Revealed: How spinners are leaving a mark on Warrnambool cricket

Three of the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association's top five wicket-takers turn the ball.

West Warrnambool's David Heeps (11 wickets), Allansford's Jacob Bloom (nine) and Brierly-Christ Church's Jason Greer (eight) are leading the charge.

Greer told The Standard short-form cricket brought spin bowlers into the game.

"I enjoy the one-day format. Batsmen have to force the runs a bit and it does bring spinners in a bit more," he said.

"Playing on turf from the first week helped a bit too. The wickets are a little greener and slower and it makes it a bit harder for batsmen to hit through the line.

"It's a bit of an advantage."

The former Bulls captain-coach was pleased to see the spin fraternity enjoying success in Warrnambool cricket.

"I think the depth of spinners for the last three or four years hasn't been as strong - it's been on guys like Ben Evans, who has been the premier spinner and also Joey Kenna at Russells Creek," Greer said.

"Other than that there hasn't been a lot of depth. It's been great to see David Heeps and Jake Bloom come in as well as Matty Bignell back at Creek.

"A lot of batsmen down this way haven't faced a lot of spinners for a while."

Although batsmen use a switch mentality between limited and long-form cricket, Greer said his approach was largely the same.

"Our two-day games are only 35 overs longer. It depends on the situation but it's mostly the same," he said.

"I try to keep my approach fairly consistent through the three formats we play."

Heeps, who is in his first season at Davidson Oval, was relishing the chance to play more turf cricket.

He was pleased with his early form with rain heavily impacting the first month of the season.

"I prefer being on turf - I think most cricketers are the same," the former Hamilton resident said.

"Being a spinner you get a bit more variation on the wicket. Hard wickets are often quite narrow which also makes life hard.

"We've been lucky that most of our cricket has been on turf. The first three matches we had were and last week (at Mack Oval) the wet weather was more a factor."

Heeps, a former St Andrews leader, was keeping a watchful eye on Warrnambool's other spinners.

"You definitely want to see them doing well," he said.

"You always keep an eye on other spinners and build a bit of a rivalry.

"Hopefully even more will come into their own in the two-day format."

Heeps and Greer's respective teams will lock horns in Saturday's match of the round.

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