BOWLING veteran Jeff Hussey is taking in his stride the knowledge that he has become Wendouree’s all-time best wicket-taker.
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Hussey broke Red Cap Andrew Leach’s 622-wicket record last round in the Ballarat Cricket Association club thirds and is about to fire up this week to try and extend the margin.
But it is more about contributing to the team effort than notching up personal feats.
“It’s very nice to get the record. I’ve just been fortunate to hang around the game a long time and when you do that, your wickets pile up,” Hussey said.
“The chap I took the record off, Andy Leach, he was watching the game and we had our photo taken together at the end of the over.
“...He had just been keeping an eye on it (the record) and knew it was coming up.
“He’s a terrific fellow and one of the club’s best.”
Hussey has taken three wickets each round this season, including a match in the fourths and one round when his three wickets were shared across two innings.
He levelled Leach’s tally with a 3-49 haul in a rain-affected match with North Ballarat, then nabbed his record-breaker when Naps-Sebas opener Samuel Peters was caught behind.
The wicket was more on the youngster’s bad luck than a great delivery, according to Hussey, but it still counted.
Hussey crafted a career as a medium-fast bowler for the Red Caps, but the years have slowed him down to a steady medium-pace seam bowler.
He has been a loyal Red Cap the past 30 years, coming back to the game in the 1984-85 season after a lengthy period in athletics.
A work colleague encouraged Hussey, a former Brown Hill junior, to join Wendouree.
It was only about eight summers ago that Hussey captured his first hat-trick – his most memorable wicket.
“I just remember running down the pitch when I got it,” Hussey said. “It was against Darley and the first of two hat-tricks. I got my second about two seasons later.”
Hussey said his main goal was to get through the game without breaking down.
And he was going all right.
The Red Caps have put 405 runs on the board to defend against Brown Hill in the club thirds at Brown Hill this round.
Hussey is yet to get started.
melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au