Bowling coach Matt Mason is backing "total match-winner" Worcestershire paceman Jack Shantry to chalk up 500 first class wickets before he ends his career.
Shantry went past the 200 mark last season and ended 2015 with 67 first class victims – including 57 in the LV = County Championship.
It was the second season in a row that the 27-year-old has reached the half century mark in the LV = CC and he deservedly won the Dick Lygon Award at the Gala Evening-Awards Night at New Road earlier this month.
Mason said: "Jack has had seven seasons at Worcester and, when you think of where he started, he probably has to pinch himself a little bit to see just how far he has come.
"He got to 200 wickets (last season) and that is probably about the half-way point. I'm sure he will go on and get 400, 500 before he is finished.
"He is a class performer. He always finds a way does Jack.
"Just when you think he can't get that wicket or we can't get that breakthrough, you give him the ball and he finds a way and that's been his story for me. He is a total match-winner."
Mason agrees that Shantry does not always get the credit he deserves because of his unorthodox – but effective – action.
He said: "I agree and that's probably because he's different and people often fear different and they don't embrace it.
"That's one thing I've always believed as a coach that sometimes that little bit of difference can give you the edge.
"I never forget having spoken to Marcus Trescothick and Justin Langer a few years back when they both played for Somerset and they both said they never wanted to face Shants again because they found him that difficult and that awkward.
"He is a difficult proposition. I say if you are not going to respect him, then do so at your peril because he will get your wicket. He has got plenty of them."
