Australia will be into day two of the fourth Test against India next month, when the Shield decider starts. 

And while the Blues are still a long way from sealing their place, Will Somerville has emerged as the key slow-ball wicket-taker they were looking for, in Lyon’s absence.

In 12 first-class matches for Otago and NSW, Somerville has taken 46 wickets at 24.13 and is the team’s leading wicket-taker this season with 26. The off-spinner snared 8-136 in the drawn match against Queensland, one of three five-wicket hauls.

While Somerville was forced out of the Sydney Sixers’ Big Bash finals campaign, the 32-year-old New Zealand-born late bloomer is taking ownership of the Shield campaign.

“I’m very grateful for the captain (Moises Henriques) backing me and giving me plenty of bowling,” Somerville said. “I suppose I thrive on that responsibility as the spinner and I just love bowling. I love bowling for the Blues and trying to win matches for them.”

Somerville gained a feel for the North Dalton Park pitch last year, playing in the first two days of the Futures League match against the ACT, before being recalled to the Sheffield Shield squad.

He took 1-49 from 18.5 overs, but said it was an important insight into the Wollongong conditions before returning to play Tasmania, starting on Saturday.

With the north-easterly drifting in from the nearby Towradgi beach, Somerville was eyeing spells from the southern end during a centre-wicket and net practice at North Dalton Park last week.

“There was a little bit of turn, I liked bowling into the breeze here,” Somerville said.

“With the nice sea breeze, I liked bowling up into that and getting a bit of drift. 

“There’s always something there for a spinner if you can create it.”

With Somerville a danger at one end, it has allowed the ageless Doug Bollinger to fire at the other. At 35, the big left-armer, who played 12 Tests in 2009 and 2010, believes he’s still in top form.

“I feel good, I feel like I’m bowling as good as ever and the ball is still coming out well,” he said.

“I’m only as young as these guys around me and I’m just trying to keep up with them.

“I’ve done my apprenticeship going into the breeze.”

Saturday-Tuesday

NSW v TASMANIA

North Dalton Park (10.30am)

Ladder: Victoria 43.67, NSW 32-12, South Australia 32.1, Queensland 31.31, Western Australia 28.11, Tasmania 14.15.