BBL08 semi-final: Melbourne Stars see wicket of D’arcy Short as key to prospects
The prized wicket of six-machine D’Arcy Short is the key to Melbourne Stars’ Big Bash semi-final prospects.
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The prized wicket of six-machine D’Arcy Short is the key to Thursday night’s Big Bash semi-final with Hobart’s record plummeting when Short fails to fire.
Across Short’s career the Hurricanes have lost 82 per cent of matches when their leading run-scorer falls for 0-20 runs.
They win 73 per cent of games where Short scores more than 20.
Stars opening batsman Ben Dunk has the surprise career figures of 2-10 (seven balls) against Short, although the clean striker was prepared for that match-up at the MCG last month.
Strike bowler Jackson Bird said the focus was on limiting Short and Matthew Wade’s boundary options in the early overs at Blundstone Arena.
“The challenge is to take wickets with the new ball and get their middle order in, because over the last couple of weeks they haven’t got much of a hit,” Bird said.
“Without giving too much away if we can limit their boundary options early in the over and then late in the over hopefully they’ll take a few more risks than what they have been doing in the (power-play).
“Those guys will probably come hard the first couple of balls of the over so it’s up to us to bowl our best ball for that particular field.”
Bird, 32, has had success against Wade (2-45 off 34 balls) while Short (0-14 off 17 balls) has struggled to put him away.
Wade has twice been caught on the fence after top-edging a pull short against Bird.
“I’d love to get Wadey out for a few bragging rights for the rest of the year,” Bird said.
“I’ve joked with him a few times about getting him out twice in the Big Bash and I don’t think he likes that considering I only bowl about 128km.”
A CricViz analysis showed the Stars should bowl a good length to Wade.
Wade has again been ignored.
LISTEN! With the Big Bash final upon us Sydney Sixer Ben Dwashuis tells Cricket Unfiltered how they will bounce back against the ‘Gades, Herald Sun BB reporter Sam Landsberger analyses the form and Tasmanian cricket boss Nick Cummins takes you behind the scenes of the Hurricanes.
Wade scores at 6.15 runs per over against good lengths, 8.9 runs per over against short balls and 10.3 runs per over against full balls.
News Corp Australia understands a key batting KPI at Hobart is to be no more than two wickets down after 10 overs.
The Stars review their games in three blocks – the first six overs, the next six overs and the final eight overs – which are graded with a score out of 10.
Bird’s economy rate of 6.5 is No.7 in the BBL and he credited the form to his role clarity under captain Glenn Maxwell and coach Stephen Fleming.
“I’m bowling a lot better than what I did the last couple of years at Sydney Sixers,” Bird said.
“I know I’ll bowl the majority of my overs in the first six. Flem and Maxi just want me to find a length that’s going to hit the top of the stumps and be smart with my fields.”
Hobart will host Sunday’s grand final with a win while the Stars would head to either the SCG or Marvel Stadium if they triumph.
GAME NUMBERS
*Average first-innings winning score at Blundstone Arena is 175 runs
*Hurricanes have won past eight games at Blundstone Arena
CAPTAIN’S CORNER
-- GLENN MAXWELL’S NOTES
*George Bailey has scored 0/72 (51 balls) against Dan Worrall, Marcus Stoinis, Jackson Bird and Glenn Maxwell
*But Adam Zampa has 2/33 (29 balls) against Bailey. That is the match-up for Maxi
-- MATTHEW WADE’S NOTES
*Jofra Archer has the ridiculous figures of 2/2 (seven balls) against Maxwell, and has also removed Ben Dunk before
*Save some Archer overs for Maxwell. Avoid letting Maxwell face Clive Rose, who he knows inside-out
MAXI ON BOWLING TO SHORT AND WADE
“We’ve got all bases covered. We’ve got guys who have got great changes of pace, we’ve got a mystery spinner (Sandeep Lamichhane), we’ve got Adam Zampa – one of the most successful leg-spinners in Australia at the moment.”
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Stars lead 6-4 overall
Stars lead 2-1 at Blundstone Arena
BBL SEMI-FINAL RECORD
Hobart 2-0
Stars 1-5
TAB ODDS
Hurricanes $1.75
Stars $2.10
THE TIPS
Sam Landsberger – STARS
The curse of finishing first will claim its sixth victim in seven seasons, finally forcing Cricket Australia to overhaul its cramped finals schedule and give the top two teams a double chance.
Shane Warne – STARS
Stars and Renegades will win their games as Cricket Australia shifts the final to the MCG as there will be 80,000 people in attendance
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