabba, so there's plenty of pace and bounce and sideways movement.
"Some people think you've just got to get it up that end but if you're bowling around third, fourth stump and getting the batsman playing, then not just myself, but the whole slips cordon will be in play."
The Bulls are set to hand a first class debut to towering 21-year-old fast bowler Billy Stanlake, who comes into the Queensland side alongside all-rounder James Hopes to replace Michael Neser and Peter George.
Gold Coaster Stanlake stands at 204cm tall, has clocked speeds of up to 145km/h in the nets and has the capacity to put the fear of God into opposition batsmen, Hartley says.
"If you face him, he looks about 10 metres tall and bears down on you," he said.
"He's got all the ingredients of a very good fast bowler.
"He's interesting. Off the field he's very quietly spoken, very calm demeanour, but if you get the ball in his hand he's got a real quiet aggression about him.
"He hates getting hit for boundaries and he doesn't mind intimidating the batsman. He's not going to hold back."
The Redbacks could also blood a youngster of their own, with rookie Elliot Opie included in SA's 13-man squad for the injured Kane Williamson (quad).
Share
