Scorcher scores a Bulls' contract
THE dream run of Sunshine Coast Scorchers swing bowler Matthew Gale continued yesterday when the Queensland Bulls handing him a one-year contract.
The tall paceman and handy lower-order batsman burst on to the scene last November when he took six wickets in his Sheffield Shield debut for Queensland.
The Bulls' outright win in that game, against Western Australia in Perth, also marked his first-class debut.
Gale, 28, relocated to the Coast for the start of last season in search of a career lift after years of Melbourne grade-cricket frustration.
The Mooloolaba-based financial planner was overlooked for the Bulls' final match last season - a win over Tasmania - but finished 2011-12 with a respectable 15 wickets at 34.26 from four first-class games.
With the former Australian under-19 representative no longer an unknown quantity, he knows he will have to take his game to another level this season.
With a full pre-season ahead of him, he is confident he can do that.
"To have access to all the coaches and all the facilities all pre-season will be a huge plus, and I'm really looking forward to it and hopefully I can take every chance given," he said.
Bulls coach Darren Lehmann said he was excited to have Gale in the squad, and agreed the speedster should deliver better performances next season with his body and mind hardened by pre-season training.
"I like the fact he swings the ball and can bat as well," he said.
"So he contributes nicely to our depth and overall strength."
The Bulls squad includes NSW defectors Usman Khawaja and Nathan Hauritz and wayward Western Australian batsman Luke Pomersbach.
