Well, a long pre-season is nearing the end. There has been hours of training, sweat has lined the running tracks, muscles have grown in the weights room and skills have been refined under the watchful eye of the master Greg Shipperd.

And as with every pre-season this one has been declared the best ever! The line we all want to here.

Do they really mean it or is the line just a cliche? 

I think we are fitter than we ever have been - stronger and faster! Now is time for the action on the front line with the first destination being South Africa for the Airtel Champions League.

 The real question now is... Are we more skilful and better planned than ever before?

We are the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash champions and have won four out of five titles since the tournament's inception. We have the best two Twenty20 batters in the world, in terms of runs scored, being David Hussey and Brad Hodge, and the best bowler in terms of wickets being Dirk Nannes together with a host of experienced Twenty20 players.

Some would say this gives us a good chance to repeat the team's efforts in the inaugural Champions League and make the semi finals. To achieve this we understand the challenges we will face and know the hard work is just about to start.

We have just returned from our pre-season tournament in Darwin against South Australia and Queensland. As most following the Bushrangers fortunes will know, it was a winless trip with few positives as far as the team is concerned.  But on the individual front and behind closed doors, the team is right on schedule to perform and hopefully will go one better and make it to the final match.

So, let me give you my thoughts on why I think this will be the case....

Strong Batting: What makes a strong T20 batting line up? Is it a top six who play carefree and high-risk cricket in the fashion of a David Warner? Or is it the balancing act of players with complementary skills like that of our batting line-up?  Don't get me wrong it would be nice to have six David Warners, but I believe one of our great strengths is our balance and complementary skills of the guys with in this group.

Hodge: Our man for-all-seasons at the top. He can play the high and the low, bat through the innings, create a platform, or can attack with the best of them. A truly world class player.

Finch: The new kid on the block. A street fighter with the ability to take on the world's best. He has a great resolve and was our leading KFC T20 Big Bash run scorer. A real talent. First trip to South Africa at this level, Hodge will be his best friend in the early innings. This pair will set the all important tone in our matches and if they fire as a pair, well, we are already halfway there.

Wade: The unofficial leader of the pack. Leads by example. Whether he bats at three or in the middle, it will matter not, as he can play both roles. An innovator and stubborn little man with the bat. Can clear the rope and is the lefty that will add important balance, a whippet between the wickets and my X factor of the tournament. Look for him to shine at this event

Hussey: World class performer. The man who is the glue of our middle order. Will bat at number four and is arguably the best player of spin in the country. Hussey together with Hodge is one of the main reasons the team is where it is today. If the platform is laid at the top of the order, there is no better man to have walking to the crease. He has the added responsibility of captaining in the absence of the Cameron White but this nothing new for David, who is a wonderful on-field leader.

There are others I could mention in the top six, but I feel the above players will be the key for us in this tournament in posting big scores that will give our bowling and fielding unit a chance to defend.

Stay tuned for my next blog with the bowling rundown and my thoughts on 'Life without Cameron' as we continue the build up to the Champions League in South Africa.

-Ronnie-

This blog is dedicated to the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.

04 SEPTEMBER, 2010 Andrew McDonald