Photo Credit: Adelaide Strikers
After taking his 100th Big Bash wicket, being named in the Team of the Tournament and spearheading the Strikers bowling resurgence that led them to the BBL|13 finals, Cameron Boyce has capped off a superb Big Bash season by signing a two-year contract extension to remain at the Adelaide Strikers.
An injury riddled first season in blue meant Boyce was only able to play six matches in BBL|12, but it was worth the wait for Strikers fans to see him in full flight for an entire season.
With his slow wrist-spin bowling, Boyce took 14 wickets, but it was his economy that was most impressive.
He had a stretch of two straight games without conceding a single boundary, taking 2-13 and 2-17 in consecutive matches in the Strikers run to the finals which piled on the pressure and helped his fellow bowlers snag wickets.
Buoyed by the end of the season where the Strikers had four straight big wins to secure a place in the finals, Boyce said it was an “easy decision” to re-sign.
“It was pretty enticing to come and play under Dizzy (head coach Jason Gillespie) and just to be backed again, I’m happy to have that feeling of being a backed player and a really important part of the squad,” Boyce said.
“The big drawcard of playing for Adelaide is obviously playing at Adelaide Oval in front of a big crowd, but you also know it’s a professional setup and the boys are really welcoming as well.
“We saw the progress of the team and it’s nice to think that if we keep the core group together and start the season where we finished off this year, we could definitely be more dangerous.
“If we get our bowling to the point where we know it can be for the whole season rather than just for five or six games, it’s pretty obvious what we could achieve and there’s the hunger to go one better.”
Becoming only the 10th player in Big Bash history to take 100 wickets – and only the second spin bowler – was an incredible milestone for Boyce, who at times didn’t know if he would get there.
Naturally though, Boyce wants to put more focus on the team rather than his own milestones.
“I’ve always been proud of my record, I think it matches up against anyone else in the tournament, so it was pleasing to be able to string a few games together and bowl well,” Boyce said.
“When I signed with Adelaide, I had got to the point with my body where I didn’t really know how many more games I would play.
“The thought was there to check [the 100th wicket] off and about how cool it would be to do it and then it happened – it was a pretty pinch myself moment to be honest and something my family’s really proud of.
“But while the personal stuff is great, I just want to leave the team in a better place than when I came in and push for a Championship.”
The best part about the moment was doing it in front a home crowd at Adelaide Oval, which Boyce believes houses one of the best fanbases in the competition.
“It happening in front of the home crowd was really nice,” he said.
“It’s obviously a world class venue, some of the views you get and being able to play in the middle of an amazing oval is obviously special, but the fans make everything.
“It’s not just in the ground that feels really cool, it’s actually the whole atmosphere throughout the city.
“I’ve been lucky enough now to play for three different BBL teams and I can hands down say the Adelaide fans are the most loyal.
“They’re with you whether we’re losing or winning, so it’s always nice to play in front of them.”
Boyce is the first re-signing for the Adelaide Strikers this off-season.
The Adelaide Strikers are an Australian professional Twenty20 cricket team based in Adelaide, South Australia, competing in the Big Bash League (BBL). Established in 2011, they succeeded the Southern Redbacks, who played in the now-defunct KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. The Strikers play their home games at the Adelaide Oval and wear a cornflower blue uniform.
