TIGERS’ TIME

TASMANIA is poised to reach the Sheffield Shield final — all it needs to do is beat Victoria in the final home-and-away match starting today at Blundstone Arena. And in-form bowler Tom Rogers is confident the Tigers can do just that.

TASMANIA’S most damaging bowler Tom Rogers says the Tigers can beat Victoria and advance to the Sheffield Shield final next week despite the Bushrangers’ exceptional lineup and outstanding record with the red ball.

Shooting for their fourth consecutive Sheffield Shield final, the Victorians will field international batsmen Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Finch and Cameron White, Hurricanes all-rounder Dan Christian and veteran paceman Peter Siddle, who starred for Adelaide Strikers in their Big Bash final win over Hobart, in their shield blockbuster starting at Blundstone Arena today.

To add spice to the mix, Victoria was captained by Matthew Wade, who is now back home with the Tigers, and the Bushrangers are trying to poach blossoming Tiger batsman Beau Webster.

Having won their past two games at Blundstone, Rogers said the Tigers could do it again in their most important match of the season.

“It has been proven they have been the best side for several years now and I don’t think it’s going to be an easy game at all,” Rogers said.

“They have got some exceptional players, guys who have played a lot of cricket at both international and domestic level. So they are a pretty tough opponent.

“We’re excited because we’ve done well at home in our last few games and we feel like we can do it again.”

The Tigers jumped into second on the ladder with a thrilling win over South Australia at Blundstone last week.

“The coach gave us a pretty clear message after the SA game to go and refresh mentally and physically, whether that was going and playing a bit of PlayStation or getting on the golf course or going fishing,” Rogers said.

“The guys have had a refreshing break and met up for training yesterday and today.”

What did Rogers do for R&R?

“My mum came down the day after the South Australia game so I took her up to the lakes for some fishing and camping and then down to the Taste of the Huon — it was a cracking couple of days,” he said.

Rogers has taken 33 scalps this summer — more wickets than any other Tiger and third-best in the competition — and he hopes for more against the Vics. But it’s not all about “Buck” Rogers.

“Sam Rainbird has been exceptional,” Rogers said.

“The amount of maidens he has bowled, and would have bowled if not for nicks through the slips and down to the boundary, is impressive.

“The whole bowling group throughout the season has been solid. There is a fair bit of accountability on our bowlers to perform and maintain that pressure that the other bowlers have put on.

“It allows you to do your thing and come in nice and hard as a bowler — but it’s still about maintaining that pressure.”