Jonathan Burton is the silent assassin of Werribee’s imposing bowling unit in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association.
Little fanfare is made about Burton, but take a peek at the bowling statistics and you will find his name has moved quietly into the top 10 in the competition in all key areas.
His effectiveness was on display when he put Yarraville to the sword in the 156-run mauling at a batsmen-friendly Chirnside Park on Saturday. Burton took an astonishing 3-5 off 13 straight overs, including nine maidens, removing three of the top four Eagles batsmen in the process.
Only two of the five runs he conceded came off the bat, the other three being front foot no-balls.
If a fantasy cricket game was to be created for the VSDCA, Burton would be one of the first bowlers picked on current form.
Not only does he take wickets, 14 to date, he takes them regularly at an average of 9.14 and efficiently at an economy rate of 1.80.
Burton is ranked in the top 10 in all those key statistical categories.
“He sort of goes under the radar a bit, but you know what Jono’s going to do; it’s like clockwork,” Tigers captain Shaun Dean told the Weekly.
“You’ve got to take your hat off to a guy who is doing a job week in, week out and as accurately as he’s doing it.”
Burton is not an overpowering bowler who will skittle a side off. He’s a pressure builder, one who makes the job easier for his teammate at the other end.
Without the injured Matthew Thomson on Saturday, who would cash in on Burton’s interrogation of the Eagles batting line-up?
The answer was Stephen Plumridge, whose pace troubled the Eagles en route to 3-28 off 13 overs.
His success, first up after five games in the seconds, was evidence of the tremendous depth the Tigers have in their bowling stocks.
“That’s what happens when you’re involved in good clubs,” Dean said.
“There’s always someone there to take your place. He’s probably earned his stripes for another couple of games so it’s going to make selection a bit harder.”
The Tigers’ change bowlers played a part in the victory, too.
Heath Pritchard continued his purple patch of form with 2-15 off 14.5.
Tim O’Brien (1-20) and Adam Alifraco (1-22) claimed late breakthroughs.
The game was set up on day one with a majestic 122 from opener Matt Dean.
“That’s probably the best we’ve played this year in an all-round game,” Shaun Dean said.
The Tigers, the only undefeated team in the east-west group with six straight wins, host an improving Sunshine in a two-dayer at Chirnside Park over the next two Saturdays.
