No fear on pitch of pain: In-form Hurricane batsmen will cope OK, says Milenko

Hurricanes all-rounder says the purple powerhouse can still be a marvel with the bat in Melbourne.

Simon Milenko, of the Hurricanes, has no doubt Hobart’s in-form top order can combat the expected slow, low-turning wicket. Picture: AAP Image/Rob Blakers

HURRICANES  all-rounder Simon Milenko is confident the high-flying batting group has the ability to adjust to vastly different batting conditions when it clashes with the Melbourne Renegades tomorrow night.

Unbeaten Hobart begins a five-match road swing at Docklands Stad­ium, with the venue’s pitch already coming under scrutiny in its first two contests of BBL08.

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The Perth Scorchers managed just 103 batting first in the opening game at the stadium, with the Renegades suffering a top-order collapse before steadying to win by four wickets.

In the second game, the Sydney Sixers posted 7-132 before holding the hosts to 9-99 in reply in another low-scoring encounter.

Simon Milenko has no doubt the in-form top order, led by dynamic opening duo D’Arcy Short and Matthew Wade, pictured, can combat the expected slow, low-turning wicket. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

While the Hurricanes have played in three of the seven highest match aggregate scoring contests at Blundstone Arena, the Docklands surface is far from the batting paradise at home.

However, Milenko has no doubt the in-form top order, led by dynamic opening duo D’Arcy Short and Matthew Wade and middle-order rock George­ Bailey, can combat the expected slow, low-turning wicket.

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“We will sit down and plan out more so the grounds we are playing at and how to approach our style of cricket on those facilities,” Milenko said.

“There has been some interesting pitches so far this Big Bash, with a few lower scores.

“We do a lot of planning and a lot of the net facilities are typically like that [the game pitch] anyway.

Simon Milenko has no doubt the in-form top order, led by dynamic opening duo D’Arcy Short, pictured, and Matthew Wade, can combat the expected slow, low-turning wicket. Picture: AAP Image/Rob Blakers

“Our whole game plan and how we base our batting sets up quite well for those kind of wickets, so hopefully with a bit of luck our top order keeps firing.”

While Milenko has not been called upon greatly in the tournament — to date, he has 43 runs in five knocks and is yet to be dismissed — the clean ball striker has had a major impact in his short stints at the crease.

In the team’s opener against Brisbane, he cracked two sixes in the last three balls of the innings to push Hobart to 6-159 — a game it won by 15 runs — while he has provided vital cameos in thrilling run chases against both Sydney teams, including hitting the winning runs against the Sixers on Friday off the penultimate ball.

Simon Milenko has no doubt the in-form top order, led by middle-order rock George­ Bailey, pictured, can combat the expected slow, low-turning wicket. Picture: AAP Image/Rob Blakers

“It’s been a funny old tournament batting at six when the top order fires, there is not so much opportunity to come in this year so far,” Milenko said.

“That’s just the way T20 goes, isn’t it? At six you come in and you have to win the game sometimes.

“It is calming knowing how well he [Bailey] is hitting the cricket ball at the moment, every time he gets a bat in his hand at training he is thumping them.

“He is very confident every time he walks to the crease.”