By MATT NICHOLLS
ARMIDALE is sweating on the fitness of strike bowler Karl Triebe as it aims to upset Tamworth in Sunday’s War Veterans’ Cup final.
Triebe injured his shoulder in Friday night’s Big Bash contest and will be given until the 11th hour to prove his fitness for Sunday’s decider in Tamworth.
Armidale captain Andrew Brownlie said the quick would be rested from this Saturday’s club match to give him every chance of playing.
“He’s our best bowler and Armidale’s only Central North representative, so we want him out there,” the skipper said.
“He’ll be given every opportunity to play. I know he wants to play.”
Armidale is regarded as the rank outsider in the War Veterans Cup final and will have to produce its best cricket to upset the home side.
The Tamworth association is regarded as one of the strongest in regional NSW and this summer Tamworth played off in the Country Shield final at the SCG.
Armidale’s selectors are not only sweating on the fitness of Triebe, but have also had to find a replacement for key batsman Matt Schaefer.
Selector Brad King said Schaefer would be a hard man to replace.
“He’s one of our best with the bat and one of our most experienced players,” King said.
“We had a few blokes make runs in the second XI for Dumaresq Colts, so I’ll sit have a chat to Brownlie and we’ll make a decision.”
It’s been many years since Armidale has defeated Tamworth in a senior cricket match, although King joked they did beat their southern rivals via forfeit last month.
“Tamworth is a class side, but this is cricket and it can take one good performance to win you a game sometimes,” King said.
“We will need to do everything right to win, but Tamworth shouldn’t take us lightly.”
