Gardiner’s skill bowls over selectors

Kyle Gardiner’s cricket aspirations are whirring as much as one of the Rockingham-Mandurah youngster’s leg spinners.

The 16-year-old from Kwinana has been on a merry-go-round of late as he takes some significant steps forward.

Kyle celebrated his inclusion in WA’s male under-17s team for the National Championships in Adelaide from January 13 to 23 with a WACA first-grade debut and a baggy maroon as the latest Mariner debutant in the round 8 match against Willetton.

Rockingham-Mandurah cricket director Craig Stanners said Kyle’s performances had forced the club to alter the cautious path they had mapped out for him at the beginning of the season.

Stanners said the plan was for Kyle to start in the thirds before an introduction to second grade at the back end of the 2013-14 season.

“In pre-season, he impressed ‘BD’ (club captain-coach Brendon Diamanti) and at the start of this year his bowling has been fantastic,” he said.

“It is a rapid rise, but not one that has surprised us because he is a great trainer and a great listener.”

In October, Kyle was plying the most difficult trade in the game with the club’s under-17s and third grade sides.

By November, it became clear he wouldn’t be in second grade long when he trapped 10 wickets in two matches.

The Mariners leggie handled another rise in class as he snared 5-28 on WACA Twenty20 debut against defending champions Melville.

WACA development coach and former WA batsman Wayne Andrews and talent co-ordinator Lindsay Flinn could not ignore Kyle’s start to the season, as he took 31 wickets across junior and senior cricket at an average of 14.94.

Described as a “highly regarded talent” in the announcement of the 13-man squad, the Rockingham-Mandurah spinner will play an important role on wickets that should be to his liking.

Representing Kwinana and then joining Baldivis in the Peel Junior Cricket Association, Kyle started as an under-13 player at Rockingham-Mandurah in the 2009-10 season.

He has continued to develop his game at the club, now taking his first sure steps into senior cricket and under-17 coach Scott Goodrick said he immediately saw a very good player.

“The thing with Kyle is he is confident and has always had the confidence to bowl his leg spinners. He has just improved gradually over the years but ever since he has been going to the WACA, it has really helped his game,” Goodrick, who has overseen much of Kyle’s learning at Rockingham-Mandurah, said.

Goodrick echoed Stanners’ sentiments about his willingness to learn and seek advice from his coaches.

“He just works hard, is always smiling and he loves the game,” he said.