South Australia lose fast bowler

Kelly moves to Western Australia

Cricinfo staff

May 21, 2007

Trent Kelly hopes to breathe life into his first-class career with Western Australia © Getty Images

Trent Kelly, the South Australian fast bowler, has left his home state and accepted a two-year deal with Western Australia. Kelly played three Twenty20 games in 2006-07 but failed to add to his tally of two first-class matches and four domestic one-dayers.

Shaun Tait and Jason Gillespie carried the Redbacks' pace attack last season. Tait might soon spend more time with the Australia team, but in 2006-07 the South Australia selectors appeared to favour Paul Rofe, Ryan Harris, Mark Cleary and Gary Putland over Kelly.

Earlier this month the Warriors lost one of their fast bowlers, Tim Macdonald, to Tasmania, however Kelly will still find it hard to break into a side that boasts Ben Edmondson, Steve Magoffin and Brett Dorey. Kelly said his decision to move west was partially based on the quality of Western Australia's fast-bowling coaches.

"To work with big names like Bruce Reid, Dennis Lillee and Tom Moody is really exciting and I'll try and act like a sponge to get as much from them as I can," Kelly told The Advertiser. "I'm looking forward to bowling on the WACA. It's starting to come back to its former self so hopefully that can help me out."

Kelly might also gain some inside knowledge about the Perth pitch; he is a curator and has been offered a casual job with the WACA groundstaff. Western Australia's chief executive officer, Graeme Wood, said Kelly would be a valuable addition to the Warriors' bowling stocks.

"I think he's got potential and he's young, he's only 23 and this will be a great place for him to learn and develop," Wood said. "I've spoken to a lot of players about him and we've got some feedback from around the place, which has all been good, in particular his character."

Kelly struggled in the state Twenty20 competition in January, taking one wicket from three games with an economy rate of 8.48. He made his limited-overs debut aged 18 in 2002-03 and has five wickets from his two Pura Cup outings. "I'm really grateful for what the SACA's done for me, ever since I was 17 they've given me an opportunity," Kelly said. "But now another opportunity has come up."

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