McAvoy: Big Bash intensity means rethink of bowling strategies

Bowling in Twenty20 cricket is a completely different art to other forms of the game — just ask Halpin Hurricanes spearhead Luke McAvoy.

Bowling in Twenty20 cricket is a completely different art to other forms of the game — just ask Halpin Hurricanes spearhead Luke McAvoy.

The Cassowary Coast Cyclones right-arm quick, who forms a lethal opening bowling attack with Mulgrave paceman Blake Raper for the Hurricanes, has been enjoying a fruitful February, with combined figures of 6-87 across all formats for the month.

McAvoy took 1-16 from his two overs in the Hurricanes’ season opener against the Badgers two weeks ago, and has taken 3-34 and 2-37 in his two games for the Cyclones in the Cricket Far North competition.

He said he entered the shorter format with a different mindset, compared to the 50-over game.

Barrier Reef Big Bash Game 1: Badgers v Hurricanes at Griffiths Park. Hurricanes' Luke McAvoy. Picture: Stewart McLean

“It depends what time you’re bowling, in terms of the power play and what fields you’re allowed to set,” McAvoy said.

“Speaking to Michael (Salerno), our captain, my role at the moment is to bowl more in the power play, when we’re only allowed two fielders outside the circle.

“So it becomes a lot more about setting a field, knowing the batsmen that are out there and just trying to control where they hit the ball, because you’ve only got the two fielders outside the circle.

“It’s a lot different to club bowling, and the standards are probably a bit higher as well, because I’m usually bowling to the top of the order.

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“Most teams that have rep batsmen will usually bat them at one, two and three, so you’ve just got to be on the ball with your lines and lengths and make sure you’re bowling to the plan and the field that you’ve set.”

The Hurricanes bowled well in their first Barrier Reef Big Bash clash against the Badgers, but failed to back it up with the bat as they suffered a 55-run defeat.

McAvoy said the side had learned from the opening-round loss, and would be looking to reverse the result against the Dare Devils at Griffiths Park this Friday night.

“I think when you’re playing at the sort of country cricket level we are, runs on the board is always a big pressure,” he said.

Action from the Cricket Far North match between Rovers and Cassowary Coast, held at Griffiths Park, Manunda. Cassowary Coast’s Luke McAvoy puts in a solid hit. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

“The start of the your innings in T20 is so important as well. Whether it’s with the ball or the bat, how you start pretty much sets up the rest of the 20 overs.

“They got a score where, if we got off to a good start, we could have chased it down, but we had a poor start and just couldn’t get the batsmen set, just knocking it around.

“I think we tried too hard to look for boundary balls instead of ones and twos, but we’ve all spoken about that as a team and I think we can rectify it come Friday.”

Hurricanes batsman and Barrier Reef Big Bash No.1 draft pick Justin Reid will be pushing to make his return from an arm injury this week.

“We’d like to have him ready for Friday but I’m not up to date on whether that will be the case,” McAvoy said. “Going off our last performance, runs are what we need and he has scored a lot of runs this year at both representative and club level.”

“For a fella that’s as good as he is, he’s really down to earth. He’s a really good bloke to have around the side.”

CALL TO BE MADE ON ABANDONED FIXTURE

Barrier Reef Big Bash organisers are intent on rescheduling last Friday night’s washed out Twenty20 match between the Thunder and the Dare Devils, but a final decision has yet to be made.

Organiser and Queensland Country Cricket Association president Kev Maher (pictured) said all options would be taken into consideration.

“At this stage, we’re looking to reschedule it,” he said.

“There’s a break for two weeks after next Friday night for the finals of the local competition, so we’re trying to get the matches played before the break.

Kev Maher and Frank Raso model the corporate shirt for the Barrier Reef Big Bash with Michael Salerno sporting his team shirt, The Hurricanes, in the middle. Far North cricket's new format designed to shake up the sport in the region. Picture: Stewart McLean

“There’s a few things we need to consider for next weekend, and whatever we do may not please everyone but we’ll just do our best and take the best option we can, taking all things into consideration.

“Blokes have got to work on Friday so it’s pretty hard to play a double-header on Friday night, then we’ve got to consider the local competition on the Saturday, if there’s players involved with that.”

Maher said he expected a decision to be made early in the week.

“I’ve got to talk to the franchise owners and the ground staff as well, because we’ve got to work in with them on the availability of Griffiths Park,” he said.

The Dare Devils and the Hurricanes are scheduled to play at Griffiths Park this Friday night at 6.30pm.

Originally published as McAvoy: Big Bash intensity means rethink of bowling strategies