D’Arcy, Johan and Riley

in-game strings to be pulled are where the Canes have continually fallen short.

I don’t need to again outline where the previous leaders have made blunders — the left and right combo of last year’s BBL final.

But the fact that the Canes have had the best lists and haven’t won anything is proof enough that a clear lack of leadership and cricket smarts has been a problem.

The Johan packs all that stuff in his kit bag and disperses it freely like a Pez that’s been hit in its sweet spot.

And then there is Riley Meredith.

The Clarence product who seems to find an extra 10km/h of pace every time he brushes his teeth — which thankfully for the competition is only once a year — but thankfully for the Cane Train, performed in time for Christmas and in peak BBL season.

Wow. Air speed. It’s great to watch isn’t? Makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up and gets you wishing you hadn’t put on 25kg and could go to the nets to bowl some bumpers without having to take an extra backpack so you can carry your disconnected hamstring home.

Well, cough, it does me anyway.

The one hole in the teams sent out so far hasn’t caused a major headache. For me, Alex Doolan at three — Jake Doran in the last game — aren’t the high-calibre thumpers you want wandering out at first drop. Any of the 10 players not named Meredith are capable of playing the safe-run-a-ball option at No.3.

And with Tymal Mills heading home with a sore hamstring — seems he was inspired by Riley too — that No.3 batting spot, the only hole in the team, should be a target for the now vacant second international contract.