Revealed: Warrnambool cricket's best wicket-taker of the last decade

BOWLERS are cricket's equivalent to rockstars. Since the days of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, seamers and spinners have long ruled the roost with their flamboyance, quirks and celebrations. Like those at international level, Warrnambool's brigade of bowlers are iconic in their own way. Terry Beks and Ben Boyd have been taking wickets for decades and are still claiming scalps. A new spin bowling fraternity has emerged and whether it can sustain its early momentum - three spinners are within the association's top five wicket takers - is yet to be seen. The Standard has trawled through the archives to find out the best of the past decade. Who is the association's most successful wicket-taker of the past 10 years? CLUB: Allansford and Russells Creek TOTAL WICKETS (2009-10): 281 (first overall) BEST FIGURES: 8-44 SUMMARY: Boyd has crafted a career any bowling would envy. The Warrnambool and District Cricket Association legend is still taking wickets after more than 15 years at the top level in the south-west. Boyd is a former Victoria Country skipper and has a professional approach to all things cricket and preparation. His eight-wicket haul against Dennington in 2017 - one of the association's best-ever individual efforts - claimed six of the Dogs' first top seven batsmen. CLUB: Woodford TOTAL WICKETS: 240 BEST FIGURES: 7-19 SUMMARY: One of the association's sharpest bowlers. Had a career-best season in 2018-19, claiming 46 wickets, to show he is still the most dangerous strike bowler out there. Schlaghecke has three premiership medals to his name and has led a brigade of strong bowlers at Woodford for many years. His wicket-count and impact at Bushfield are no surprise. Key cog in Woodford's attempt to maintain its powerhouse status. CLUB: WESLEY-CBC TOTAL WICKETS: 227 BEST FIGURES: 6/32 SUMMARY: One of the association's most underrated bowlers who has made a name as Wesley-CBC's Mr. Consistency over the course of a sparkling 12-year senior career. Is back playing cricket after a scare with a superbug he caught in the football season and could still have an impact in division one before the season is out. Has consistently performed over a long period of time and continues to make a mark at Walter Oval. CLUB: Dennington TOTAL WICKETS: 211 BEST FIGURES: 5-11 SUMMARY: Beks has more than 700 scalps and is a smart customer. The 54-year-old is still taking wickets in division one and has changed-up his training to keep firing as he enters the twilight years of his career. Beks is an undisputed Dennington legend. His 211 wickets from 2009 onwards are impressive - but a look at the decade prior to that captures his true influence. The National Tiles franchisee claimed 51 scalps in a dominant 2003-04 season and another 42 in 2005-06. He's been playing for decades and could keep stumping batsmen for years to come. CLUB: Nestles TOTAL WICKETS: 203 BEST FIGURES: 6-15 SUMMARY: Eldridge's influence cannot be underestimed. The talented all-rounder's bowling prowess in the past decade exceeds his efforts with the bat - which were phenomenal in their own right. His 2012-13 season - which included 38 wickets and 316 runs - was the ultimate all-rounder's knock. It also notched three five-wicket hauls. Dangerous with both bat and ball and one of the past decade's most decorated players. CLUB: West Warrnambool TOTAL WICKETS: 189 BEST FIGURES: 8-17 SUMMARY: So consistent for so long. Simon Johnson's bowling legacy at West Warrnambool can not be overlooked. The medium-pacer retired in 2016 and finished with a bang - claiming 25 wickets in his final season. Johnson, now a talented table tennis player, was no stranger to hard work. He charged in for more than 200 overs in 2009-10, 2011-12 and 2012-13. READ MORE: CLUBS: Russells Creek and Merrivale TOTAL WICKETS: 184 BEST FIGURES: 6-10 SUMMARY: Petherick is undoubtedly one of the best bowlers currently taking the field in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association and has an ability to stand up in big moments. Nicknamed "Pepsi", the medium-pacer is on the right side of 30 and still has a long and fruitful career ahead. If he builds on his 46-wicket haul from last season, Petherick could yet be one of the best the association has seen by the time he hangs up the whites. CLUB: Woodford TOTAL WICKETS: 184 BEST FIGURES: 6-28 SUMMARY: Known for his batting prowess, the Woodford skipper is just as dangerous with the ball. He's the second-highest run-scorer of the decade and can now lay claim to being the eighth-highest wicket-taker also. Bowled less than 100 overs for the first time in three seasons last year and has become a reliable break from Woodford's fleet of medium-pacers. Is Butters the association's best player of the last decade? CLUB: Brierly-Christ Church TOTAL WICKETS: 174 BEST FIGURES: 5-16 SUMMARY: Greer has revived his division one career. The spinner bounced back with 31 division one wickets last season after two years largely in division two. The veteran bowler is one of Brierly-Christ Church's greatest weapons as the club pursues its first-ever two-day premiership. Greer's experience could prove vital at the pointy end of the season. CLUB: Allansford TOTAL WICKETS: 167 BEST FIGURES: 5-5 SUMMARY: Sheen keeps getting wickets. Has taken on more responsibility as a co-captain this season but the larrikin skipper is bowling as tight as ever. Hasn't had a strong wicket return, with just one from 16 overs, but Sheen has conceded just 39 runs. Handy batsman also who is part of Allansford's heart and soul. CLUB: Wesley-CBC TOTAL WICKETS: 165 BEST FIGURES: 5-25 SUMMARY: Higgins is a consistent performer never far from a 20-wicket season. Has bowled markedly less overs in the last two seasons but has still managed 18 and 12 wickets respectively. A former Beavers skipper capable of producing strong figures. CLUB: Merrivale TOTAL WICKETS: 161 BEST FIGURES: 6-34 SUMMARY: Industrious bowler who does as much with the ball as he does with the bat. Will run in all afternoon and looks to clock the 100-over mark again this season. CLUB: Brierly-Christ Church and Nirranda TOTAL WICKETS: 160 BEST FIGURES: 5-52 SUMMARY: Workhorse bowler who played through part of last season with undiagnosed diabetes. Still bowling at his best. Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.