After an exciting second-half of last season, Tasmania are enthusiastic about their chances heading into the Sheffield Shield season. With a young core and a settled list, The Examiner takes a look at how the Tigers will shape up ahead of another summer.
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Who is in
After a few seasons of significant list turnover, the Tigers managed to keep most of their squad together for the upcoming season.
Brad Hope has arrived from the Western Australia set-up after an impressive season at club level. The all-rounder, who made his Sheffield Shield debut in 2019, notched 979 runs across both the first grade and T20 competitions alongside 46 wickets to demonstrate his evident potential.
READ MORE: Junior Sports Awards nominations open
Nivethan Radhakrishnan shapes as the Tigers' wildcard for this season given he is the only known ambidextrous cricketer in the Australian pathway system. The Sydneysider will be a valuable boost to Tigers' spin stocks, which includes George Town product Jarrod Freeman.
Who is out
Alex Doolan bowed out at the end of last summer after a distinguished career at state level for the Tigers for the best part of a decade.
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Doolan's absence will create opportunity in the Tigers' top-order for the fleet of young batters on the Tasmanian roster. Alex Pyecroft, Tom Rogers, and rookies Keegan Oates and Jack White did not have their contracts renewed.
Coaching situation
Jeff Vaughan departed the Tigers in the off-season to take up an opportunity with the Australian cricket team which leaves some unknowns on the coaching front.
Former state player Ali de Winter has taken over the reigns on an interim capacity while he will be assisted by Greg Shipperd as a coaching consultant.
Shipperd is a familiar face in the Tigers' set-up having led them to three Sheffield Shield finals in the past while he has also experienced success in the Victorian state team and the Sydney Sixers.
The Tigers will be hoping success continues to follow Shipperd wherever he goes as they continue their coaching search.
Player to watch
A barometer for the Tigers side, Jake Doran finally looked like the composed middle-order prospect that Tasmania wanted after signing him as a rookie from NSW in 2015.
The 2020-21 David Boon Medallist signed a long-term deal at the end of the summer after leading the Tigers' Shield run-scorers with 615 runs at 43.92, including a career-best 123.
If the Tigers want to taste Shield success, Doran will need a golden summer.
The Tigers Sheffield Shield campaign gets underway against Queensland on September 28.
Squad: Tom Andrews, Gabe Bell, Jackson Bird, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Tim Paine (CA contracted player), Sam Rainbird, Peter Siddle, Jordan Silk, Mac Wright, Matthew Wade, Charlie Wakim, Tim Ward, Beau Webster.
Rookies: Brad Hope, Mitch Owen, Nivethan Radhakrishnan, Iain Carlisle, Jarrod Freeman.
Do you know someone who is contributing to Northern Tasmanian sport, whether through participating or assisting?
The Examiner's Junior Sports Awards, sponsored by Woolworths, provide acknowledgement of accomplishments by players, coaches, volunteers, teams and clubs across the region.
Nominations are open from Wednesday, April 14, and will close at midnight on October 4.
Entries must include a photograph of the entrant.
Adam Daunt
Sports reporter at The Examiner. Focus on basketball and netball but occasionally rolls the arm over for some cricket coverage in the summer. Previously from Adelaide with a stint in Byron Bay. Get in touch: adam.daunt@examiner.com.au.
Sports reporter at The Examiner. Focus on basketball and netball but occasionally rolls the arm over for some cricket coverage in the summer. Previously from Adelaide with a stint in Byron Bay. Get in touch: adam.daunt@examiner.com.au.
