Hungry Vics aiming high for Matador Cup

The Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers are prepared to shoulder the burden of expectation at next month’s Matador BBQs One-Day Cup, according to new head coach David Saker.

Victoria enter the three-week tournament in Sydney boasting 10 players with international experience, including seven players who recently spent time with the national squad on the Qantas Tour of the British Isles.

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However, Saker is determined to improve on the state’s one-day record that currently sits at 14 wins and 15 losses since their drought-breaking title victory in the summer of 2010-11.

“There’s a bit of pressure straight up when you look at the experience in that team and some of the young skilful players we’ve got in the group,” Saker said after the announcement of the 14-man squad.

“We’ve got a bit of pressure on us to perform because we’ve got such a good, strong list.

“But you’re better having a strong list than a weak list, that’s for sure.”

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Saker returns to the Australian domestic scene after a five-year stint as England bowling coach, which followed six years as an assistant coach with the Bushrangers.

Victoria were beaten in four one-day finals during Saker’s previous tenure, as well as another stumble at the final hurdle in 2012-13, and the new head coach isn’t afraid to aim high heading into the summer.

“We’ve underperformed in one-day cricket for a long period of time,” he said.

“We’ve had some really strong sides and we’ve finished runners-up quite often.

“This is a really hungry group to prove a point in one-day cricket. We believe we’ve got a side that can win it and that’s what we’ll be going for.”

While the Bushrangers welcome back World Cup winner Aaron Finch for his first full domestic one-day tournament since his player-of-the-tournament performance in 2012-13, it’s another addition that has captain Matthew Wade most excited.

Fast bowler James Pattinson is set to make his first appearance in the big V since October 2012 and Wade believes it could be the boost his side needs to rise up the table.

“We’ve probably struggled at times with our new-ball bowling in one-day cricket,” the wicketkeeper-batsman said.

“That’s probably where we’ve let ourselves down at times, but to have Jimmy come in and play a role for us will be a great addition to our team.”

The numbers support Wade’s assertion, with the Bushrangers claiming just three wickets in the opening eight overs of their seven matches in last season’s Matador Cup, compared with 13 in eight matches for the champions Western Warriors.

Pattinson’s firepower with the new ball is set to be unleashed in the team’s season-opener against the new Cricket Australia XI on October 7, and both Wade and Saker are unsure of how the revolutionary concept will play out.

The inaugural squad was revealed earlier today, including Victoria’s Seb Gotch and Matt Short, with the Bushrangers captain and coach both in agreement that the exposure to domestic cricket provides a fantastic opportunity for some of the country’s best young talent.

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However, Saker revealed his concerns around the lack of experience in the 14-man squad that has an average age of 20.

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“I think the concept is really good,” Saker said. “But if they’re going with all the youth that they’ve put in that group then they’re going to be challenged quite hard because the teams they’ll be playing against will be way more experienced, probably way more skilful and more advanced.

“My worry is that they will be beaten badly some games, which could actually have a detrimental effect on them.

“The positive is obviously the exposure and they’re playing a really good level of cricket which will be great to watch to see how some of them go.”