Billy’s bittersweet final
Mixed emotions for Stanlake in Shield decider
BILLY Stanlake will watch on with a mix of excitement and frustration when Queensland begin their quest for Sheffield Shield supremacy against Tasmania tomorrow.
With the Bulls favourites for their first Shield title since 2011-12 entering the five-day final at Allan Border Field, Gold Coast product Stanlake is again contemplating what could have been.
The 204cm quick played the most recent of his two first class games in December 2015, but was on track for a return this season before a toe infection put paid to those plans.
While the 23-year-old eventually returned to lead Adelaide to a maiden Big Bash League crown and earn Australian T20 selection, he knows this season also represents a missed opportunity to resurrect his Shield career.
“I’d love to be playing. I’d love to be playing Shield cricket in general but to see them get to a final (even more so),” Stanlake, a graduate of The Southport School, said.
“I think we’re getting closer to red-ball stuff. If I didn’t have that toe injury in the first half of the year I probably would’ve looked to play some Shield cricket in the back end of the year.
“But because I missed that and then only playing T20 cricket, it’s just too hard to get the workload in and be ready for it.
I’ve always wanted to get back. I still really enjoy playing it – I think it’s my best format as well – so I definitely want to get back there and play.”
After helping Australia win the international T20 tri-series last month, Stanlake took two weeks off to refresh.
He returned to bowling last week ahead of next weekend’s departure for the IPL, where he will play for Sunrisers Hyderabad from April 4.
The two-month tournament will then be followed by a stint with Yorkshire in the English T20 competition, before returning to Australia for the 2018-19 domestic one-day tournament.
With Gold Coast quick Michael Neser (37 wickets at 19.7) prominent, Queensland enter the Shield final on the back of a seven-game unbeaten run.
Their form surge was highlighted by a come-from-behind triumph over NSW in Wollongong last week.