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Quiney eyes Aussies

Quiney itching to take on Aussies

11/11/2008 5:00 PM

In-form Victorian batsman Rob Quiney can be forgiven for not knowing where he is at the moment.

In the opening month of Victoria's 2008-09 campaign, Quiney has clocked up a healthy bundle of frequent flyer points and, more importantly, a bag full of runs.

Quiney has amassed a total of 394 runs at an average of nearly 66 in his six matches for Victoria this summer.

His impressive start to the season was recognised when he was selected to play for an ACA All Star side in a Twenty20 match against Australia at the Gabba on Friday.

"Every time I think about it I get nervous," Quiney admitted on Tuesday. "It'll be awesome."

Quiney struck his maiden first-class ton against Queensland last month and has bludgeoned opposition bowlers in each of his three Ford Ranger Cup matches this summer.

He has played in Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney this season and on Wednesday will play in a Ford Ranger Cup match against Tasmania at the MCG.

He'll then hop on a plane to take on Australia in Brisbane before returning to Melbourne for the Bushrangers' Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield match with Tasmania starting on Saturday.

"It's everywhere at the moment. It's a bit of a buzz. I'm not used to making runs," Quiney quipped when asked whether he had come to grips with the increased demand for his services.

Quiney has credited his improvement this summer to a tougher mental approach, a tinkering of his technique with the assistance of coach Greg Shipperd and 'just knowing I've had the confidence to play at his level'.

"But as I said before I've really got to cash in and I feel like I'm hitting the ball really well," he said. "I've just got to keep making runs."

His next opportunity will come on Wednesday against the Tigers - the side which defeated Victoria in heartbreaking fashion in last season's Ford Ranger Cup final.

Due to a quirk in the fixture, the match will be Victoria's first at home this summer.

Despite playing on the road thus far, the Vics sit third on the Shield table and top the one-day competition with three wins from as many matches.

"It's been a tough start for the boys," said batsman Aiden Blizzard. "To win so many games on the road is something teams have struggled to do in the past."

It was also proof, Blizzard said, the Bushrangers' upcoming Champions League Twenty20 tournament in India was not proving a distraction.

"Obviously we have specific preparations for the red ball, white ball and the Twenty20," Blizzard said. "I think the boys are all excited about going there but in the same respect we really need to be concentrating hard which the boys are doing at the moment."

Blizzard has been appointed as an ambassador for Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation, which is the Bushrangers' official shoelace supplier and an organisation which raises awareness for organ donation.

Meanwhile, paceman Darren Pattinson hurt his groin on Tuesday morning and has been replaced in the side which defeated New South Wales earlier this month by Shane Harwood, who returns from a calf injury.

Victoria: David Hussey (c), Aiden Blizzard, Adam Crosthwaite, Shane Harwood, Brad Hodge, Jon Holland, Andrew McDonald, Clinton McKay, Dirk NAnnes, Robert Quiney, Chris Rogers, Damien Wright (12th man to be named)

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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