IT’S MY FAULT
Topscorer Doolan takes blame for Canes defeat
HURRICANES opener Alex Doolan posted his highest Big Bash score against the Strikers, but he is also taking full responsibility for the loss on Wednesday night that has put a home final at risk.
Now the former Test No.3 hopes to be the man who gets the job done against the Perth Scorchers at the WACA tomorrow night.
With hitman D’Arcy Short back in the dugout early, Doolan topscored for the Hurricanes as they chased Adelaide’s 4-187, falling only 11 runs short.
Hitting his first BBL halfcentury, Doolan’s 70 runs off 55 balls almost made him a matchwinner, but the 32-yearold blames himself for the shortfall.
“It’s bittersweet, to be honest,” he said.
“Batting the whole innings, it’s my responsibility to get us over the line.
“We didn’t get there and I take responsibility for that.”
It is Doolan’s first season with the Hurricanes since returning from stints at the Melbourne Renegades and Brisbane Heat. He was an 11thhour inclusion in the squad, replacing injured West Australian fast bowler David Moody, who withdrew with a stress fracture in his back.
Doolan anchored the chase, clubbing four fours and three over the fence. He is his harshest critic. “I batted pretty poorly to begin with, and that may have cost us the game,” he said.
“That’s the game. We aim for perfection and when it doesn’t come off you’ve got to take responsibility.
“Otherwise you’re not going to get any better. “We came here expecting to win. We go to Perth with high hopes of winning there, and we go to Melbourne for our last game with high hopes of winning a win there. It’s pretty simple for us — we’ll just try to win every contest we’re in.” Doolan’s goal at the WACA is also simple. “Everyone’s hoping to be the matchwinner and I’m no different,” he said.