Adelaide Strikers cemented a record breaking bond with fans in BBL title summer

WHY Adelaide struck gold, won hearts and minds with BBL title.

Strikers coach Jason Gillespie

Watching children brave searing Fleurieu Peninsula rays to delight in hugging Adelaide’s inaugural BBL trophy at Yankalilla Cricket Club underscored the impact of a golden summer for Jason Gillespie.

Dizzy was integral to an Australian dynasty that delivered Test then World Cup supremacy from 1995-2007. Coaching his home town to an elusive title was special, personal.

Gillespie trusted in BBL’s youngest squad and locals reared under Redbacks counterpart Jamie Siddons headlined by matchwinners Alex Carey, Jake Weatherald and Travis Head. Recruiting leading wickettaker, Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan (18) proved a masterstroke.

This was the silverware, validation and spiritual connection cricket needed with fans at a redeveloped Adelaide Oval. It was another reminder of the shared, emotional high that Crows and Power supporters will never feel until complicit administrators fight the MCG monopoly on staging AFL grand finals.

“I took the trophy to my son’s cricket club at Yankalilla, they were like kids in a candy store, they all had photos, loved it, very cool. You see what it means, ” said Gillespie.

Our youth was able to ride every twist and turn then celebrate with Gillespie’s Strikers at Adelaide Oval – precious for a city needing to show its best and brightest the Holy Grail can be achieved at home.

Twenty20 is derided as a disposable format but it drew 80,000 fans to Adelaide Oval for the Strikers’ thrilling finals triumph in sweltering conditions.

Adelaide became the fastest BBL franchise to welcome a million fans through the gates during an epic, one-run, semi-final victory last Friday.

This will be remembered as the summer Carey became a household name, the Australian limited overs keeper and Test superstar-in-waiting using the BBL as a vehicle to prominence with 443 runs at 50.

Having led the Redbacks to four first-class and one-day finals by 23, Head deservedly commanded his first title. This was a man no longer learning on the job but controlling contests by deed and tactics.

Opener Jake Weatherald won the grand final against Hobart Hurricanes off his own bat with 115 (70 balls) in a stunning display that had national T20 selector Mark Waugh running out of superlatives.

SA cricket hasn’t enjoyed a cohort of home grown heroes since fast bowler Gillespie, Siddons, Greg Blewett, Darren Lehmann and Tim Nielsen figured in its 1995-96 Sheffield Shield title. Results are flowing now the band is back together under a process orchestrated by SACA boss Keith Bradshaw.

Nielsen as high-performance manager appointed Siddons, with the Redbacks making four finals inside three seasons. Gillespie delivered the BBL title at his third tilt having guided Adelaide to the minor premiership in 2015-16. Blewett’s return to SACA as batting and fielding mentor from Australia’s set-up this spring supercharged standards. Add a fitness and conditioning duo in Steve Schwerdt and John Porter without peer nationwide, and the state’s flagship sides entered battle with sound bodies and peace of mind.

The state’s coaching hierarchy is top shelf but nothing without talent to hone. Kensington leggie Lloyd Pope was last month compared to Shane Warne snaring 8/35 in Australia’s under-19 World Cup quarter-final win against England.

Keeper-batsman Harry Nielsen’s 105 on Shield debut against Victoria on Thursday further showcased our emerging quality. Nielsen, 22, put on 86 with Jake Lehmann (83) in SA’s first dig 379 – 19 years after Tim Nielsen played his final Shield game with Darren Lehmann in a side captained by Siddons.

Carey takes the gloves from rookie Nielsen for SA’s next Shield clash against New South Wales when Head, Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa also return from Australian T20 duty.

Competition is a hallmark of champion teams.

Originally published as Adelaide Strikers cemented a record breaking bond with fans in BBL title summer