No easy ride for Canes

We want all the players on a bit of an edge, says coach Griffith

BATTING sensation D’Arcy Short and English paceman Tymal Mills arrive today, the world’s hottest young allrounder Jofra Archer lands on Monday, and Hobart Hurricanes coach Adam Griffith says his men will be under immense pressure in the lead-up to their opening game against Brisbane at Metricon Stadium on December 22 to ensure they are primed for BBL08.

Griffith does not want any player “comfortable” ahead of the Heat. He will use centre- wicket practice today, the CTPL’s Twenty20 games this weekend, Big Bash scenario training next week and games against the Auckland Aces on Thursday and Friday to decide who plays.

“The beauty is, it’s going to be a tough selection for that first game and that’s what we want,” Griffith said.

“With our batting line-up and bowling line-up, you probably know eight or nine of them. Then you’re waiting to see who wants to grab those other spots and we like that.

“You don’t want everyone rolling into the preparation thinking ‘I’m going to play’.

“We actually want the team on a little bit of an edge so we prepare as best as we can and put the work in and be ready to go.”

South African all-rounder Johan Botha and paceman David Moody arrived on Tuesday this week.

Short was the most dangerous batter of last year’s tournament but fellow West Australian Moody was ruled out only weeks before the season started with stress fractures in his back.

Griffith said the Perth paceman was not a walk-up start.

“Like everyone we will have a good look at him over the next week and a half,” Griffith said.

“We’ve got some good opportunities for the guys to show what form they are in.

“He’s a talented young bowler with a lot of potential and bowls a heavy ball when he gets it right.

“There will be a lot of centre wicket scenario-based stuff, a lot of game-sense stuff [and we’ll be] trying to put them under pressure so that when we get to that first game we are ready to go.”

Griffith hopes Archer — who is under consideration by the ECB for a spot in the England T20 World Cup squad — will be available to the Hurricanes for the entire tournament.

“We are beholden to the ECB and what they want to do — whether they are going to select him and when they require him,” Griffith said. “He’d be playing cricket here, so that’s a pretty good preparation for a tournament I would have thought, but we’ll have to wait and see.”