Coach's Vitals: Adelaide Strikers

When Darren Berry arrived at South Australia last year his goal was simple: win. He wasted no time in accomplishing his goal, taking out the 2010-11 KFC Big Bash and in the process handing SA their first piece of silverware in 16 years.

His immediate success earned him the head-coaching job of all of South Australia’s teams, including the Adelaide Strikers. While the state sides have struggled in past seasons, the Twenty20 unit is a strong one after winning the Big Bash last season and putting in a solid performance at the Champions League T20 earlier this year.

The Strikers will however be without two Redback strike weapons in dynamic all-rounder Dan Christian and speedstar Shaun Tait. Berry expressed his disappointment in losing two quality players, and has no ill feeling towards either of them.

Berry made his first-class debut for South Australia in 1989 against his long-time rival and Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy.  Healy would keep Berry out of the Australian line-up until he retired in 1999, where he would miss out to Adam Gilchrist for the vacant keeping position. Talk about bad luck!

He quickly put his name amongst the headlines, taking the record for the most number of runs scored against without conceding a single bye. His athleticism and energy made him a standout, prompting a move to native Victoria after his first season where he re-wrote the keeping record books for the Bushrangers.

After 153 first-class games, Berry took a staggering 552 catches and completed 51 stumpings. One of those 51 was off fast-bowling teammate Paul Reiffel down the leg-side, a personal favourite of Berry’s. His ability to stand up to the stumps against the medium pacers made batting increasingly difficult against Berry, without sacrificing his sharp glovework and catching prowess.

His recognition behind the stumps is widely praised. Shane Warne – long-time friend and teammate of Berry – said he was the best wicketkeeper up to the stumps he had ever seen, and wished he had the chance to showcase his skills wearing the Baggy Green. Steve Waugh echoed Warne’s comments, saying Berry is the best player not to represent Australia in a Test match.

“Chuck” continued his friendship with Warne, managing the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. His Twenty20 experience will be invaluable in the Strikers inaugural season, with the men in blue boasting West Indian superstar Keiron Pollard and one of the world’s T20 leading wicket-takers in South African Alfonso Thomas.

Catch Berry and the Strikers on December 18 when they host Shaun Tait and the Melbourne Renegades at the Adelaide Oval.

You’ve got $10 left in your wallet, what do you do with it?

Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate – 2 blocks.

What would your partner say is your worst habit?
Snoring

Renovate yourself or hire a tradie?
Tradie

What’s the one job around the house you hate doing?
Ironing

What’s your Saturday morning routine in the off-season?
Kids park/coffee/papers

How do you take your coffee?
Cappucino with one sugar

What was the last concert you went to?
Kenny Rogers (true story)

If you were auditioning for MasterChef, what would you cook?
Beef Stroganoff (Ultimate favourite)

Favourite iPhone App?
AFL LIVE

How many Facebook friends/Twitter followers do you have?
Only new to Facebook and am not twittering as yet!

Which famous people do you follow on Twitter?
Not on Twitter but do get an occasional laugh about what SK Warne has tweeted.