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Watching the Aussie quicks has helped young pacer Stefan Kelly evolve into a Bermuda version of Glenn McGrath - the legendary seamer whose name has become a by-word for accuracy and control.

The 19-year-old put in another solid shift yesterday, hitting his line and length, with superb consistency.

Since he has come back into the squad after completing his final year at Oakham School, coaches and team-mates have noticed a different Kelly - confident, controlled and a yard or two quicker.

"This season I had quite a few injuries and it made me think about my game more," says Kelly, who hopes to go to Leeds University next year and hook up with county club Yorkshire's Academy.

"It made me narrow down what my strengths are a bit more and helped me focus on what I do best - line and length.

"I made a few adjustments to my action and my run up is a lot shorter than it used to be. I was forced into that because of an injury but it worked out for me. I actually feel I'm bowling quicker off a shorter run.

"But I've kind of realized I'm more of a line and length bowler. I can dig it in short and quick and I have a few variations, but if I have to use them all then something is not going right."

Kelly has always been a fan of the Australians.

At first he tried to model his bowling on Brett Lee - the electric fast, but slightly wayward pace man - even to the point of mimicking his action. Now he sees players like Stuart Clark and McGrath - bowlers who use relentless accuracy as their premier weapon - as his role models.

"I really look at those three Aussie bowlers - Lee more for the way he carries himself, his enthusiasm, his athleticism and the way he works for the team every ball."

Kelly, one of the few survivors from a World Cup squad that was criticized for being overweight and sloppy in the field, is starting to see some of that Aussie enthusiasm and athleticism in the new Bermuda side.

"It's good for us to have a young team. It seems like we have a lot more energy. Everyone's really sharp in the field and that helps us to build the pressure."

Kelly, a former captain of the Under-15s, seems to have been around forever. It's a standing joke in the Bermuda camp that he is one of the veterans of the side.

But he is still only 19 - younger even than most of the new players like Kyle Hodsoll and Rodney Trott, who have come up from the Under-19s.

"Clay (team manager Clay Smith) was joking with me about that saying I'd been around forever. I'm still one of the youngest in the team."

Kelly didn't play a game at the World Cup, and was something of a fringe player during that time. But, even at 19, he has become one of the key players in the current squad - opening the bowling with George O'Brien yesterday against Scotland and against Canada last week.

"I don't worry about it. It hasn't really phased me. I just try and bowl the same way whatever the situation," says Kelly of his new responsibilities.

"I've always been a confidence player - just like Stephen Outerbridge. It's something we've both talked about. It's the same for bowlers as it is for batsmen. He's confident about his game right now and he's scoring runs.

"I'm confident about my game and I feel like I'm bowling pretty well."[[In-content Ad]]

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