New South Wales Blues paceman Chris Tremain loving his mentor role at NT Strike’s Desert Blaze

NEW South Wales paceman Chris Tremain is enjoying his mentoring role so much at Desert Blaze, he wants his young teammates to remember the advice he’s given them in the 2021 Strike League one-day tournament for many years to come.

Chris Tremain in action for Desert Blaze against Southern Storm at DXC Arena, Marrara. Picture: Glenn Campbell

NEW South Wales paceman Chris Tremain is enjoying his mentoring role so much at Desert Blaze, he wants his young teammates to remember the advice he’s given them in the 2021 Strike League one-day tournament for many years to come.

And Tremain’s philosophies must be working – he has captured seven wickets in five games at an average of 23.71 per scalp.

That included 2-27 from 8.1 overs in his team’s two-wicket win in the top-of-the-table clash against Southern Storm last Sunday.

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“We should’ve won by more than two wickets (chasing a target of 209) but we’re playing well enough where we’ve developed winning habits in the games we could be losing,” Tremain said.

If the Blaze beat Northern Tide at Cazalys Arena on Sunday the team will be crowned 50-over champions.

“I love it (being a senior player and team mentor),” Tremain – who has represented Australia four times in one-dayers and is a former Victoria star – said.

“I enjoy talking to the young guys and even when I name-drop some big-name players and mention their secrets to success, it gives these young guys stuff to remember and take with them.

“Hopefully years down the track they can say ‘Chris Tremain told me this when I played in Darwin’.”

Tremain, 29, said star Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood had a massive impact on him early in his first-class career.

“Josh told me what works for him is bowling a couple of inches outside off stump – if it nips back in it’ll bowl them and if it moves away they’ll nick it,” Tremain said.

“I’m a little different to Josh, but you take whatever advice works for you.

“For me, Andrew McDonald my coach at Victoria, was the biggest influence on my career. (Under him) I learnt if a batsman wants to take me on then it brings me into the game.” Tremain said he was looking forward to bowling to “class players” at the Tide, Jason Sangha and Ryan Hackney, on Sunday.

Chris Tremain has impressed for Desert Blaze in the 2021 NT Strike League. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“I’ve trained with both Ryan and Jason at NSW, and Jason is such an exceptional talent that there are days when he’ll just get the better of you,” Tremain said.

“Ryan is the same. So it’s just about trying to bring that (head-to-head) ratio back and make it as even as you can.”

Tremain is content with the competition he’s had so far.

And he knows if he keeps working hard he’ll get more game time with the Blues over the 2021-22 season, compared to last summer.

“I didn’t get too many opportunities last year with Covid impacting on second XI games and club cricket,” he said.

“And the NSW team is so strong that it’s hard to break into just through your net form.

“That’s why I wanted to come up to Darwin and play some cricket in the off-season, and I’m slowly building some form.”

Tremain is also not giving up on playing more games for Australia.

“You look at Ryan Harris and Chris Rogers, and they didn’t break into the Australian team until after they turned 30,” he said.

“I know that I can still do all the right things, but there might always just be better players.

“Even if I put myself in the frame I just want to keep improving and be as good as I possibly can be – it won’t be in the forefront of my mind.

“But if someone offers you a million dollars, you don’t say no, you take it.”