Kurt Barton will step off the farm on Saturday and into the fray as the in-form quick looks to inspire the Bulls to a breakthrough win.
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In a Twenty20 against South Tamworth at Riverside 3, the 17-year-old will look to add to his 11 scalps this season and help propel last-placed Bective East to their first win in 2020-21.
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Bulls captain Jye Paterson said Barton was his "best and fastest" bowling asset.
"He's bowled very well with the white ball so far," Paterson said, adding that he expected Barton to "take a lot of wickets" when the two-day action commences after Christmas.
This is Barton's third first-grade season. He said he had "definitely, definitely got better as I've learnt".
"You just learn as you go, I guess, and that makes you a better bowler," he said.
While Barton continues to absorb cricket knowledge, he is done with his schooling - having left Farrer when the coronavirus struck in March. He was in year 11.
"I just left because all the sport got called off," he said, adding that the pandemic merely hastened his departure from Farrer. "I never planned to go through school; I was only there to play my cricket and my footy.
"So, yeah. Probably just started work a year early - not much too it, really."
Barton works on his family's sheep and crop farm on Barton Lane opposite Goonoo Goonoo Station.
He is the third generation of the Barton family to work the property, which is operated by his father, Clive - a two-time Olympic shooter.
The path Barton is on is similar to the one taken by his elder brother, Bulls batsman Lachie.
"I wanted to go find a trade," his brother said. "But my dad needs the hand on the farm, so I'm staying here for the moment."
Clive Barton and his brother, George, another two-time Olympic shooter, also played first grade together at the Bulls.
Elsewhere on Saturday, City United and West Tamworth meet at Riverside 5 while Old Boys and North Tamworth clash at No 1 Oval.
