BIG-hitting Mildura Settlers opening batsman Luke Stanbrook is on track for a career-best season at Sunraysia Cricket Association First Division level.
Since making his First Division debut in the 2009/10 season, the 27-year-old has made more than 300 runs once – last year with 349 runs in 12 innings.
That was until last weekend when Stanbrook’s 98 in his side’s convincing win over West put him at 300 runs across his first four innings – averaging an even 100.
He fell agonisingly short of a maiden First Division ton when he had his castle rattled by Shane Driscoll – giving him scores of 45, 81, 76 not out and 98 for the year.
“It’s hard to say, I haven’t really done anything really different,” Stanbrook said about his form.
“Just once I had a few runs in that first game I’ve had a bit of confidence to back myself in I suppose.
“That’s about it, I wouldn’t say I’ve changed anything or there’s any secret to it or anything like that, just a bit of confidence and backing myself in”
With all matches being one-dayers and the fielding restrictions placed on bowling sides, conditions are playing into the hands of batsmen like Stanbrook, who like to play their shots.
“Especially with the field up early you sort of have got to have a go, trying to get the side off to a good start while there’s only two (fielders) out,” Stanbrook said.
“In that aspect you are being forced to play shots and you don’t really have time to get bogged down.
“You only have to look at the other end and see how Jason (Morrison) has gone the past three to four years – he chances his arm and doesn’t really get bogged down – I’m not modelling my batting off him at all but seeing the way he goes about it and the confidence he bats with has been helpful for me.
“Batting with blokes like Jason, Paddy (Keogh) and (Braidyn) Turner and that up the top – it’s pretty good, they are always backing me in as well.”
Stanbrook’s knock at the weekend came off just 71 balls, with five fours and seven sixes.
He now sits 107 runs clear of the season’s next highest run-scorer in West’s Chris Williams, with just one more innings for the season after Williams missed round 1, to be a big part of the top-of-the-ladder reigning premiers’ title defence.
“It hasn’t been too bad, I’ve been getting a couple out of the middle and – bar the hiccup to Nichols Point – it’s been good to have a couple of wins,” Stanbrook said. “Three and one isn’t too bad a start.”
