A change from a previous batting approach has seen the Melbourne Stars opener reap the rewards in BBL|15
Run-machine Harper staying steady and still
BBL leading run-scorer Sam Harper says his match-winning feats are largely down to simplicity and stillness as he seeks to steer the Melbourne Stars to a long-awaited title.
Harper has enjoyed an extraordinary campaign so far, scoring 356 runs at an average of 89.00 and strike rate of 158.92, including an unbeaten century against the Sydney Sixers on Boxing Day.
The diminutive wicketkeeper-batter's hot form continued with 84 not out from 51 balls as the Stars took revenge on the Renegades in a commanding eight-wicket derby win on Saturday night.
It helped the second-placed Stars (5-3) get their season back on track following three straight defeats.
After a decade in the BBL, Harper is in the form of his life.
"The definite change from last year is just to be really still," the 29-year-old said.
"There's been times in my BBL career that I've had flashes of brilliance, but I've moved around a lot and probably ramped earlier in my innings.
"It's been a good shot for me, but also been a bit of a downfall."
Harper worked hard on his game over winter and is reaping the benefits.
"It was a good time to go away and really invest in my T20 game," he said.
"I feel like I've always been able to score around the wicket, it's just mentally when to use it and how to use it more effectively. I feel like I'm in control now.
"You can go down some deep rabbit holes ... and all of a sudden your brain's got all of this information and you actually haven't watched the ball.
"I'm just keeping it really simple."
Harper's latest match-winning innings featured eight fours and four sixes against his former side, including a massive pull shot that sent a Jason Behrendorff delivery into Marvel Stadium's fourth tier.
"I had one night against the Hurricanes here where I got a few out of the screws, but I don't think one went up that high," Harper said.
"I do love square of the wicket and I love it when they bowl at my hips.
"I open the bat face up and just swing through it.
"It's obviously a strong zone for me. I love hitting the ball there.
"Hopefully what's making it a bit more difficult this year is creating a bit of width, because I'm loving going over point or cover just as much as going over square leg."
A member of the Renegades' 2018/19 title-winning team, Harper is desperate to be part of the Stars' first success in his third season back on the green side of Melbourne.
The Stars are the last team left without a BBL title after Hobart ended their drought last season.
"We set big ambitions winning those last five before losing that knockout final to the Thunder last season," Harper said.
"We've got a pretty similar squad, we feel like we've got all the skills and everything covered to be a really good T20 side, but I think every side that you come up against have all got guns.
"We just want to hopefully finish top two for the finals.
"It would be very special to do it with this group. We've got a good thing going."
KFC BBL|15 standings
| Team | M | W | L | T | N/R | NRR | Ded. | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
SCO
|
10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.363 | 0 | 14 |
|
2
SIX
|
10 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0.605 | 0 | 13 |
|
3
HUR
|
10 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0.331 | 0 | 13 |
|
4
STA
|
10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.759 | 0 | 12 |
|
5
HEA
|
10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | -0.431 | 0 | 10 |
|
6
STR
|
10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | -0.231 | 0 | 8 |
|
7
REN
|
10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | -1.202 | 0 | 6 |
|
8
THU
|
10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | -1.212 | 0 | 4 |
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
N/R: No results
NRR: Net Run Rate
Ded.: Deductions
PTS: Total points