WE HURT TOO
Bailey insists Tiger shambles was not from a lack of effort
TASMANIAN skipper George Bailey has launched a passionate defence of his players, declaring they are hurting as much as anyone from their fourthinnings capitulation against Western Australia.
The Tigers hit a record low on Sunday, skittled for just 63 in a 301-run loss to the Warriors to open their Sheffield Shield season. It was the state’s lowest score in its 40-year involvement in the competition.
It prompted Cricket Tasmania chief Nick Cummins to face the media on Monday and declare the playing group must feel as much pain as the staff and fans — but Bailey has declared this is already the case.
“Absolutely, there is no doubt the players are hurting,” he said.
“We are under no illusions as to the fact that when we have a bad day it affects the whole organisation, and we know it affects everyday Tasmanians who follow us and support us and probably deserve better. It is certainly not from a lack of effort or lack of willingness to get better.
“That is what hurt the most. You feel like you are starting to climb the mountain and a bit of a landslide throws you back to the bottom again. You can take losses and you can take setbacks, but you don’t want the setbacks to be too deflating. The challenge will be picking ourselves up quickly for a quick turnaround.”
The Tigers have little time to wallow in the defeat — they have a testing assignment against Queensland starting at Blundstone Arena on Saturday.
Coach Adam Griffith will stick with the same 13-man squad in an effort to instil confidence in a shell-shocked group, hopeful the show of faith will reap rewards.
The major concern surrounds Ben McDermott, who is under a cloud after splitting the webbing in his hand in Perth.
“The boys fought really hard for three days to get ourselves in a position where we were in the game going into the last day, to dish that up with the bat was really disappointing,” Griffith said.
“We have got to take ownership of that as a group. The accountability and ownership thing is something we are really driving with this group, not only with the players but the staff.
“It is a real interesting one with this group. I think they have had a bit of this over the last few years and you try and balance up whether you be positive with it and try and move on or whether you talk to them around the disappointment.
“We are going to stick with the same 13 this game to give them the opportunity to show what they can do and fight back and make a statement after last week, which hopefully will be forthcoming.”