Fylde coast cricket preview: Blackpool's Siddall in form of his life thanks to sledging Down Under

He’s the 20-year-old Blackpool CC bowling sensation who is taking the Northern Premier League by storm and Matt Siddall says sledging in Australia is a reason for his scintillating form.

The bowler, who cites New Zealand spin great Daniel Vettori as a hero, has picked up 14 wickets in Blackpool’s comfortable derby wins over Fleetwood and St Annes on the last two weekends.

Siddall’s form has helped Paul Danson’s side to reduce Netherfield’s lead at the top of the first division to four points with five games to play.

Ahead of tomorrow’s visit to Leyland, it has been quite the turnaround for Siddall, given that Danson opted to leave him out at the start of the season.

But now he is piling on the wickets alongside 39-wicket strike bowler Matt Grindley, and Siddall explained why.

He said: “Ever since I have come back from Australia I have been playing a different game.

“The first weekend of the season I spent playing for the seconds against Longridge and that motivated me to get to where I am now.”

Siddall explained that confidence is the key to his form, and that is something he developed while following in the footsteps of his old coach and now Northants seamer Richard Gleeson by playing for Collegians in Australia over the winter.

He said: “Every time Paul gives me the ball I just feel I can change the game.

“That comes through hard work in training and that is where the confidence comes from.

“I always feel like I can win the game. When I went out to Australia I lacked a bit of confidence.

“But my time out in Australia taught me to become mentally tougher.

“Every time I stepped out on to the pitch out there I got sledged because I was English, so that has made me mentally tough and taught me to bowl faster.

“The pitches out there are a lot flatter, so it taught me to bowl a bit quicker.”

The 20-year-old (left) has come through the ranks at Stanley Park, after joining at the age of 12.

And former Blackpool paceman Gleeson as his inspiration.

He said: “I would love to follow in Rick’s footsteps. He coached me and it is good to see him making it on the county scene.

“If I can get anywhere near to what he has done it would be an achievement.

“For now I am focusing on becoming the club’s leading- wicket taker.”

TOMORROW’S FIXTURES

Northern Premier League: Fulwood and Broughton v Netherfield, Garstang v Fleetwood, Leyland v Blackpool, Morecambe v Barrow, Penrith v Preston, St Annes v Chorley

Liverpool Competition ECB Premier: Lytham v New Brighton

Moore and Smalley Palace Shield premier division: Eccleston v Longridge, New Longton v Torrisholme, Penwortham v Kendal, South Shore v Great Eccleston, Thornton Cleveleys v Croston, Vernon Carus v Lancaster

Division 1A: Freckleton v Norcross, Grimsargh v Hoghton, Mawdesley v Standish, Rufford v Fylde, Tarleton v Kirkham and Wesham, Withnell Fold v BAC/EE Preston