Shaun Tait is excited about the Hobart Hurricanes’ bowling group for the sixth Big Bash League as a collective, but there is one member in particular he is keen to work with.
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Stuart Broad.
The Englishman is public enemy number one to many Australian cricket fans, but Tait was more than confident when speaking to Fairfax Media that the international signing would soon be a favourite of Canes fans.
Where Tait will bring the explosiveness, Broad has more control comparatively.
Tait has 214 T20 wickets at 22.13 in 167 matches at an economy rate of 7.89, while Broad has 92 wickets at 20.66 with an economy rate of 7.08 in 77 matches.
“He’s got a bit of fire himself,’’ Tait said.
“He’s not 150 (kmh) like myself, but he is aggressive with his bowling and he’s an imposing character at the crease.
“He comes with a reputation of being a world class bowler, and he will do his job.
“I will just have to make sure I do my job and we will go well together.
“I have played against him and I know the class of cricketer is it is, so it will be good to play with a world-class cricketer like him.”
Tait described Broad as being a “nice bloke”, echoing sentiments by George Bailey that talk of him being poor of character was exaggerated.
Jake Reed, Sam Rainbird, Dan Christian, Simon Milenko and Cam Boyce join Tait and Broad as the mainstays of a bowling attack Tait says ‘’has all the bases covered”.
“I honestly believe bowling attacks win you Twenty20 competitions as the team that can bowl sides out will be the one that wins the comp.”
The 33-year-old, who took 10 wickets at 24.70 last campaign, was confident of success. “This squad is right at the top of the list when it come to teams I have played in, be it in the IPL, the Pakistan League and the others,’’ he said.
“There’s some really good players locally and the two overseas guys (Broad and Kumar Sangakkara) are both obviously very good players.
“It is amazing how far this game has come, and the best thing about Twenty20 as you get to play in the same team as guys like Stuart and Kumar around the world.”
Tait’s lead-in before last week’s trial matches against the Heat was club cricket, but he said he was feeling good ahead of Friday’s clash with the Sydney Sixers at the SCG.
“I’ve just got to make sure I am consistent every night during the Big Bash.
“There are always going to be one or two games where the bowlers get thumped, and I’ve just got to try to limit the amount of times I get whacked over the fence.”