Tigers coach Jude Coleman pinpoints key areas against South Australia
The Tassie Tigers will chase WNCL history against South Australia but several key players stand in their way. Here’s who.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
How Tasmania handles South Australia’s talented bowling line-up will be key to the Tigers’ chances of history according to coach Jude Coleman.
The Tigers are aiming just the second side in history to claim back-to-back Women’s National Cricket League when they host the Scorpions at Blundstone Area on Saturday afternoon.
In a rematch of last season’s decider, the hosts will go in as favourites having finished on top of the ladder with 10 wins from 12 games.
But speaking on Monday, Coleman insisted there was plenty of talent in SA’s line-up.
Arguably most notably the presence of former Tiger Courtney Webb who scored a century when the two sides met earlier in the season.
“Webby is definitely someone who we’ll plan for and be ready for. She’s been great all season and that flows on from last season where she had a pretty important role in the final last year here.
“She will be one we watch. They’ll have a fairly different bowling attack I think from when they came here last time with Ella Wilson coming into the side.
“I’d imagine she’ll play again. She’s a young quick who is coming through so it will be slightly different to the last game we played against them but we’ll be ready for that.
“They’ve got a few (bowlers to focus on). Kate Peterson did a great job here a couple of weeks ago, swung the ball late.
“And then they’ve got their two leg spinners (led by) Wello (Amanda Jade-Wellington), who is class act.
“But I think the key is Jemma Barsby, they really depend on her two bowl well. If we can get on top of her, I think it will be good for us moving forward and dealing with the rest of their attack.”
Victory for the Tigers would cap a special season after Coleman was appointed to the role at the midway point of the season.
She signed a three-year deal as Tigers and Hobart Hurricanes coach.
“We’re pretty excited, there will obviously be nerves around but we’re excited to create some Tasmanian cricket history,” she said.
“Hopefully it has been positive (my impact.
“My plan at the start was to make sure I didn’t change too much and the girls have been through a fair bit of change in that short space of time.
“While inevitably there will be change with me coming in, I wanted them to feel as comfortable and as normal as possible.
Tassie are expected to take an unchanged line-up into the clash with the Tigers spinners set to play a big role in their premiership defence.
“We don’t have much choice to be fair (to be spin heavy),” Coleman said.
“We don’t have a lot of quicks who are fit and healthy at the moment so I would believe we would stay with our formula.”
The game will start at 2.05pm.
‘Stars aligned’: Elyse Villani’s Tassie cricket success
She’s been described as one of the most damaging batters in international cricket but Elyse Villani still has plenty she wants to achieve and Tasmania is proving to be the perfect base for success
The players to watch in the Southern Cricket Association season
The Southern Cricket Association will kick off this weekend with every team eyeing a title this season. We’ve spoken to the first grade clubs to see who the players to watch this season are.