Tasmania ugly ducklings (10 Mar 1998)

10 March 98

Tasmania ugly ducklings

from KEN PIESSE

From ugly ducklings and Sheffield Shield easybeats to the team most likely, Tasmania's cricketing fortunes have changed dramatically, reports KEN PIESSE.

When Tasmania first entered the Sheffield Shield competition 20 years ago, its players were in awe of their surroundings and the players they opposed. Wins were rare, other than in contrived circumstances and David Boon the only true champion to emerge.

The island was a home-away-from-home for under-achieving cricketers and fast bowling mercenaries from overseas, many of whom took the money and ran. Almost half the team which is in Melbourne this week for the crucial last round game against Victoria are mainland born, but call them anything but "Tasmanian" and you've got a fight on your hands.

Suddenly little Tassie will no longer be bullied. It expects to win every game it contests.

With five consecutive victories, a "first" in the island's chequered cricket history, the Tigers are not only guaranteed a place in this summer's Shield final, they could, for the first time, host it. "Teams are chasing us rather than us chasing them as has happened the last couple of years," says Boon, the ex-Test hero now within reach of a lifetime dream.

Now 37, Boon has had a hands-on involvement in all but one of Tasmania's Sheffield Shield seasons. Since debuting in 1978, he's played a record number of matches, made most runs, amassed most centuries, taken most catches and, more often than not, has been captain.

He's also bred a new confidence and toughness into the side. Instead of relying on declarations and the willingness of opposing captains to set outright targets on the last day, Tasmania is taking the challenge to the rest, dictating terms by batting first and third, rather than second and fourth.

The team's great run started against the Victorians pre-Christmas when it chased 400 and got them, opener Dene Hills amassing the first of back-to-back double centuries.

An even more important win was against the big boys, NSW, on the spin friendly Sydney Cricket Ground in February when Boon's own double of 61 not out and 64 inspired a momentous 80 run win.

"Since I retired from Test cricket and started captaining the side full-time again, the only way I felt we were ever going to be serious contenders was to play the game in both ways, by batting first rather than second and having confidence and the faith in our bowlers on the last day to take the wickets," Boon says.

"For two years now ever since we've taken on that philosophy the boys have played some really good cricket.

"We've never won five games in a row before. The guys have a new attitude. We're expecting to win everywhere we go."

One of the unsung heroes in Tasmania's charge has been the much-travelled ex-Melburnian Colin Miller, now in his early 30s, who has been the bowler of the Shield summer with almost 60 wickets coming into the current game against the Bushrangers.

Possessing great stamina, not only does he bowl outswing with the new ball, he slows down later to bowl accurate off-breaks in tandem with Daniel Marsh, Rod's son.

Others like Marsh, Hills and Mark Ridgway, another ex-Victorian, have also been high achievers.

"Col has been the lynchpin of our attack," says Boon. "But everyone has supported him in a team manner, enabling him to bowl in a more attacking mode than maybe he has done in the past.

"Daniel Marsh has been far more consistent. He's settled in and has found he has a place in first-class cricket.

"The two openers (Hills and Jamie Cox) have been playing very well again while Rod Tucker has come back rejuvenated and has also been important for us."

Not much has changed about Boon and his hardline approach to his cricket since his international reirement, except he fields at second slip these days, rather than short leg, so he can better view the game.

His commitment to winning has triggered a new disciplined approach and ushered a quiet confidence within the ranks.

"We're playing fantastic attacking cricket at the moment," says allrounder Shaun Young. "Boony's experience and expertise in the game has rubbed off. We get on well with each other and are having a ball on and off the field." Tasmanian coach Greg Shipperd says the team has more belief in itself, having won against the odds. It's also better balanced.

"David is a very attacking captain on the field. He has bought a confidence to the team which has been very helpful," he says. "He's such an experienced cricketer. Now he's around more often he's been able to pass on some of the things he has learnt."

If Tassie can go all the way and win its first ever Shield, it'll be a hectic time for Boon, who stills celebrates victories as joyously as any cricketer alive.

There are only four days between the scheduled finish of the Shield final, from March 20-24, until he is due to leave Australia for a second stint of county cricket with Durham.

Four days... 96 hours... it's could be one heck of a party.

Tassie's unsung stars

DENE HILLS

Age 27, left-hand opener

Almost 900 runs, average 60+

COLIN MILLER

Age 34, right-arm opening bowler & off-spin

Almost 60 wickets at 23

DANIEL MARSH

Age 24, all-rounder

Almost 400 runs, 20 wickets

SHAUN YOUNG

Age 27, allrounder

Almost 500 runs, 15 wickets

Tasmania in the 1990s

1990-91 6th

1991-92 6th

1992-93 3rd

1993-94 2nd

1994-95 6th

1995-96 4th

1996-97 4th

1997-98 Eq. 1st*

* Current position only

Source :: Australian Cricket (https://www.citysearch.com.au/mel/kpcricket)