Mercury (Hobart)

Brand new Tigers

TASMANIAN cricket has unified its branding, with men’s and women’s state sides both now to be known as the Tigers. The women — previously the Roar — have become the first team in Australia to be in unison with a men’s program for all domestic cricket. I

- ADAM SMITH

CRICKET Tasmania has unified its branding, with the women’s program to fall under the Tigers banner for the upcoming WNCL season.

Previously known as the Roar, the women have become the first team in Australia to be in unison with a men’s program for all domestic cricket.

It officially ushers in a new era, with English coach Salli- ann Briggs arriving in the state full-time yesterday to begin the quest to turn the side into a legitimate force after years struggling to have an impact in the 50-over format.

“It is a great leap forward, we have universal support from the board, players, coaching staff, it is one of the easier discussion­s we have had,” CT chief Nick Cummins said.

“We have seen with the WBBL and the BBL the strength of having teams play under one brand.

“Ultimately what we are trying to do from high performanc­e perspectiv­e is get all coaches, male and female programs as well as those in high performanc­e, physio, dietitian, players’ welfare, to think about our program holistical­ly.

“We want to have a lot of cross pollinatio­n. Any coach should be able to talk to any player with the head coach so we can harness the collective intelligen­ce of the organisati­on, rather than partitioni­ng our two programs.”

Briggs, who was England women’s academy head coach and the country’s under-19 coach, hailed the move.

“Any person that is coming into a new organisati­on, you kind of want to put your own stamp on it,” she said.

“Now we can set a new environmen­t and create a shared vision under a new name.

“The girls, the ones who have been around Tasmania playing, they want to see the investment as well.

“When you look to align yourself with what is happening with the men’s program, I think it is only going to excite the girls because everyone wants the love and the care and the investment.

“If we come across as one big family, it says that.”

 ?? Picture: RICHARD JUPE ?? FITTING MOVE: Corrine Hal gets a feel for the Tigers cap at Blundstone Arena with Tasmania’s men’s head cricket coach Adam Griffith and new women’s head coach Salliann Briggs.
Picture: RICHARD JUPE FITTING MOVE: Corrine Hal gets a feel for the Tigers cap at Blundstone Arena with Tasmania’s men’s head cricket coach Adam Griffith and new women’s head coach Salliann Briggs.

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