STEKS HEATING UP
Warwick bowler looks to stay consistent ahead of Big Bash
CRICKET:
The glitz and glamour of the cricketing summer is set to return tonight, and a Warwick product will be right in the thick of things on opening night.
Mark Steketee will line up at the Gabba as the Brisbane Heat have the honour of starting the Big Bash season against the Sydney Thunder.
The pace bowler has been a mainstay in the side since his debut in 2014, and as he prepares for his sixth season in the T20 format, he is looking to maintain the form that has seen him launch a blistering start to the season.
He has been in career-best form for the Queensland Bulls in both the 50-over and fourday format.
Steketee finished the Marsh Cup season with the second most wickets in the competition (13) and sixth in the Sheffield Shield (20), including match figures of 9/51 against Tasmania.
While pleased with the way he has been able to make an impact so far to start the summer, Steketee said the Twenty20 format was a completely different prospect.
“It’s been a good start to the year for me in all formats of the game, but it means nothing when it comes to T20,” Steketee said.
“It’s definitely a good boost when you’re in form as opposed to when you’re not, however in this format you can bowl well and look like you’ve bowled poorly, or bowl bad and look like you’re a genius.
“I thought I had a pretty good year last year as well, and I’ve been more consistent.
“That’s the thing for me is to remain consistent in everything that I do, and I think that has come through experience more than anything.”
Champions in the 2012/13 season in just the second year of the competition, the Heat have managed to make the fi
THAT’S THE THING FOR ME IS TO REMAIN CONSISTENT IN EVERYTHING THAT I DO, AND I THINK THAT HAS COME THROUGH EXPERIENCE MORE THAN ANYTHING.
MARK STEKETEE
nals just once since.
Despite the lack of recent success, Steketee said there are no expectations on the club, as they looked to piece together a strong start to the season.
“There’s no real expectations among the group, but we want to start fast,” he said.
“Playing through Christmas, it’s an exciting time of the year with families coming together.
“We want to put on a show for our fans, play an attacking brand of cricket and play smart as well.
“We want to try and entertain the crowd and I’m sure results will take care of themselves.”
Brisbane has managed to piece together a formidable roster for the 2019/20 season, including the prized and highly anticipated signing of South African superstar AB De Villiers (pictured).
“There’s no doubt about it that we’ve got a pretty exciting squad together,” he said.
“The boys are looking really good, especially the batsmen. And then we’ve got some really handy bowlers coming into the side like Ben Laughlin and Zahir Khan.
“I think everyone is excited about seeing AB out here again. Everyone knows that he is a freak and he can get us into good positions. Everything he does helps us both on and off the field.”
The Chronicle’s guide to the 2019/20 Big Bash League season appears on pages 32-33.