Cricket
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SENDING a ball down to Chris Gayle, AB De Villiers and Hashim Amla isn't an opportunity that comes around every day.
But the cream of Wagga's bowling crop will be given the chance to raise their hand and volunteer to do so during the ICC World Cup.
Cricket ACT has put the call out to the best regional cricketers from around NSW to sign up and act as net bowlers during the tournament over February and March.
The international touring teams will be in need of bowlers for training sessions as they prepare for games, and will call on outside talent to give their own players a rest.
West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and South Africa are all scheduled to play games in Canberra and will all train in the city at different stages of the competition.
Development leader for southern NSW and ACT, Martin Garoni, believes at least half a dozen Wagga bowlers should get the nod to help out.
"It's an opportunity for regional players to bowl to some world-class batsmen playing at the World Cup," Garoni said.
"Ideally we would have a mix of quality fast and spin bowlers.
"It would be ideal for a good up and coming bowler looking to make a name for himself."
Garoni will travel to Albury on Sunday to address the Riverina Cricket Zone about the scheme.
Riverina Cricket Zone and Wagga Cricket Association president Eric Koetz expects local bowlers to jump at the opportunity.
"It's a chance to bowl to the likes of Chris Gayle which would be pretty special," Koetz said.
Garoni expects the international teams will require around a dozen net bowlers at each training session, and numerous sessions could be held on any given day.
As a result he says he won't know exact dates and times until a lot closer to the event.
South Wagga cricketer Alex Jones is one of Wagga's better fast bowlers.
Jones said he plans to put his hand up for the gig.
"Yeah, it sounds like it would be pretty fun," he said.
Jones is currently recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during a football game earlier in the season, but expects to be fit to play when cricket returns in October.