Local face in Hobart camp has been ‘lost a little bit’ amid excitement of overseas additions
Two proven world-class performers and a rising English talent has given Hobart’s Big Bash top order a dynamite look — but coach Adam Griffith is just as excited at the prospect of one local bouncing back to his best.
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A RECRUITING spree has the Hurricanes armed with arguably its most explosive batting line-up ever, but coach Adam Griffith is just as bullish about a local face ahead of this year’s Big Bash.
Hobart has added the top ranked T20 batsman in the world in Dawid Malan, proven South African star Colin Ingram and one of England’s most exciting prospects Will Jacks to its BBL|10 list, along with former Melbourne Star Peter Handscomb.
And while skipper Matthew Wade is likely to miss the majority of the tournament with national duties, D’Arcy Short is set to play another pivotal role pending his selection in Australia’s white ball series against India.
However Griffith is backing Ben McDermott to benefit the most from the new signings and return to his destructive best.
McDermott had a relatively subpar tournament last summer, scoring 265 runs at 26.5 and a strike rate of 122.7 as he was shuffled up and down the order at times.
But Griffith is confident the 25-year-old, who was Tasmania’s most consistent batsman in the Sheffield Shield hub with 355 runs at 59.1 and four half centuries, will flourish with less pressure to be the sole “finisher” at the end of an innings.
“We have worked hard over the last couple of years with this batting group to develop them, but a lot of our games have been won on the back of our top order, D’Arcy and Wadey have been unbelievable the last few years,” said Griffith, who is in quarantine in Perth having returned from his IPL stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“We just wanted to add to that so we have got some depth there. Obviously losing George [Bailey], his experience is a big loss but we are very happy to have Pete on board.
“It is a little bit of a different role to George, playing a bit up the order but even allowing Ben McDermott now to continue his development.
“In all those signings he has probably been lost a little bit in the chat, he is a world-class performer.
“He didn’t have the best of seasons last year and he admits that, but I think with that pressure off him now it will allow him to blossom and I think he just as exciting as anyone on our list we have brought in.”
Ingram and Jacks will be available from the start of the tournament, while Malan will miss the first two weeks while finishing his international commitments and quarantine requirements.
However there will be some overlap before Ingram returns to South Africa for his domestic season — allowing all three imports to feature in the one match — and with another two overseas players yet to be announced, Griffith said he will have the flexibility to pick a starting XI based on form, conditions and match-ups.
“We will have potentially four or five [international] players through parts of the tournament available.
“If you can have more than the three overseas players on your books with you, you are picking for conditions and picking for match-ups.
“It is more of a selection thing then, instead of having your set overseas and they play every game.”
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