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Cricket: Veteran Malmesbury spinner Ed Shellard says the introduction of new swing-friendly cricket balls is making batmen's lives a misery this season.

The Wiltshire league is using high-quality Dukes balls this summer instead of the Readers balls used last season.

And ex-swing bowler Shellard believes swing bowling could be the key to success this term.

The 56-year-old said: "The old balls used to swing a bit and then stop, but these new balls swing all day long.

"It's great quality leather so you can work on the balls all day long and the shine stays on them.

"Our batsmen noticed it too.

"There's going to be a lot more swing bowling this season -I think we missed a trick at the weekend by not using it enough."

Opener Jack Ward top scored for Malmesbury in their six wicket home defeat to Nationwide House with 26 runs.

Skipper Richard Gaunt was the pick of Malmesbury's bowlers with figures of three for 52 off 13 overs.

Shellard is hoping Gaunt takes heed of his advice and goes for a swinging onslaught at Potterne on Saturday.

He said: "We've got people on the fringes who swing the ball well, who could come into contention for Saturday.

"Richard Jefferson is in the second team but he might come back in.

"And Mark Schumm is an 18-year-old left arm inswing bowler who I rate very highly.

"You don't meet many left arm inswing bowlers, perhaps just one every four clubs, so he could be our secret weapon this season as batsmen are not used to facing it.

"Hopefully he'll be playing next Saturday."

Shellard took no wickets in his 13 overs but he kept his bowling tight, conceding just 24 runs as Nationwide House reached their 141 target with 4.3 overs to spare.

9:51am Thursday 8th May 2008

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