Irymple blow: Jarrad Armsden sidelined with calf injury

IRYMPLE’S Sunraysia Cricket Association batting stocks have taken a blow with experienced middle-order batsman Jarrad Armsden sidelined with a calf injury.

Swallows co-coach Shane Garraway said the former Merbein South cricketer sustained the injury in his side’s big one-day win over Mildura East last weekend in the process of being run out.

“They went for a single, him and (Dan) Coghlan, he reckons about the second stride into it he felt it go,” Garraway said.

“He said ‘there was no way I was making it down the other end’.”

Garraway conceded the early prognosis wasn’t good for Armsden.

Garraway conceded the early prognosis wasn’t good for Armsden.

He’s probably going to miss at least two games,” he said.

“He’s probably no chance either for the one-day final (on February 9) at this stage. I didn’t see him Tuesday because he wouldn’t have been training, I don’t know how bad it is or how he pulled up but we’re monitoring it at the moment to see how it is, whether he’s actually popped it or how bad it is.”

The Swallows host Coomealla Wentworth this round, then travel to Merbein South for round 17 and finish off with a tough match against Workers Gol Gol.

“It gives someone else a chance to come in,” Garraway said.

“At the end of the day we can’t miss out on finals now so it’s about managing our players, especially someone like him – you want to make sure he’s right.”

Fortunately the news is better for Mildura West recruit Bryson Lush, who was forced to retire hurt at the weekend.

“He collided with Jhy Berry when he was going for a single, rolled over the top and sort of hurt the knee he’d done previously,” Garraway said.

“Speaking to him (Tuesday night), he was away in Adelaide but he seems to think he’s all right, there’s no damage there.

“It’s pretty good, we didn’t want to lose two, not only our No.5 bat but our opener as well, we need both of those blokes, we’re struggling to get runs as it is.”

Irymple bowling along – co-coach

WITH finals assured despite there being three rounds of the Sunraysia Cricket Association season remaining, Irymple co-coach Shane Garraway is satisfied with how his team is placed.

The Swallows sit third on the overall ladder and are in the White Ball Cup grand final on February 9 against Workers Gol Gol, with their work with the ball and in the field their hallmark.

“It’s probably a good mixture of younger players and older heads, our fielding and bowling has been exceptional,” Garraway said.

“It’s something we set ourselves to do … to be a very strong fielding team as well as bowling team, because you are only batting against what you can defend.

“The less we can let the other team get makes our job a little bit easier.”

This was on display at the weekend when the Swallows dismantled Mildura East for just 80 runs.

“They bowled really well, and I know Mildura East are under strength and stuff, but you’ve still got to go out there in that mindset that it doesn’t matter who you are playing, you’ve still got to get them out,” Garraway said.

Irymple host Coomealla Wentworth in a two-dayer from this weekend.