Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Kiwi pace ace set to bolster Thunder attack
Sydney Thunder coach Shane Bond has hailed the signing of New Zealand pace bowler Adam Milne for this summer’s KFC Big Bash League campaign as an impressive boost for his club’s pace attack.
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Milne, who made his debut for New Zealand as an 18-year-old in 2010, sent shockwaves throughout the cricket world in 2014 when he launched what was described as a 153 km/h “rocket” against India.
He has since taken 25 T20I wickets in the 21 matches he’s played in his nation’s black shirt. The record books note his average in that format sits at an impressive 21.64, while his strike rate is a skinny 17.4.
Besides Milne, Sydney Thunder’s attack also boasts BBL|09’s highest wicket-taker Daniel Sams; former Australia limited overs representatives Chris Tremain and Ben Cutting, Queensland speedster, Brendan Doggett, and all-rounder Nathan McAndrew.
“Adam is fast, he can swing the ball at 140-plus km/h; he’s a good fielder and is handy with the bat,” said Bond, who started working with Milne a decade ago.
“When you’ve been to a World Cup, and some of the world’s top competitions, you’re a serious player and a hardened pro.
“The fact a player of Adam’s quality is available for the entire tournament is a real bonus for us. On a personal level, I’m really looking forward to working with him again.”
Milne said he hoped to to put in some good performances with Central Districts [CD] over the next few weeks. He added he was grateful for how understanding the club’s management, coaching staff and players had been regarding what he described as a “fantastic” opportunity that was too good to ignore from his career’s perspective.
“CD is a great club, with great people,” he said. “I’m glad the guys understand this is an opportunity that I felt was too good to turn down.
“It’s a very exciting opportunity to play in the Big Bash League, one of the world’s pinnacle T20 competitions.
“You see Australia’s passion for cricket reflected in the BBL. Things like the big crowds and the derbies in Sydney and Melbourne make it quite attractive for an overseas player to take part in a competition like that.”
Milne said he’d take the ball for Sydney Thunder with one aim this summer.
“It’s just trying to help win games of cricket for whatever team I’m playing for,” he said.
“From bowling in different [T20] competitions around the world, I think I’ve developed different skills and abilities to be able to change the game in different ways.”
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Milne added it was appealing to have another chance to work with Bond, who mentored him when he was a 17-year-old plucked from the local high school team to play top-class cricket.
“I have so much appreciation for ‘Bondy’ and the work he did with me at the start of my career,” he said. “When I first met him, I was 17/18 . . . and I worked with him for the Black Caps for several years.
“He has a wealth of knowledge about the game and is a great person to work with. He thinks deeply about cricket and is genuinely a good bloke, which helps.”
Sydney Thunder BBL Squad
Head Coach: Shane Bond
Contracted for BBL|10: Callum Ferguson (C), Jonathan Cook, Ben Cutting, Oliver Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Alex Hales, Usman Khawaja, Adam Milne, Nathan McAndrew, Arjun Nair, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Chris Tremain
Sydney Thunder WBBL|06 Tickets
Saturday 31 October | Vs Adelaide Strikers | Sydney Showground Stadium | 12:15PM
Sunday 1 November | Vs Brisbane Heat | Sydney Showground Stadium | 10:20AM
Wednesday 4 November | Vs Perth Scorchers | Blacktown International Sportspark | 2:30PM
Wednesday 11 November | Vs Brisbane Heat | Blacktown International Sportspark | 7:05PM
Saturday 14 November | Vs Melbourne Stars | Sydney Showground Stadium | 7:05PM
Sunday 15 November | Vs Perth Scorchers | Sydney Showground Stadium | 10:20AM
Wednesday 18 November | Vs Sydney Sixers | Sydney Showground Stadium | 7:05PM
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Name of Author: Sydney Thunder
The Sydney Thunder is an Australian professional cricket team competing in the Big Bash League (BBL). Based at Sydney Showground Stadium, the Thunder, along with the Sydney Sixers, succeeded the New South Wales Blues from the defunct KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.
