Tigers took cue from Bulls, says Bailey

TASMANIAN captain George Bailey only has to look inside the Queensland dressing room before today’s Sheffield Shield final to thank the men who have inspired the Tigers’ hardedged cricketing culture.

Last year’s whipping boys will face the Bulls in the decider at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field in a match- up between two teams in which Bailey sees similarities.

That’s because it was players like Bulls coach Wade Seccombe and physiotherapist Martin Love, both former Shield champions with Queensland, who he looked to for inspiration when the Tigers were searching for answers.

“When we started having a bit of success many years ago we looked at how Queensland played their cricket and went about their training, professionalism and game sense and tried to mould ourselves a bit around that,” Bailey said ahead of the fourth Shield final between the sides.

Tasmania won just one Shield game last season but have emerged from a tight chasing pack to test the Bulls over five- days in Brisbane.

Bailey said the “battle- hardened” Queensland era that claimed three straight Shields between 2000- 02 had proved a perfect cricketing template.

“They were just a really hard team to beat, and I see some comparisons in how they ( this year’s finalists) match up.”

Admitting he felt like a proud father, the 35- year- old said the success of his younger teammates has given him greater pleasure than personal success as he chases a fourth Shield title.

“They’re all special, but this would be huge ... in terms of where we’ve come from and the development, breakout years that I think the majority of our younger players have had,” he said.

The recently crowned domestic player of the year has played almost as many professional seasons ( 14) as Queensland counterpart Jimmy Peirson has first- class games ( 15).