ALL TO PLAY FOR FROM HERE
The last of the Christmas ham has been polished off, the shorts mum got you for Christmas have been exchanged for something from this century and 10 New Year’s resolutions have already been broken.
That can only mean one thing – we’re ready to rip back into the cricket after an enjoyable festive season break.
And rip in we must as we head into the business end of the season where premierships are won and lost.
Manly’s five men’s sides all sit inside the top six after solid pre-Christmas campaigns and we sit third on the club championship ladder as we look to go back-to-back in that prestigious title race.
First grade lie fourth after five wins from eight starts and need to keep on the hunt for competition points as we have a host of teams breathing down our necks.
Looking at the road ahead, we play three teams currently inside the top six and three outside it over the next couple of months.
We’re going to have win most of them if we’re to play finals cricket and our cause will be boosted by the return of some of our rep players later in the month.
Our first grade women’s team is fourth and plays just two teams above them in the run to the finals.
But the girls are taking nothing for granted as this competition regularly throws up surprise results.
It’s time for all of us at the Tahs to press the go button.
MANLY BOYS GOING BIG IN THE BASH
Manly has enjoyed another strong Big Bash League representation this summer and hopefully a few of us end up with some silverware by the end of the month.
Jack Edwards, Joel Davies, Ryan Hadley and Jackson Bird are repping the Sixers, with myself (assistant coach) and Dave “Loz” Gardiner (manager) part of the off-field staff.
“Jed” Edwards is having a breakout season with the ball, cementing his reputation as an all-rounder of the highest order.
Jacko Bird is high on the leading wicket-takers’ list and bowling overs in the powerplay, surge and at the death, underlining his skills and ability in the T20 format.
Young Joel debuted for us early in the campaign and has made the most of his limited opportunities, while Hads is yet to get out there but is a valued member of our squad and ready to go when/if asked.
Ollie Davies is doing good things with a struggling Sydney Thunder side, alongside assistant coach and Manly great Shawn Bradstreet.
And taking pics of all the action is cricket’s finest photographer, Manly’s own Ian Bird.
I hope to see the Tahs fraternity out there in big numbers when the Sixers take on Thunder on the Sydney Smash at the SCG on Friday night.
BBL CONTINUES TO DELIVER
As we head towards the completion of season #13 of the BBL, there continues to be plenty of discussion about the future format of the competition.
We are seeing fewer games this season than previous years but that’s meant a bigger gap between matches for sides, making it difficult to work up any real momentum.
As someone who has been in and around the BBL for several years, I think we either stick with the early December start and play 14 matches per team or begin after the West Test in mid to late December and play 10 games a side.
What isn’t is dispute is the fans’ love for the BBL.
We’ve seen good crowds at just about every game on top of very healthy television ratings.
The BBL is only going to get bigger and better.
