David Warner says fun is the key to Sydney Thunder BBL success as captain

The two teams who have catapulted themselves into the Big Bash finals have one very big thing in common.

Analytics are out and “having fun” is in as the central pillar of two leadership strategies that have put the upstarts Sydney Thunder and the come-from-nowhere Melbourne Stars on a Big Bash collision course with the potential for the best show of the season on Wednesday night.

New Thunder captain David Warner, who was the fiery “Bull” when he played the chief antagonist role for Australian teams in all formats, said his notion of inspiring his troops matched that of Stars rival Marcus Stoinis, with the duo embracing their status as highlight-reel providers.

Matching the fireworks that flash as they run onto the ground doesn’t always come off and the 0-5 start experienced by the Stars is testament to that.

But Warner, sporting a smile to match the entrance at Luna Park, having lifted the Thunder from cellar dwellers to finalists in his first season at the helm, said the recipe for his team’s success was a simple one.

“I’ve always said this game is about attitude and how much do you want it, and how much do you want it as a team,” he said on Monday, having finished the regular season second on the run-scorers’ list after committing to the full BBL season for the first time.

“My biggest thing is enjoying each other’s success and when you do that everything flows and you don’t worry about your own form, if you’re in runs of taking wickets or not. This group right now is so happy to be here. It helps when you are winning games.

😱 @davidwarner31 😱

That's a screamer from the Thunder skipper! #BBL14pic.twitter.com/tOQQYnY1qt

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 13, 2025

“The fun environment we have created, we are not worried about what is going to happen.

“Cricket is about having fun. Yeah, it’s a job, but we don’t look at it like that. We are entertaining, trying to put bums on seats, we want to put on a show.”

Veteran Stars seamer Peter Siddle, who at 41 has come through a few different environments at all levels in his long and distinguished career, said it was clear why he and the Stars, the great underperformers of the BBL, were “flying”.

“I’m just loving this environment,” he said.

“It’s loud, it’s fun, we’re flying.”

Between the two teams they boast some of the best batting entertainers the BBL has to offer, including Warner and Stoinis, with Glenn Maxwell in the sort of rare form that makes him a danger to the Thunder’s hopes of progression and the Stars a genuine finals hope.

Maxwell has literally bashed a competition-high 26 sixes this season, with 21 coming in his past four innings that have yielded 244 runs.

The guy is unbelievably good.

Here's all the highlights from Glenn Maxwell's 76* off 32 balls! #BBL14pic.twitter.com/fevthZmuS7

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 19, 2025

The enigmatic superstar, who has longed for a BBL title for the team he captained for four unsuccessful seasons, has been dismissed just once in the last 126 balls he’s faced, a rarity in bash and crash games that demand a get in, go big or else mentality.

The Stars have come with a charge, on the back of Maxwell, and Warner said his team had done the same, winning thanks to individuals.

But that opened the door for a collective coming together when it matters the most.

“Individuals have won the games for us, batting and bowling, but we still haven’t played our complete game, which for me, it’s scary,” Warner said.

“The batters haven’t all gelled together and got good partnerships and we talk about bowling partnership as well. One has leaked at the one end, the other one has taken wickets. I’d like two or three guys to go on and post big totals.

Originally published as David Warner says fun is the key to Sydney Thunder BBL success as captain