‘BestlistintheBigBash’: Starsspinnerhastitleinhissights
MELBOURNE Stars spinner Tom O’Connell is bullish about his team’s prospects in BBL12, believing his side is the team to beat.
The Stars finished sixth in the eight-team competition last season, but the Geelong all-rounder is confident of big things after freshly signing on to remain at the club.
O’Connell said the Stars had a wealth of talent at their disposal and were ready to challenge for the BBL title when the season kicks off in December. “I might be biased, but I think the Stars have the best list in the Big Bash, it’s just a matter of time before the Stars get their first title,” he said.
“It’s something that we’ve been building towards for the last few years and the amount of good players we’ve got on our list and our good coaching group and everyone around the place.
“I think it’s a matter of time before we actually win our first title.”
O’Connell was at Kardinia Park this week with Melbourne Renegades star Mackenzie Harvey to help launch the T20 World Cup, which is set to begin on Sunday at the Geelong ground.
The left-handed batter (pictured right) made 231 runs in 11 innings last season for an average of 25.7, and is one of the Renegades’ brightest young stars.
Harvey said he was optimistic the ’Gades were in a position to improve after a dismal 2021-22 season where they finished last, with younger players getting experience at the level. “We’ve got a decent list as well, but we’ve got experience in our younger players now,” Harvey said. “We’ve had a couple of years where things haven’t quite gone to plan, but we’ve still got full belief in our squad that we can get to the top and play finals again and really just back our side in to get there.”