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SATURDAY 7 October 2000
Jamie Cox contemplates the season ahead for the Tasmanian Tigers
Anything new always carries a certain amount of excitement and a new
cricket season is certainly no different. All the slates are wiped clean
with all teams and players starting from scratch in search of personal
and team glory.
From a Tasmanian perspective I was very encouraged to return from the UK
last week to see the positive signs of a tough pre-season. Preparations
could hardly have gone better, with the squad fitter and keener than any
I can remember. The body shapes of many are barely recognisable and if
hard work in the gym is transformed into on-field results, then Tasmania
should be difficult to beat this year.
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Shaun Young - fit and healthy
© AllSport & ACB |
The most notable of all pre-season performances has been the one by
Shaun Young, who has shed a whopping fifteen kilograms off his carcass
over the winter. Stung by criticism of a couple of disappointing seasons
by his own high standards and recent problems with injury, 'China' has
been inspired to get himself as fit and healthy as he has ever been.
Recapturing his all-round form of the mid-nineties would provide an
enormous boost to the Tigers in both one-day and first-class cricket.
Gerard Denton has also made a pleasing recovery from a lower back stress
fracture and is again bowling quite sharply with a slightly modified
bowling action. We missed 'Gezza' badly last year and his return has
almost been like welcoming a new recruit. Hopefully he too can recapture
the form which excited Australian selectors enough to reward him with
'A' team selection two years ago.
Former Victorian David Saker would have to be the early season favourite
for recruit of the year and he has fitted into the squad very well. His
strike power and aggression should adequately fill the big boots left by
the recently retired and now bitter administrator, Mark Ridgway! Players
of the quality of 'Sakes' do not become available on the domestic market
all that often and I am delighted that he decided to lead our attack.
This is not only because of what he can offer the Tigers but also
because he used to knock me over for a living when playing for the Vics!
Former Comet, Graeme 'Richie' Cunningham is another to arrive in Hobart
this summer with a well-founded reputation of being a destructive middle
order player. If he can reproduce the sort of numbers that he did for
the Comets during their brief time in the Mercantile Mutual Cup, then he
is sure to continue worrying opposition attacks.
Our campaign starts on Saturday 14th, against the Redbacks in Adelaide,
where we started with a victory in the corresponding match last season.
Prior to this we have three warm-up games in Adelaide against the AIS,
who will be strengthened (supposedly) by the inclusion of four West
Indians. Weather permitting, these games will provide the perfect
opportunity for all to find some form and for any problems with the game
plan to be ironed out.
For the past eight years the Mercantile Mutual Cup has lead the way with
innovations to the one-day game. Twelve players per side, fielding
restrictions up to thirty overs and cash incentives for hitting signs
and taking catches in the crowds have all been well-received changes and
this season they have taken it even further.
This year the schedule has been increased to ten games per side (home
and away versus all states), there will be a bonus point available for
any side who can score at a rate of 1.25 better than the opposition and,
for the first time, sides bowling second will be penalised for not
bowling their overs in time, at a rate of six runs per over.
I applaud the innovations as all certainly make the competition more
attractive to both spectators and players alike. For this, Mercantile
Mutual and the ACB should take a bow. An increased schedule should
particularly assist the traditionally slow starting Tigers! The main
question is who will be the first team to lose a game by a handful of
runs, due to being an over short at the end of the allotted time?
Hopefully not us!
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