Big Bash: Do-or-die Strikers ‘can do some damage’ in finals

The Adelaide Strikers put down the post-season drinks when Australia Day results put them into the Big Bash finals.

Travis Head will captain the Adelaide Strikers in a do-or-die BBL final on Friday. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

What started as an Australian Day post-mortem around Travis Head’s pool turned into the perfect bonding session for the Adelaide Strikers who are primed to take their do-or-die Big Bash shot in Brisbane.

The Strikers gathered at skipper Head’s house on Tuesday knowing their finals fate lay in the hands of other teams after a loss to the Sydney Thunder on Monday looked like a hammer blow.

But as other results started to go their way the eskies remained full, and when their Gabba clash with the Heat was locked in, thoughts turned to winning the title again.

It will take four wins, but Head said there was no reason the Strikers couldn’t do it.

“It was actually a really good day for the group on Tuesday, getting the squad together, and there was uncertainty whether we were staying together or that was being the last time,” Head said from Brisbane.

“It was a great day to have a bit of team bonding session, and we’re here now and the guys are in good spirits to keep going.

“Some people would say we have been inconsistent, but the days we have been at our absolute best we have been as good as anyone.

“It was disappointing to leave it all in someone else’s hands when I think we have the team that can do some damage in the finals.

“We’re confident now we are here.”

The winner of the Gabba clash will progress to “The Knockout” against Sydney Thunder on Sunday at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

The Strikers took down the Heat twice this season, including once at the Gabba, and pounded 197 against the Brisbane outfit last week, giving Head and his men a blueprint for victory.

“We’ve played them twice now and other than myself and the bowlers having some plans for some of their batsmen, a lot of the talk is about how we can impact the game ourselves, how we can do it better,” Head said.

“It’s definitely going to be tough, but that’s the challenge, there is no better place to do it in finals, someone has an opportunity to do something special.

“There is a really good feel around the group and we’re really excited.”

Warming up for a BIG battle with the Heat tomorrow night 🔥🔥 #BlueEnergy #BBLFinals #BBL10

— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) January 28, 2021

Head is excited just to be playing again, having spent the second half of the Test series carrying the drinks after losing his spot in the national team and watching the Strikers on TV.

He needed a special exemption just to rejoin the team when the Test series finished and now wants to make an impact.

“Since Boxing Day it’s been a bit light. I was watching the boys play on TV, and I missed it,” he said.

“I enjoy just playing. It’s hard to keep getting up for training over and over again. You want to see it happen in games. That’s the hardest thing, wanting to see the result of the work you do.

“I feel like I am in good form and it’s great to get another opportunity to have an impact, to be a matchwinner.”

Head said he would take his own confidence into the game after holding his spot in the Test squad that will tour South Africa from next month.

“I was hopeful I was going to stay in, and I know I have some work to do in that format,” he said.

“But it was nice to get a phone call and once my job is done with the Strikers I can look to do that.”