Newcastle will take three spinners into the NSW Country Championships and coach Shane Burley is pleased they all bring something different to the table.
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Burley has captain and off-spinner Nick Foster at his disposal when the annual carnival starts on Friday as well as Aaron Bills and Nathan Hudson delivering leggies and left-arm orthodox respectively.
And having recently played a representative T20 double header on the Central Coast, Burley reckons the tweakers will come in handy across the three days of competition at Jubilee, Sohier and Baker parks.
"It's good for us having three spinners," Burley told the Newcastle Herald.
"I think that will be pretty important and we're really lucky that way.
"I like the ball turning away from batsmen and we've got an offie, leggie and ortho.
"It means we can match up well whether we've got a left or right hander out there."
Brad Aldous, Andrew Somerville, Josh Geary, Adrian Chad and Jacob Montgomery present the seam bowling options for Newcastle during the 50-over fixtures.
In the batting department it will be a new-look top order from 12 months ago with Daniel Arms on debut at the country titles while Jeff Goninan, Aaron Wivell and Hudson return to the 14-player squad.
"Nick will captain all the way through," Burley said.
"There won't be any changes there."
Newcastle missed the final last season after winning three of the previous five championships (2013-14, 2015-16 and 2017-18).
"I think we need to back ourselves a bit more," Burley said. "I don't think we backed our skills enough at certain times last year."
Burley, who was this week announced as NSW Country assistant coach again, said Bush Blues caps would also provide some motivation.
"I know it's a goal for some of the guys," he said.
Geary, Chad and Jed Dickson went to nationals in 2018-19.
Meanwhile, University's Andrew Harriott, Wallsend's Matt Lynch and former Stockton player Bryan Warren have all been listed for Central North. Reigning NSW Country player of the year Caleb Ziebell and former Sydney Sixers all-rounder Simon Keen were named for North Coast and Central Coast respectively.
NEWCASTLE: Nick Foster (c), Daniel Arms, Jeff Goninan, Nathan Hudson, Ben Balcomb, Jed Dickson, Adrian Chad, Aaron Wivell, Josh Geary, Aaron Bills, Brad Aldous, Andrew Somerville, Jacob Montgomery, Nathan Price.
