Tasmania’s troubles following the departure of Launceston-born supercoach Tim Coyle in 2013 have not only been well documented, they are horrifying enough to make any avid fan want to scream.
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Three Sheffield Shield crowns in seven seasons and a couple of domestic one-day cups was a pretty good tenure.
Between season 2013-14 and last year, the Tigers under Shield-winning captain turned-coach Dan Marsh finished second last, second last, dead last and dead last with eight victories, 24 outright losses and seven draws in four seasons.
Bearing in mind that Tasmania won the four-day competition in Coyle’s final year – ugly stuff.
The criticism has been scathing from unforgiving fans that rightly hold high expectations.
As previously said, harsh to pin the skydive all on Marsh, who was just the on-field frontman.
Last year’s clean out bid farewell to some stale administrators and leaders; and the new blood and structures appear to have provided some rays of sunshine for a sport that has been deprived of attention, energy and funding, particularly in the North and North-West, for many years.
New sheriff Nick Cummins has, from all reports, listened to stakeholders from top-to-bottom and proactively acted or put plans in place for necessary changes to occur.
One example is the consultation process undertaken in regards to the inclusion of a Greater Northern team into Cricket Tasmania’s Southern-based Premier League competition.
Months of community forums and backroom talks have taken place to ensure the model is right, before an expected green-light announcement later this month.
Engagement with the entire Apple Isle is essential and creating a smooth pathway for all is essential, because cricket is played up North too, ya know.
But strong off-field leadership sets the standards and tone of any sporting organisation and Tigers coach Adam Griffith and skipper George Bailey must be cock-a-hoop that the house is now in order.
Albeit early days and a rocky start, the Tigers’ first half of the 2016-17 Shield season has been overwhelmingly positive.
Tigers coach Adam Griffith and skipper George Bailey must be cock-a-hoop that the house is now in order.
The players appear to be responding to fresh messages from Griffith and his assistants - and to renewed faith that one bad innings will not cost them their spot within the team.
The Tigers’ victory over New South Wales last week was the first time Tasmania has tasted back-to-back Shield triumphs since March 2013 – it’s been a long time coming.
Jordan Silk and his new opening partner – former Test first drop Alex Doolan - are in terrific form.
Doolan (375 runs at 46.78) hit his highest first-class score (247 not out) at the MGC, Silk has amassed 263 runs and Bailey in his new position at No.3 is averaging 42.77 with three 50s and one hundred.
Jake Doran – in the dying stages of a lucrative three-year deal – scored his maiden first-class century and is enjoying the middle-order protection he is receiving.
Axed national keeper Matthew Wade has struggled, but showed something at Bellerive Oval last week and Ben McDermott is yet to fully fire.
However, it’s the bowling cartel led by Ashes squad member Jackson Bird that has been most impressive.
Bird has been lethal and is the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 25 wickets at 16.56 in just four matches.
Ex-George Town paceman and Cricket Australia XI representative Gabe Bell (18 wickets at 21.6), Sam Rainbird (18 at 24.16) and newcomer Tom Rogers – somewhat of a surprise packet – has collected 15 wickets at 16.06 since debuting in round two.
And there is pressure on the sidelines from Riley Meredith, Andrew Fekete and Simon Milenko, which is great to see.
So the standards have been set for the season’s remainder and it is unfortunate the Big Bash League gap came at this point in time.
Tasmania enters the break with two commanding wins over the Blues and South Australia, a rain-affected draw against Victoria and heavy losses to Queensland and Western Australia.
Their next match is not until February 8 against the Bulls at the Gabba – two months away with a bit of hit a giggle in between.
Can they maintain the momentum?
Let’s hope so because cricket in Tasmania is at its best when the Tigers are on a roll.
The early signs are all positive and the belief within the playing group appears to be strong.
That same belief is starting to reappear among the fans.
There are bound to be hiccups along the way but it is up to Cummins, Griffith, Bailey and those around them to ensure growth is never ending.
Who knows, if not this year, this group of players could be Tasmania’s next Sheffield Shield success story sooner rather than later.
Corey Martin
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
