If it’s in the rules it’s fair play: Ben
HURRICANES STAR OK WITH MANKADING
LAST year’s BBL Player of the Tournament Ben McDermott says he doesn’t have an issue with Mankading in the tournament given its well within the rules of the game.
Following Tuesday night’s attempted Mankad in the Melbourne derby by Stars captain Adam Zampa on Renegades player Tom Rogers, McDermott offered up his own take as the Hurricanes flew out of Hobart to face the Adelaide Strikers on Thursday.
“As long as it is in the rules its fair play,” McDermott said.
“It’s obviously still frowned upon and there is questions being asked but I think once the rules are changed there isn’t really much you can do about it so play on.”
Mankading wasn’t the only issue to make BBL headlines this week with the catching dismissal of Sydney Sixers batter Jordan Silk by Michael Neser also creating plenty of debate across the country.
“It’s definitely still vague (the understanding of the rule) I think. You saw Silky (Jordan Silk) asking questions the other night but like with the Mankad, as long as it’s in the rules you can’t really complain,” McDermott said.
The Hurricanes big hitter says he is fully recovered from a hamstring injury as Hobart look to go two from two this week against the Strikers.
McDermott, who scored 577 runs in BBL|11, returned from a hamstring complaint in Monday’s seven-wicket win over the Strikers to post his best score of the tournament thus far – 53 runs off 33 balls.
“It was a tough couple of games watching but injuries are a part of sport,” McDermott said.
“It felt fine for the Albury game but just with the travel and what we had coming up we just decided to miss that game. It’s a pretty hectic travel schedule coming up with a lot of games coming thick and fast now.
“(It’s been) a tough little start as well to the tournament. I had a few low scores so it was nice to be back in the runs and to come back into the side with a win.”
After jumping from last to sixth place on the ladder following Monday’s win, McDermott said the group was confident they could start to get some momentum going and bank some victories before the back end of the tournament.
“We probably need to win four or five more out of these last eight games to make finals. History tells us that seven or eight wins sort of gets you to the finals so to get four or five out of eight is very gettable and the work we put in now to get more wins the easier it will be at the back end of the tournament,” McDermott said.
The Hurricanes will welcome Zac Crawley into the squad for Thursday’s clash with Pakistani import Shadab Khan returning to international duties with the Hurricanes hopeful he will return later in the tournament as they push for a maiden BBL trophy.