Chris Gayle and David Warner headline a Sydney Thunder outfit not willing to call themselves the KFC T20 Big Bash League underdogs. Well, at least not yet, according to coach Shane Duff.
Coach's Vitals: Sydney Thunder
Chris Gayle and David Warner headline a Sydney Thunder outfit not willing to call themselves the KFC T20 Big Bash League underdogs. Well, at least not yet, according to coach Shane Duff.
Playing out of ANZ Stadium in Sydney’s west, the Thunder squad has a mix of world-class players as well as younger players with the potential to do anything. This mix has Duff excited most of all.
“Sydney Thunder have an ideal mix of these types of players who are hungry for success,” he said.
Prior to Duff’s elevation to Thunder head coach he was strength and conditioning coach and assistant coach to John Dyson of the Sri Lankan team, he coached in the Indian Cricket League and mentored Sutherland and Bankstown to Sydney grade cricket premierships.
Scoring rates have increased over the last decade in all formats of cricket, with flatter pitches, small boundaries and batsman friendly rules contributing to this rise.
Duff, however, believes T20 has had a positiveeffect on cricket since its inception.
“I, along with plenty of others, would argue that T20 has increased the skill levels of players in all facets of the game which we know are being transferred into longer formats.
“The range of scoring shots a T20 player develops can only be of assistance in longer formats, as too can the variety of deliveries a bowler develops.
“All T20 skills can be transferred to longer formats, it’s just the thinking temperament that needs adjusting.”
Not only has Duff seen player’s skills change with T20, he has witnessed how the game itself has changed.
“As T20 has evolved it is apparent that it is not just about 4s and 6s and luck which seemed to the thinking in the early days.
“4s and 6s and to a lesser extent luck, are still major factors towards team success, however, we also know that what happens between the 4s and the 6s is crucial.
“T20 players need to be able to think their way through the game and have the ability to be flexible to the situations they are in, whether it be batting, bowling or fielding.”
Starting a new sporting team is a daunting prospect, and getting the right energy around the group is vital, a challenge Duff expresses as difficult.
“From preliminary discussions and from my experiences, our culture is likely to be based around care, respect and enjoyment for the game,” said Duff
“The biggest challenge is building unity in such a short space of time.
“In saying that, we carefully recruited players that we felt would be able to do that better than others.”
The Thunder will rely heavily on unheralded players such as Sydney grade cricketer Tim Cruickshank and a raft of younger talent during their inaugural season, a prospect that doesn’t worry Duff.
“We are fortunate to have some of the best young talent in the country.
“Sean Abbot and Luke Doran both played in last year’s Big Bash final; Tim Armstrong is a tremendous striker of the ball and has had a great offseason at the Centre of Excellence.”
“Our younger players are all outstanding prospects and will play important roles for us throughout the tournament”
“It will be great working with world-class players such as Gayle and Warner, however, it will be equally as rewarding with our younger players and seeing them develop and make the most of their opportunity.”
You’ve got $10 left in your wallet, what do you do with it?
Hide it from my wife Ksenia!
What would your partner say is your worst habit?
Leaving lights and appliances on once I’ve finished
Renovate yourself or hire a tradie?
Tradie
What’s the one job around the house you hate doing?
Changing the bed linen
What’s your Saturday morning routine in the off-season?
It normally starts with my two-year old daughter Tahlia waking up my wife and I! If the weather is fine we head down to Cronulla Beach for a long walk on the Esplanade and then stop and have a coffee and some breakfast.
How do you take your coffee?
Large cappucino, full cream milk, no sugar
What was the last concert you went to?
Robbie Williams and more recently my wife’s singstar attempts!
If you were auditioning for MasterChef, what would you cook?
Lamb rack with a leek and basil puree on a bed of mash
Favourite iPhone App?
Talking Tom 2 as it keeps my daughter entertained in the mornings when we are trying to get some sleep!
What non-cricket website do you go to every day?
Sydney Morning Herald - www.smh.com.au
How many Facebook friends/Twitter followers do you have?
420 facebook friends, no twitter
Which famous people do you follow on Twitter?
None
Playing out of ANZ Stadium in Sydney’s west, the Thunder squad has a mix of world-class players as well as younger players with the potential to do anything. This mix has Duff excited most of all.
“Sydney Thunder have an ideal mix of these types of players who are hungry for success,” he said.
Prior to Duff’s elevation to Thunder head coach he was strength and conditioning coach and assistant coach to John Dyson of the Sri Lankan team, he coached in the Indian Cricket League and mentored Sutherland and Bankstown to Sydney grade cricket premierships.
Scoring rates have increased over the last decade in all formats of cricket, with flatter pitches, small boundaries and batsman friendly rules contributing to this rise.
Duff, however, believes T20 has had a positiveeffect on cricket since its inception.
“I, along with plenty of others, would argue that T20 has increased the skill levels of players in all facets of the game which we know are being transferred into longer formats.
“The range of scoring shots a T20 player develops can only be of assistance in longer formats, as too can the variety of deliveries a bowler develops.
“All T20 skills can be transferred to longer formats, it’s just the thinking temperament that needs adjusting.”
Not only has Duff seen player’s skills change with T20, he has witnessed how the game itself has changed.
“As T20 has evolved it is apparent that it is not just about 4s and 6s and luck which seemed to the thinking in the early days.
“4s and 6s and to a lesser extent luck, are still major factors towards team success, however, we also know that what happens between the 4s and the 6s is crucial.
“T20 players need to be able to think their way through the game and have the ability to be flexible to the situations they are in, whether it be batting, bowling or fielding.”
Starting a new sporting team is a daunting prospect, and getting the right energy around the group is vital, a challenge Duff expresses as difficult.
“From preliminary discussions and from my experiences, our culture is likely to be based around care, respect and enjoyment for the game,” said Duff
“The biggest challenge is building unity in such a short space of time.
“In saying that, we carefully recruited players that we felt would be able to do that better than others.”
The Thunder will rely heavily on unheralded players such as Sydney grade cricketer Tim Cruickshank and a raft of younger talent during their inaugural season, a prospect that doesn’t worry Duff.
“We are fortunate to have some of the best young talent in the country.
“Sean Abbot and Luke Doran both played in last year’s Big Bash final; Tim Armstrong is a tremendous striker of the ball and has had a great offseason at the Centre of Excellence.”
“Our younger players are all outstanding prospects and will play important roles for us throughout the tournament”
“It will be great working with world-class players such as Gayle and Warner, however, it will be equally as rewarding with our younger players and seeing them develop and make the most of their opportunity.”
You’ve got $10 left in your wallet, what do you do with it?
Hide it from my wife Ksenia!
What would your partner say is your worst habit?
Leaving lights and appliances on once I’ve finished
Renovate yourself or hire a tradie?
Tradie
What’s the one job around the house you hate doing?
Changing the bed linen
What’s your Saturday morning routine in the off-season?
It normally starts with my two-year old daughter Tahlia waking up my wife and I! If the weather is fine we head down to Cronulla Beach for a long walk on the Esplanade and then stop and have a coffee and some breakfast.
How do you take your coffee?
Large cappucino, full cream milk, no sugar
What was the last concert you went to?
Robbie Williams and more recently my wife’s singstar attempts!
If you were auditioning for MasterChef, what would you cook?
Lamb rack with a leek and basil puree on a bed of mash
Favourite iPhone App?
Talking Tom 2 as it keeps my daughter entertained in the mornings when we are trying to get some sleep!
What non-cricket website do you go to every day?
Sydney Morning Herald - www.smh.com.au
How many Facebook friends/Twitter followers do you have?
420 facebook friends, no twitter
Which famous people do you follow on Twitter?
None