Scott Woodman’s graduation to Melbourne Premier Cricket first XI match winner hasn’t surprised Carlton Cricket Club’s hierarchy.
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Woodman is in his first season with the Blues and the former Golden Square opening bowler has made a big impact with ball and bat, culminating in last weekend’s unbeaten 107 in the club’s first XI win over Monash Tigers.
After three first XI appearances, Woodman has a batting average of 149 and his combined bowling figures are 45 overs, 15 maidens, 5-135.
In 13 second XI games, Woodman has taken 22 wickets at an average of 18.4, including a haul of 6-40.
“We knew Scott was an accurate bowler and I thought that would always be an advantage for him,’’ Carlton first XI skipper Lachlan McKenna said.
“When he started in the seconds it probably took him a little while to get used to the cricket down here, but one of the good things about Scott is that he knows his own game really well.
“He knows he’s not an express bowler and doesn’t try to bowl too fast. He knows he doesn’t swing the ball a lot and he doesn’t bowl a lot of bouncers.
“What he does do well is that he doesn’t bowl bad balls. He’s almost robotic in the way he goes about it. That accuracy is what got him into the firsts.
“He’s adapted to first XI cricket really well in the three games he’s played. He puts the ball in the right area for long periods of time and he gets good players out.”
Woodman is a late bloomer. He didn’t play state pathway cricket with Northern Rivers until his final year of under-18s.
For much of his first XI career with Golden Square in the BDCA he batted at nine, 10 and 11.
His highest score was 62, which he made batting at number 10.
He’s slotted comfortably into the number eight position in Carlton’s star-studded batting line-up.
“There’s always been signs that he was a capable batsman,’’ McKenna said of Woodman.
“He came in at about 6-100 and he’s very good at recognising the role he needs to play with the bat.
“He’s extremely calm under pressure for a young player. He knew he needed to defend early on… and then after he scored frequently.
“He batted with the tailenders really well. He has a good defence, but he kept the scoreboard ticking over at the same time.
“For such an inexperienced player at this level he just sticks to his game really well.”
Woodman and Ryan Sidebottom combined to add a club record 104 for the ninth wicket.