You probably think that the reason I didn't do a post for the Big Bash is that I am lazy. You'd think wrong. The reason I didn't do a post is because... ummm, my shirts weren't back from the dry cleaners.
Anyway, attention to detail, propriety, consistency, completion and organisation dictates that I should at least do a post that will act as a touch point for future reference. You know, when the Library of Congress finally gets around to including the AGB.
The expansion of the Big Bash might even one day force the AGB to break up the competition into individual posts for individual matches.
Until then the AGB will have to do what it does best, use some else's work; in this case Adsy's fine summary of the BB final:
The Bushrangers opted to bat first, which has been a bit of a departure from what seemed to be their preferred nature of restricting, then chasing down totals. The concensus though, especially from the commentators seemed to be that the old addage "runs on the board" is particularly important in T20. One bad over can change your mindset from controlled hitting to slogging which isn't good, as noted by Russ.
In a match that was full of game changing deliveries, Tait cleaned up Finch early but got called for a no-ball. Of course "Finchy" Finch capitalised and got 20 from the fifth over of the innings to get the Vics away. A handful of 10's and 20's from the middle order made sure the score wasn't going to get away from SA, and with five overs left its looked like 150 would have been a reasonable total. (But not quite par with 160+ being the preferred total in this series)
Tait was still to come back for his last couple and the crowd was into it but the wildcard was Blizzard. He's hardly scored a run for Richmond in any form of cricket this year, but hopped into Tait in a game changing over late in proceedings. Taking advantage of his in the slot length he cleared the rope a number of times and ended up with 42 from 19 and the side finished with 7/166.
But the game was decided pretty much in the first 3 overs of the SA innings. Nannes sent Garry "Gnu" Manou on his way first ball, and Pattinson got two early also as the Croweaters were pretty much finished at 3/7. Pollard and Cosgrove (Polly and Cozzy respectively) steadied things up and you could tell the commentators (especially Mark Waugh) were barracking for a close finish as Polly in particular started clearing the fence regularly. But another game changing over from the Boiled Owl knocked them both over and effectively finished the game. Even with 3 a ball needed off the last five overs the Fox boys were talking up a big finish, but it all ended up pretty tamely and the Bushrangers got home by 48 runs.
Blizzard was man of the match and rightfully so, but the Owl could be considered harshly done by, getting 25 from 20 in the middle of the Vics innings then taking 3/21 to close off the game at the end. If your looking at Australian 20/20 allrounders, you could go worse than looking at the Owl. He looks benign but always goes at a run-a-ball plus and can hit the boundaries, whilst bowling stuff that you can't quite get hold of.
Anyway that's the fourth win from five for the Vics in this form of the game, and shows some really good depth I guess. You could say that NSW could have something to say about that with always having 3-4+ players missing due to national callups, but I'll leave that to Waugh. South Australia would be terribly disappointed with their run chase, and have to wait another year it looks like to get their first silverware in over a decade.
The chook bash Team of the Year was named, not too many surprises:
- Tim Paine (TAS)
- David Warner (NSW)
- Shaun Marsh (WA)
- David Hussey (VIC)
- Kieron Pollard (SA)
- James Hopes (QLD)
- John Hastings (VIC)
- Rana Naved (TAS)
- Nathan Rimmington (QLD)
- Shaun Tait (SA)
- Chris Simpson 12th man (QLD)
Not a bad side, but I would have probably added another spinner in there. Hastings probably shouldn't be in there, as I reckon he's been carted in one or two of the games and bowls far too short. I'd have Heal from WA for his spot. Simpson would be a bit hard done by not to get a run but with the emphasis on allround ability he's not going to shove out Hussey or Hopes in the middle, or Warner/Marsh up the top. Tait as the last bowler could have been a number of others also - Nannes who improved after a poor start, Geeves who can add to the allround power or one or two younger bowlers. Still not a bad side.