Big Bash League: Perth Scorchers quick Matt Kelly primed for a clean run at season across three formats
And the Scorchers stalwart is using the Top End T20 tournament in Darwin to build towards a season where he looms as an important part of an evolving bowling attack.
Kelly was on a path that would have had him contending for an international debut two seasons ago. He had been picked for Australia A before a quad injury ruled him out of those matches, then he had pectoral surgery and missed the rest of that summer.
Watch the Top End T20 series from Darwin live and free on 7plus
A stop-start season with injury and battling for a spot in the strong attack meant Kelly played just four times for the Scorchers last season.
In his two matches at the start of the Top End tournament — where the Scorchers have taken a mix of contracted players and West Aussie prospects — Kelly has taken six wickets.
'For me personally it's just getting out and hopefully having an extended run of cricket and feel really good doing it,' he said.
'Get some confidence back that I am able to play good quality cricket at this level and do it consistently over a long period of time.
'Hopefully it's the start of what's going to be a good summer.
'I've put a lot of work into trying to be in a good position to tackle this summer and hopefully play all formats again and make sure I'm on the park as much as possible.'
The Scorchers have played three matches and won their first two before a defeat to Chicago Kingsman.
While Kelly says the players have not spoken about it between them, there is a race for the club's final list spot taking place.
It is now firming for that final place to go to a spinner, with three slow bowlers auditioning on this tour.
Reigning Laurie Sawle medallist Corey Rocchiccioli, who has starred for WA in two formats appears to be the frontrunner for that spot, but leg-spinner all-rounder Matthew Spoors — who debuted for the Scorchers last year — and Willetton young gun Luke Holt are also in the mix.
Emerging paceman Bryce Jackson is also pressing hard for an early-season debut. The Albany product has taken five wickets from his two matches after impressing in a breakout one-day campaign last summer.
Jackson is seen as a new-ball option with genuine pace who can swing the ball in the powerplay.
The Scorchers also brought home left-armer Joel Paris from Melbourne Stars after last season and the attack already includes Kelly, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson and Mahli Beardman.
'The thing we love about Jacko is firstly his energy ... he gives 100 per cent all the time. With the new ball he can swing the ball and we love doing that for WA and the Scorchers in the early overs,' Kelly said of Jackson.
'He bowls good pace too, so for us it is exciting to see his development and I'm really pumped to see what he's going to offer this summer.'
Meanwhile, tickets for the Scorchers' blockbuster run of home matches — including the Boxing Day clash and a season-opener against rivals Sydney Sixers — go on sale to the general public on Tuesday.
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