Strikers promise fans ‘fireworks’ at first Adelaide Oval match of new BBL season
Big-hitting Strikers trio Weatherald, Short and Lynn are primed to punish the Stars on Friday night, launching a big weekend for Adelaide events. SEE WHAT’S ON
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Matt Short plus Chris Lynn and Jake Weatherald equals the capacity for some seriously big hitting.
Adelaide Strikers fans should be salivating over the prospect of this trio being in full flight for BBL|14.
Short dominated last season with an unmatched 541 runs – the next closest was Josh Brown, then of the Heat, with 366 – and tournament-topping 25 sixes.
Lynn scored the fourth-most runs of BBL|13, with 304 at an average strike rate of 164.32 and 14 sixes, while Weatherald finished the season with a bang to rack up the sixth highest strike rate of 168.33 and 11 sixes.
Weatherald came into the Big Bash with an incredible Sheffield Shield knock of 186 from 204 balls under his belt. He also smashed 40 from 19 balls in the Strikers’ season opener against the Sydney Thunder in Canberra.
The 30-year-old said he was in “a really good space” after his maiden ton for Tasmania and ready to attack his eighth season in Strikers blue.
“It’s going to be a tough batting order to slide into,” he said. “But wherever I get the opportunity to bat … I’ll try to be really positive, take some pressure off the rest of the boys and bat like I did last year. If I can replicate what I did last season, I’m sure I’ll help my team get wins.”
Weatherald’s contributions in BBL|13 included an impressive 80no from 36 balls against the Hurricanes, and 56 from 32 in the Strikers’ win over the Scorchers in a Qualifier final.
Adelaide was sent packing in the next round of finals, the Challenger, by eventual champions the Brisbane Heat.
Weatherald is pumped for the Strikers’ first home game of the season against the Melbourne Stars on December 20, predicting “a lot of fireworks” – literally and figuratively.
“We have a really strong batting order, so I’m expecting a lot of people going ballistic and going hard, I think that’s what people will be there to see,” he said.
“We’re going to try and entertain by hitting as many sixes and boundaries, and taking as many wickets as possible, and doing some amazing things in the field.
“They’ve got some good players. It will be great to play against Beauy (Tasmanian teammate Beau Webster) and see what he can do following a great Shield season so far – although hopefully he’s been playing for Australia (having joined the Test squad for the series against India).”
The match will have a festive flavour, with Santa and Mrs Claus arriving at Adelaide Oval by sleigh before doing a lap of honour and posing for photos, elves roaming the ground, carols performed pre-match and more.
Meanwhile, the Strikers have made a few key changes this season. Former Australian Test captain Tim Paine has notably taken over as head coach from Jason Gillespie, whom he served as an assistant coach last season.
Weatherald believes this move could help take the club “a couple of steps further” this season.
They have also recruited England vice-captain Ollie Pope, who joins namesake Lloyd Pope in blue, and who Weatherald expects to bring “a different dimension to our team”.
“He scores in different zones to myself and Lynny and Shorty, so he’ll provide another headache for other teams I reckon,” he said.
The Adelaide Strikers will take on the Melbourne Stars at Adelaide Oval, 6.45pm on December 20. Tickets available via Ticketek.
WHAT’S ON IN ADELAIDE
Life on the railway
Railway buffs won’t want to steam past the State Library without checking out a free exhibition focusing on a unique chapter of Australia’s transport history. Camel Trains to Steel Wheels: Life on the Trans-Australian Railway takes a close look at Australia’s most strategically important railway line, which ran from Port Augusta to Kalgoorlie and connected the nation’s east and west. The display features a collection of archival records, photos and footage that captured the events and challenges of the railway’s first 60 years. Presented by the National Archives of Australia, Camel Trains to Steel Wheels runs until January 26. While there, you can also check out Adelaide’s largest indoor Christmas tree in the library’s historic Mortlock wing.
slsa.sa.gov.au
Moonlight movies
Settle in for some Christmas movie magic under the stars at a Moonlight Cinema screening. Set in the beautiful surrounds of Botanic Park – adjacent to the Botanic Garden – the Moonlight Cinema offers a movie-going experience unlike any other. A broad selection of old favourites and new releases make up this summer’s program, with a number of festive flicks this week guaranteed to put you in the Christmas spirit. Elf and How the Grinch Stole Christmas are scheduled to screen on December 20 and 21 respectively – and anyone looking for a triple helping of big-screen Yuletide joy can return on Monday night for Love Actually. adelaide.moonlight.com.au
City of Angels
This is it folks … evergreen Aussie rockers The Angels will be back in the city where it all started for them half a century ago, with their 50 Not Out Reprise shows at Hindmarsh live music venue The Gov. After their first Adelaide gig on Friday night, December 20, the band will be firing on all cylinders for the second the following night, delivering the songs that made them a popular fixture on the Oz rock circuit – including No Secrets, Take a Long Line, Shadow Boxer and, of course, Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again – as well as tracks from their latest album.
thegov.com.au
Stitches in time
A unique exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia shines a spotlight on how textiles can be interwoven with social change. Showcasing the work of more than 100 artists, designers and activists, the Radical Textiles exhibition draws on AGSA’s international, Australian and First Nations collection of textiles and fashion, augmented by sculpture, painting, photography and the moving image. agsa.sa.gov.au
The Tap Pack
Tap into your inner Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers by catching the second of two shows featuring Aussie tap dance troupe The Tap Pack at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday night, December 21. Mixing slick humour, high-energy entertainment and world-class tap dance, The Tap Pack offers a timeless show inspired by the legendary kings of swing, the Rat Pack, with a modern twist, featuring songs from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr to Ed Sheeran, Michael Buble and Beyonce.
adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au
Chihuly in the Botanic Garden
Already a natural wonder in the heart of the city, the Adelaide Botanic Garden has been further transformed with an additional touch of glass. Renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly’s Garden Cycle Exhibition – a vibrant collection of colourful large-scale sculptures – is making its debut in Adelaide. On show until April 29, the unique display offers a chance to see the gardens in a completely different light. Entry to the outdoor exhibition is free during the day, and various ticketed events – including night-time experiences – provide a fresh insight into the garden paradise. Chihuly Nights is a ticketed event that features dramatic lighting from 6.45pm to 10pm each Thursday to Saturday.
botanic.gardens.sa.gov.au
Zoo treasure hunt
Open every day of the school holidays, the Adelaide Zoo is a one-stop paradise for all sorts of up-close animal experiences. Younger zoo-goers might like to kick off their summer break by embarking on the Paws and Claws Jungle Adventure – a treasure hunt which will bring adventurers “close to otters, gigantic giraffe, howling dingoes, tiny tamarins and pounding Sumatran Tigers”. There’s also the free flight bird show, which is held daily at 11.30am on the zoo’s central lawn.
adelaidezoo.com.au
A-League Women: Adelaide United v Melbourne City FC
Enjoy a sporting entree before the highly-anticipated Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars Big Bash League match by cheering on Adelaide United as it takes on the tough assignment that is table-toppers Melbourne City. The match kicks off at 4.50pm at Coopers Stadium on December 20.
adelaideunited.com.au
Smithfield fire adds to already ‘tough’ Christmas for resident
A northern suburbs resident on the cusp of the blaze that threatened a major shopping centre and homes said the fire was the ‘culmination of a tough Christmas’ for her due to recently losing her partner.
Decking in the halls: Inmates to hospital after Xmas prison incident
Two male inmates involved in an incident inside a infamous SA prison have been rushed to hospital.