Strikers coach Jason Gillespie warns against dining on past glory or wallowing in defeat to Matthew Wade’s Hurricances
Adelaide Strikers coach Jason Gillespie won’t let past BBL successes, or losses, district from the job at hand when his charges play their home knockout final on Saturday.
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Adelaide boss Jason Gillespie won’t live “in the past” whether relying on his championship nucleus to flick the finals switch or fret over a Matthew Wade hit job.
Gillespie has retained the core of his 2017-18 title unit while assembling a stronger line-up this summer, with imports Rashid Khan and Phil Salt available for the entire finals series.
However, Test great Gillespie won’t dine out on reputation entering Saturday’s knockout final at Adelaide Oval.
“The squad hasn’t changed a lot,” Gillespie said.
“That was great fun and a great campaign, but in the past.
“You can’t score runs and take wickets in the past, we have to focus on what is happening now.
“We know whatever opponent, we will have to be at our very best to compete with them.
“It is very exciting and we all can’t wait.”
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Bowling first for the third time in 14 games this season, Adelaide’s attack endured a rare malfunction against Hobart on Australia Day.
Unconquered Wade (131 off 61) punched an epic ton in a 203-run opening salvo with D’Arcy Short (72 off 55) that pushed the Hurricanes to 1-217.
Adelaide is unlikely to face an innings of Wade’s total dominance again this season, BBL’s all-time second highest in a 10-run win.
“He played wonderfully well. We identified some opportunities where we could have been sharper with the ball and in the field,” Gillespie conceded.
“I thought we gave our run chase a good shot, just fell a bit short.
“Full credit to the lads, we found ourselves on the receiving end of some pretty good batting.”
The Strikers can only improve lacklustre fielding that included a reprieve for Wade on 57.
“The fielding is an attitude. Players will drop catches and misfield. All I ask is the lads give it their best and attack the ball,” Gillespie said.
Settled sides prosper at the business end of the season.
Opener Salt enters the finals with successive half centuries, while Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid has 18 wickets.
Brisbane Heat failed to qualify for the finals after South African legend AB de Villiers replaced Tom Banton, while gun Nepalese tweaker Sandeep Lamichhane has left Melbourne Stars for international duty, unsettling the minor premier.
“In an ideal world, you want to keep a squad as consistent as possible. The opportunity to have Salty and Rash for the whole tournament was a massive carrot,” said Gillespie, who coaches the pair at English club Sussex.
Three games across five days, including a road trip win against Perth, could explain a flat performance against the Hurricanes in Adelaide.
The Strikers will be cherry ripe on Saturday night, weather pending.
“We are confident we can put on a good show on Saturday,” said Gillespie, with torrential rain forecast for Saturday morning.
“We will be ready and fresh to go.
“I think the three days off has been a world of good for the players.”
Originally published as Strikers coach Jason Gillespie warns against dining on past glory or wallowing in defeat to Matthew Wade’s Hurricances
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