Jamie Cox's Postcards

THURSDAY 29 MARCH 2001
Tasmanian captain Jamie Cox assesses the season's highs and lows

Another season has come and gone and, as always, it is with mixed feelings that I look back and reflect on what transpired.

The end to the Tigers' season was indeed spectacular, winning our last three Pura Cup games and finishing third, but I can not help feel as though we snuck in the back door and ended up there by slight default. By saying this, I do not wish to detract from the performances of those that played in these victories, because we certainly played some inspired cricket late in the season. But, as captain, my frustrations surround the circumstances leading up to the games.

After starting the season solidly against the full strength sides of Queensland (away), NSW (home) and Western Australia (home), it felt as though we were ready to make a real assault on the competition during the mid to late part of the season. Instead we proceeded to play three of the worst games of cricket I have been involved in for Tasmania. Never have I been involved in a side with so many individuals as out of form and low in confidence than during this period and the month's break to complete the Mercantile Mutual Cup could never have been better timed.

We played some good cricket during this time and only just missed the Final. But, more importantly, it gave individuals time to reassess and find some form and confidence in the abbreviated form of the game as well as in grade cricket.

Heading into the final stage of the season, which was three games played back-to-back, I decided to take a different approach and set both a personal and team challenge. As individuals, I felt as though personal pride in performance had slipped and, as a result, our efforts were well below what top sides need in order to be challenging for trophies in March. My personal challenge was for everyone to produce some career-defining performances in these last three games.

We have had a fairly settled unit for many years and I felt it was time for the more experienced to again prove they were good enough, as well as for the younger guys to produce performances to really get their careers established. I have always felt great sides and those in good form are simply made up of individuals who know how to get the job done and I felt like many were waiting for someone else to stand up, rather than to jump in themselves. The team challenge was simply to win two of our last three games and get off the bottom of the table because any side that finishes on the bottom has to have a serious look at its playing staff to assess where its weakest links are!

Whether or not this provided the necessary stimulus is indeterminable but the results could not have been more satisfying from both individual and team perspectives. Whether or not the pressure release of no longer being able to make the Final had a positive impact is similarly impossible to measure. I am also convinced that we could not have wished to meet the Western Australians (immediately post Tom Moody) and South Australians (decimated by injury and inexperienced) at a better time. But, as the saying goes, 'you can only beat the opposition put against you'!

My most vivid memories of the season can be summarised as follows:

Season-defining 'if only' moment - in game one at Allan Border Field, Queensland was 3/60 chasing 370 to win and Stuart Law had just fallen lbw to David Saker. Andrew Symonds, facing Saker, is hit on the pad first ball, even more out than the ball before? Bloody beauty, here we go! Hang on, howzat umpire, not out, you must be @#$% joking! I know 'that's cricket' but I can not help but think where that game and our season might have finished from 4/60. We were all over the reigning champs for three-and-a-half days but from here Symo and Martin Love batted unbelievably and stole it away and we had to again listen to how much we believe in ourselves up here ……….. !

Most satisfying moment - Shane Watson was recruited from Queensland mid-season in controversial circumstances, with which even I did not totally agree initially. 'Watto' was easily our best player in his first game, a demoralising Pura Cup loss to the Bulls. All this despite copping some amazing and embarrassing abuse from his former state colleagues. The next day he was at the crease when the winning runs were scored in a one-day result reversal and the delight on his face was akin to that of a kid at Christmas. This kid is a superstar in the making and witnessing his first century in the last game was like watching a coming-of-age!

Season-changing moment - our third last game against the Vics at Bellerive was rolling along as we waited to see what sort of game was to be established on day four. Matthew Elliott had just been out trying to hit Andrew Downton over the grandstand and in the next over Matthew Mott ran out Brad Hodge going for a quick single. The door had been slightly opened but an unbelievable catch at square leg by Scott Kremerskothen to get rid of Mott swung it right open for us to start our charge home. Kremer is another super young talent who simply needs to realise it himself! A player with a couple of years' experience, he now seems ready to accept far more responsibility.

Most disappointing moment - receiving the news that Michael DiVenuto was on the market was a blow to team morale and had to have affected Diva's season. As a good mate and wonderfully talented player I can only hope that he remains but that is a decision that only he can make - hopefully for the right reasons!

Hot tip - Somerset to win a trophy in England this year. Reasonable odds will be available for those willing and allowed to have a punt but, after two solid and threatening years, I think this could be the year of the Sabres!

Congratulations - must again go to the Bulls for winning the Pura Cup. Whilst any side with access to Bichel, Kasprowicz, Dale, Dawes, Noffke etc is always going to finish well up the table, they were challenged this year - for the first time in a couple of seasons - and yet still managed to hold off the Vics and win back-to-back titles. A magnificent effort from the trendsetters!

More Postcards WEDNESDAY 14 MARCH 2001 The vagaries of the West: Jamie Cox on a bizarre week in Perth 21 February 2001 Jamie Cox reflects on the Mercantile Mutual Cup season