Australian batsman Cameron White has revealed he still harbours ambitions of resurrecting his stalled bowling career to improve his chances of being a permanent fixture in the national team.
White began his domestic and international careers as a spin bowler who could bat, but recently, his batting prowess has proved to be more destructive.
After batting in the middle order for the majority of his Australian career, the Victorian skipper has now been earmarked as a front-line batsman in the current one-day series against England.
Coming in at first drop in the first two matches in Australian captain Ricky Ponting's absence, White has had an immediate effect, hitting knocks of 53 (career-high) and 42 to be one of Australia's leading batsmen so far.
But, in 10 ODIs this calendar year, White has only been asked to roll his arm over on five occasions for a modest combined return of 3-68.
However, despite admitting to feeling as settled as ever at the international level in the No.3 slot, White said he has been working on his bowling in an attempt to once again be a strike bowler for both his state and country.
"I changed a few things," White told CATV regarding his bowling action.
"I felt as though I need to always keep improving at my bowling to help play more games for Australia and hopefully that can help me improve and become a better bowler."
"But at this stage I probably just need to work at it in the nets now and need to put it in a game now at some stage, whether that's at international level or hopefully get an opportunity to roll some overs out back with Victoria once I get a chance."
"I've shortened my run-up a little and just trying to get side on a little bit earlier and basically get side on at the point of delivery to give myself a better chance to bowl the ball and be a bit more accurate."
White, who has taken a total of 250 wickets for Australia and Victoria in all forms of the game, believes batting at No.3 is more stress-free than entering the fray with four or five wickets lost.
"Obviously you get to get in against a new ball, get a bit more time to set your innings up rather than if you're batting at seven or even a six at times," he said.
"You're basically trying to score at a run a ball and hit boundaries from then on in (when coming at No.7), so I really enjoy batting at three ... (it) just gives me a bit of time to play really correctly and set my innings up."
Meanwhile, White said he was excited by the prospect of the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League competition in October where he will captain the Bushrangers against the world's best domestic sides.
"For a lot of the guys it will be a new thing," he said. "First time in India so really looking forward to getting the team over there and hopefully we can get through the round games and who knows what happens from there."
One of Victoria's opponents in the preliminary stage will be the Delhi Daredevils - the IPL team which star Bushrangers Twenty20 bowler Dirk Nannes has decided to represent in the tournament.
However, White denies there'll be added spice when the two teams meet.
"Dirk's made his decision, he's going to play for Delhi, spoken to all his Victorian team-mates about why he's made that decision, so we're comfortable with that so we'll just move on from that," White said.
© Cricbuzz
White began his domestic and international careers as a spin bowler who could bat, but recently, his batting prowess has proved to be more destructive.
After batting in the middle order for the majority of his Australian career, the Victorian skipper has now been earmarked as a front-line batsman in the current one-day series against England.
Coming in at first drop in the first two matches in Australian captain Ricky Ponting's absence, White has had an immediate effect, hitting knocks of 53 (career-high) and 42 to be one of Australia's leading batsmen so far.
But, in 10 ODIs this calendar year, White has only been asked to roll his arm over on five occasions for a modest combined return of 3-68.
However, despite admitting to feeling as settled as ever at the international level in the No.3 slot, White said he has been working on his bowling in an attempt to once again be a strike bowler for both his state and country.
"I changed a few things," White told CATV regarding his bowling action.
"I felt as though I need to always keep improving at my bowling to help play more games for Australia and hopefully that can help me improve and become a better bowler."
"But at this stage I probably just need to work at it in the nets now and need to put it in a game now at some stage, whether that's at international level or hopefully get an opportunity to roll some overs out back with Victoria once I get a chance."
"I've shortened my run-up a little and just trying to get side on a little bit earlier and basically get side on at the point of delivery to give myself a better chance to bowl the ball and be a bit more accurate."
White, who has taken a total of 250 wickets for Australia and Victoria in all forms of the game, believes batting at No.3 is more stress-free than entering the fray with four or five wickets lost.
"Obviously you get to get in against a new ball, get a bit more time to set your innings up rather than if you're batting at seven or even a six at times," he said.
"You're basically trying to score at a run a ball and hit boundaries from then on in (when coming at No.7), so I really enjoy batting at three ... (it) just gives me a bit of time to play really correctly and set my innings up."
Meanwhile, White said he was excited by the prospect of the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League competition in October where he will captain the Bushrangers against the world's best domestic sides.
"For a lot of the guys it will be a new thing," he said. "First time in India so really looking forward to getting the team over there and hopefully we can get through the round games and who knows what happens from there."
One of Victoria's opponents in the preliminary stage will be the Delhi Daredevils - the IPL team which star Bushrangers Twenty20 bowler Dirk Nannes has decided to represent in the tournament.
However, White denies there'll be added spice when the two teams meet.
"Dirk's made his decision, he's going to play for Delhi, spoken to all his Victorian team-mates about why he's made that decision, so we're comfortable with that so we'll just move on from that," White said.
© Cricbuzz
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