Coach's Corner: Win from anywhere
Tue, 15 December 2009
It has been five years since we played at the Newcastle Sports Ground, venue for this week’s pre-Christmas encounter with New South Wales. It is where our mantra “Win From Anywhere” stems from as this memorable 2003-04 fixture lives on thanks to us chasing down 450-plus on the final day to knock off a New South Wales team studded with high-profile players like the Waugh twins, Simon Katich and Stewie MacGill. It was the game in which Dave Hussey made 212 not out, still one of the greatest innings I’ve seen at any level. Tragically it was to be the last match David Hookes coached. On this final day he broke down the equation into two lots of 275 from 50 overs and suddenly it seemed more achievable for us all. It was a mammoth effort and there was to be no stopping us… on this day and later in March that summer when we made 710 to take the title. Guys like Huss, Cam White, who also made runs in Newcastle in that match, Hodgey and Ronnie McDonald were all part of one of the great wins and will view this week’s match with particular significance given Hookesy’s considerable influence on them and our group as a whole. It is Brad’s last game for us as a Sheffield Shield player and he’s very keen to do well. You can see it in his eyes. One more ton will see him break another record and see him stand alone as the greatest scorer of centuries at first-class level by any Victorian. Right now he’s level with Dean Jones so it would be a fitting climax for him, given Deano’s standing in the game. He has so much respect inside and outside the group. And if he can make another ton it will help set us up for more points and continuing our momentum entering the New Year. It is a real challenge for us, particularly with another fast bowler going down last weekend, to select the right team for the conditions. Back in 2003-04 we went in with only one spinner in Cam White. This time guys like Bryce McGain and Jon Holland are very much in the mix and it’s likely we’ll take a squad of 13 to give us some bowling options. Much depends of course on the make up of the Australian team, too and if both Peter Siddle and Clint McKay take their places in the final XI from Wednesday. We now have six frontline bowlers on the sidelines, with only Dirk Nannes a realistic chance of playing representative cricket before Christmas. Damien Wright is also a slight chance for the Sydney one-dayer next week but we would like him be just a little more advanced than he is right now. So there are no guarantees. He can play such a key role for us after Christmas and it could be the extra time off will set him up nicely to go again from late December and the Twenty20s. Having Rob Cassell join the mix, at least at one-day level initially, is a giant boost for us. Rob has always been part of our long term plans. We never forget him and he never forgot that there was light at the end of the tunnel. We always thought that he could come in again and be a part of it once he got his body right. Touch wood he has and can make a contribution. He has thrown his hat in the ring and done well enough at Premier League level to deserve a recall. He’s a quality individual and a quality bowler. JUST A WORD, too, about Sunday’s finish. Some may consider we were fortunate given South Australia’s dominance on the first three days. Some may not like co-called “contrived” results where declarations come into play. Down at Bellerive where Tasmania defeated Western Australia on the very last ball just days earlier, there were also three declarations which set up an opportunity for both teams to score an outright. Most agree it was one of the great domestic matches with players going all out for the six points. Cricket was a winner and will attract more kids as a result. Over the last 10 years in particular we have always looked to play for a win rather than a draw and luckily for us, South Australia had a similar philosophy and it set up a terrific last day’s play on Sunday. Everyone played in the right spirit and for us to score 380-odd and win in the fourth innings was a formidable effort. Maybe the early-match rain kept the wicket a little fresher, but SA had had a nibble at us on the Saturday night and even in mid afternoon on Sunday, we only had to lose a couple of wickets in a row -- our “bang-bang” theory -- and it would have been advantage South Australia. We were rapt to win and to send off Hodgey in his first of two farewells with a smile on his face. I just hope we can win again this weekend to give him, and us, a real Christmas to remember!
Greg Shipperd, Head Coach of the DEC Bushrangers
