Hunt for right formula
MELBOURNE Renegades right-hander Tom Cooper wants to open the batting with Aaron Finch tomorrow night in what would be the side’s ninth different pairing in 10 matches.
The Stars will regain captain Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, Marcus Stoinis and Peter Handscomb for the Big Bash League derby and have won the past five clashes at Marvel Stadium.
Acting captain Cooper, who will hand the reins to Finch, crunched 49 from 33 balls at the top of the order against Sydney Sixers on Wednesday night in a move to find some form.
“We hadn’t quite found a formula that was working so we thought we’d spice it up and see if we could get me into the tournament,” Cooper said.
“I’d like to (open with Finch). It’s nice to bat up there with only two (fielders) out.
“We’ve been experimenting and trying to find what’s working, because it’s no secret that our batting hasn’t really fired yet.”
Cooper opened against the Sixers with Marcus Harris, who will fly to Brisbane tomorrow on Test duty.
The 5-4 Renegades have posted totals of 9-99 and 91 in defeats this season but jumped to second on the ladder with their fifth win, which Cooper said had sparked optimism.
“It’s frustrating but also exciting,” he said.
“To be sitting in second and not have fired with the bat is exciting. Hopefully we can find a formula that’s going to work, and start helping our bowlers out who have been doing an outstanding job.”
Kane Richardson jagged 3-26 against the Sixers after missing the past two matches with a hamstring injury.
Cooper averaged 15 runs in the first eight games but said he never lost faith that his slump would end.
“I felt like I couldn’t be hitting them much better (in the nets),” he said.
“It’s a game where if your first big shot you get away then you’re away, but if it goes straight down a fielder’s throat or you mis-hit one and it goes to a fielder you look like you’re going no good. Not just personally, everyone in the nets has been smacking them. That’s the exciting thing.”