Predictions about South Australia's potential fate are probably fraught
with more danger than those for any other team in the lead-up to the
2000-01 season. Since 1996-97, not all that much has been achieved in the
way of results. But, having earnestly rebuilt their squad over recent
seasons, there exists a sense of freshness and hunger about the Redbacks'
approach which bodes well.
For them to prosper this year, the most crucial requirement is an increase
in output from their middle order batsmen. In captain Darren Lehmann, they
have arguably the best player at domestic level in the country. In his
'support' cast, they haven't enjoyed quite enough in the way of
productivity to capitalise as effectively as they should have done. Greg
Blewett's potential long-term return after several seasons of international
duty is likely to represent a major boost. Fellow opener David Fitzgerald
enjoyed his best ever season in 1999-2000 and has the confidence and
ability to build on it effectively. This is also likely to be the summer
in which Chris Davies genuinely makes the transition from the status of an
exciting youngster to a star first-class player. As such, it is probably
these four players who hold the key to the side's hopes.
In its bowling attack, the South Australians possess a good mix. Paul
Wilson is as honest and hard-working as any other paceman at domestic
level, and more talented than the vast majority too. The pacy Mark Harrity
and accurate Brett Swain offer the team the luxury of twin - albeit
differently skilled - left arm pacemen. In Blewett and Ben Johnson, they
have two useful medium pacers who not only have the ability to bowl long,
tight spells but also possess the knack of being able to break partnerships
at crucial times. And in Brad Young and Peter McIntyre, they have one of
domestic cricket's more attacking spinning combinations. While he is
likely to spend much of his season away on international duty, there is a
great deal about which to enthuse following the return of Jason Gillespie
from the latest in a sickening run of injuries too.
Of pressing concern will be the Redbacks' need to improve their record away
from home this season. Last summer proved something of a disaster in this
respect, not a single outright victory being achieved at first-class level
and only two wins coming in the one-day arena. Redressing this statistic
would go a long way toward helping them convert their general consistency
over the last few years into the berth in a domestic final that they have
not really threatened to attain since their memorable 1995-96 triumph.
The key player: Darren Lehmann. It is very hard to recall a domestic
season in which Lehmann has not been dominant with the bat. Fresh from
Player of the Season honours last time around at the first-class level (not
to mention his effort in scoring first-class runs than any other player in
England over the winter), his ability to tear opposition attacks apart is
again likely to give the South Australians a significant head start.
The up and comer: Graham Manou. An excellent young wicketkeeper who looked
increasingly comfortable in interstate ranks the further the 1999-2000
season, his debut summer at senior level, progressed. Might well surprise
a few opposition bowlers with the all-round solidity of his strokeplay with
the bat this season.
The draw: Not a single home game in November. And, barring the possibility
of an appearance in a Mercantile Mutual Cup Final away from home, not a
single game outside South Australia in February. Those two factors make
the Redbacks' draw quite a lopsided one. The team's final finishing
positions in each competition could well be largely determined by how they
fare in the sixteen-day stretch between 12 and 27 November. This is the
period during which they make three separate visits to Melbourne and Sydney
- cities from which they failed to take home as much as one victory last
summer.
Predicted Pura Cup finishing position: 4th
Predicted Mercantile Mutual Cup finishing position: 5th
