How will your team will go this summer? John Polack looks at your states chances this summer.
New South Wales Blues
Having proved the most successful team in the history of Australian
domestic competition, there is no doubt that the results of the recent past
have represented quite a shock to all associated with the New South Wales
state team. Indeed, if the Blues' players and supporters had assumed that
the practice of winning titles had become a habit, then they have been
forced into quite a reappraisal in the (near to) seven years that have now
transpired since their last such success. [More]
Queensland Bulls
The reigning four-day champions and the reigning one-day runners up have a
hard act to follow if they are to go anywhere near equalling the stellar
standards of last season. But then again, Queensland has been the
pacesetter in interstate cricket, to all intents and purposes, for the best
part of the last decade. Accordingly, the production of another brilliant
season seems nigh on a formality. [More]
Southern Redbacks
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. [More]
Tasmanian Tigers
For Tasmania, season 2000-01 is going to be all about seizing
opportunities. Seizing the opportunity to rebuild, seizing the opportunity
to blood and encourage younger players, and seizing opportunities to finish
off games in better style than it has tended to do in recent times. [More]
Victorian Bushrangers
Atonement is often a powerful motivating influence in sport. When carried
by a team that also happens to be extremely talented, then it can give rise
to an almost irresistible force. And it is for those reasons essentially
that Victoria looks magnificently placed to make a major assault on this
year's Pura Cup. [More]
Western Warriors
Extraordinary depth in batting talent will be of huge benefit to the
Warriors as they chase a third first-class title in four seasons. But for
all of the brilliance that they possess in the likes of Justin Langer,
Damien Martyn, Michael Hussey, Simon Katich, Ryan Campbell, Murray Goodwin
and Tom Moody, they will have to confront two significant (and
interrelated) obstacles if that prize is to be claimed. The first is a
suspicion that they are going to find it difficult to capture twenty
opposition wickets on a consistent basis. The second is the reality that
the wicket square at their home ground in Perth is not quite the haven for
pacemen that it once was. Indeed, as staggering as the claim might sound,
it even appears to have become more suited to batsmen than bowlers in
recent times. [More]
