Nobody at Perth is panicking, yet Cooper Connolly would like a few runs under his belt before Tuesday’s Qualifier against the Sydney Sixers in the furnace-like heat of Perth. The 20-year-old all-rounder opened the Big Bash summer with 59 and 77, looked set for another bumper campaign, and then – almost without warning – has banked only 61 runs in eight trips to the crease. Average now: 19.70. Last six knocks: 2, 18, 0, 3, 0, 4. Lean, any way you slice it.
With bat mis-behaving, the left-arm spinner has turned himself into the Scorchers’ surprise new-ball option. His 13 wickets have cost 15.38 apiece, the best average among the tournament’s top ten wicket-takers, and he is conceding barely a run a ball (economy 6.66). Against the Stars on Saturday – Perth won by six wickets – he removed Tom Rogers and Joe Clarke inside the first over. That makes five power-play wickets for the season, handy in anyone’s language.
Team-mate Jhye Richardson sees no need for reinvention. “I think he just needs to trust himself. The runs will come,” Richardson said. “He’s too good not to get a couple of scores. He just needs to be confident and back himself. And I think Coops just needs to remember that he’s still influencing the game for us. I know he’s not getting the runs that he would like, but he’s still having a really big impact [with the ball].”
The Scorchers have masked the batting wobble thanks to Finn Allen’s early fireworks, a stack of middle-order muscle from Mitchell Marsh, Aaron Hardie and Ashton Turner, plus the ever-reliable pair of Josh Inglis and Laurie Evans. That collective heft carried Perth to the top of the ladder even while Connolly’s blade cooled.
Still, he’d rather join the party. “Three weeks ago I was hitting them nicely and I still feel like I’m hitting the ball nicely,” Connolly said. “It’s just a game of T20 cricket – sometimes you get out and have a few low scores. I’m looking forward to Tuesday and hopefully putting on a show.”
The show could be more sauna than stage. The forecast tops 39°C, first ball due at 4.30 pm local, squarely in the afternoon scorch. Bowlers, bring towels.
Sydney only squeezed into the finals: a loss to Brisbane would have ended their season, but they chased 153 with five wickets spare and vaulted straight to second. Steven Smith tuned up with 54, 100 and an unbeaten 19 since returning from Test duty. Mitchell Starc’s 4 for 35 at the Gabba felt ominous for any side eyeing their middle overs.
Winner on Tuesday heads straight to Sunday’s grand final. Loser gets a second chance, hosting Friday’s Challenger against either Hobart Hurricanes or Melbourne Stars, who contest the Knockout in Hobart on Wednesday night. In other words, a long way from curtains for whoever slips up – yet far simpler just to win first up.
Connolly’s fingers have already delivered; his bat will try to catch up. For Perth, a settled XI and home ground advantage remain comforting. For the Sixers, Smith and Starc at full tilt are never comforting for anyone.
