Speaking of the BBL - Momentum in sport, a resurgent Strikers, Josh Inglis, and some words from the Master ...
A weekend of good things, and upsets
Momentum can be a wonderful thing in sport. In the physics space; momentum is defined as the ‘quantity of motion an object has’
Think of a snowball rolling down a mountainside – what starts as a small, slow-moving object, can easily become a forceful fast-moving large object that could do some real damage to anything in its way. That’s the practical view.
In sport, momentum can be viewed as an irrational phenomenon. Researchers are divided in their findings; many dismiss it as a commercial performance label; others believe there are real cognitive happenings that positively influence an individual or team.
Think of the Adelaide Strikers? A commercial performance label? - or - a cognitive shift in their individual, and team thinking? I believe momentum to be a subjective experience; discard the examinations of perception; allow it to be, and roll with the hot hand.
The Strikers are fortunate to have three sets of hot hands at the wheel.
Peter Siddle has been irrepressible as captain. 27 wickets for the season sees him looking down on the rest. He bowls hard overs without flinching; his smiles outweigh the grimaces, these likely the result of a broken thumb. He does it all. A Latrobe valley ripper.
Jason Gillespie exhibits the patience of a saint. He held his nerve in the early going, and this when his side was struggling, patience and persistence have played out for him, and his assistant, Cam White, well, he possesses one of the sharpest minds in the game. The Strikers are very well served in this space.
I believe momentum to be a subjective experience; discard the examinations of perception; allow it to be, and roll with the hot hand.
Friday night saw the Strikers eliminate the Hobart Hurricanes. The Hurricanes came off a record loss to the Melbourne Stars, two nights earlier. Seemingly some key Hurricanes players had a calendar malfunction! - this was strongly denied by Matthew Wade, their captain.
The Strikers win streak extended to five, posting 6-188 from their 20 overs. This ultimately proved too much for the Hurricanes, who fell 22 runs short.
Matt Short and Alex Carey were outstanding at the top of the order. A 145-run partnership set up the batting innings; Short finished with 89 from (48) - and Carey 67 from (45) - in its last two bowling innings; the Hurricanes aggregated 461 runs at an RPO (Runs per over) of 11.5. Check your calendar, boys.
Sunday saw the Strikers turn their attention to the Sydney Thunder, arguably the most talented of all BBL lists; that is, talent relative to age. Momentum, subjectively or objectively, was with the Strikers. The snowball was halfway down the mountainside.
In sport, momentum can be viewed as an irrational phenomenon
A thrilling finish saw the Strikers hold their nerve, riding their momentum; they booked a place in the ‘Challenger final’ against the Sydney Sixers, that's an old-fashioned semi-final - BTW.
The Thunder, chasing 6-184, finished agonisingly short, needing 14 from the last over, bowled by Harry Conway; they managed just eight, totalling 6-178. The last over was not without incident. Henry Thornton narrowly avoided a chaotic collision with Alex Carey, still managing to pocket the catch. The next ball saw Ian Cockbain easily accept an outfield catch, then an improbable hat-trick was spilled by Jono Wells as he rushed in to take a difficult, low outside catch. Conway might have been miffed; however, the last over win will ease any pain he might have had.
For the Thunder, it all means another anguishing end to their campaign. They fell at the same hurdle last year, a bitter pill to swallow - two years in a row.
Saturday night saw the ‘qualifier final’ at Marvel Stadium, with the Perth Scorchers hosting the Sydney Sixers! Yes, that is correct, a team from Perth hosting a Sydney team in Melbourne!
Josh Inglis headlined for all the right reasons. Although, I do agree with his sentiments on how the West is being run.
Inglis has been short of runs all season, interrupted in part by his inclusion in the Ashes squad; still, he has been relatively unproductive in what has been a clinical campaign by the Scorchers, in particular, their batting.
He might roll out his legendary batting trifecta; punch, crunch, squash - boys.
Inglis no longer goes under the radar. He will feature more prominently than he has on opposition whiteboards. Analytical wizards can catch up with young talent more easily than they have previously, taking away their preferred hitting areas, choosing instead to match more difficult balls with corresponding fields. A reset is needed. Saturday night highlighted that.
Inglis top scored with 79 from (49) - nine 4s and one maximum, giving him a 53% boundary percentage. Kurtis Patterson, his opening partner, contributed 64 from (41) - taking his season tally to 390 (SR - 143) - The Scorchers reached 3-189 (20) - which proved too much for the Sixers, despite some impressive late-order striking from Ben Dwarshuis 66 from (29) - the Sixers, all out 140 - and back to the Greg Shipperd whiteboard. He might roll out his legendary batting trifecta; punch, crunch, squash - boys.
For the calendar:
Weds 26 Jan - Strikers v Sixers
Friday 28 Jan - Scorchers v TBC
Thanks again for being here.
