Vellacott lends hand
IPSWICH all-rounder Nick Vellacott may be able to take some small credit for the way the Australians batted in the first test at the Gabba.
Vellacott was invited last week to bowl to the Australian test cricket team in the nets as they prepared to take on the South Africans.
He had the honour last year and wasn't going to pass it up this time around when offered.
Last year Vellacott managed to entice Mike Hussey to edge one towards slips but this year he had no such luck, despite his best Dale Steyn impersonations.
Given the runs the Aussies made in the middle against South Africa it was perhaps no surprise.
Vellacott was one of "about 15 or 20," net bowlers used on Thursday to help prepare the Aussie batsmen.
"It's a good challenge," the soon to graduate exercise physiology student said.
"You're bowling to the best so you get to see what they're capable of. You try and throw everything at them and they handle it easily.
"To them it's pretty slow."
Most impressive, in Vellacott's eyes, is the man he claimed last summer.
"Hussey's pretty good," Vellacott said.
"The amount of time he takes and how controlled he is with it all. He makes it look easy in the nets."
While having no luck against the batters, Vellacott was on hand when fast bowlers Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Starc were getting some tips from the coaching staff.
"They put the ball where they want it all the time," he said.
"They're quick and the ball moves a fair bit."
The experience did Vellacott no harm as he picked up one of the only two Toowoomba wickets to fall in Ipswich's Webb Shield defeat on Sunday.
That was despite having played only one day's cricket for club side Central Districts this season because of university commitments. Just getting picked in the Ipswich team was a big boost of confidence for the 21-year-old.
"To have Jezza (Ipswich coach Craig Jesberg) want you in the side is always good," he said.
"He's been very successful in his cricket."
Now university is over Vellacott is looking forward to committing himself to Centrals and hopefully helping them into this year's Ipswich Premier League finals.
"My goal is to have a bit of fun really," he said.
"We've got a pretty good side this year.
"I'll chip in where I can and try to do as well as we can as a team.
"I haven't got too many goals myself."
