Back to business, I think we have ourselves well covered this season. Going purely by statistics, we're hot favourites to win the OD and 25Smash, our biggest threats in those areas will be the Reds team. If I take the average average of the top eight batsmen and the same for the top eight bowlers, and then find the difference between the two, we lead with a 15.36 difference, and Reds are last on 10.6 with Black & Blue on around 11/12 area - but if you take it to top six, you end up with us having a huge 20.51 difference to Red's 16.77, both ahead of the 14/15 area of B&B.
In 4D, it will be a little more interesting. We have Craig and bugs as well as our two rookies in to bolster our batting after the loss of Cloete. Our bowling is in my opinion unquestionably the most dangerous looking attack at the moment (again, based on stats) as while we even out (on both top 6 and top 8) with Black, they have four rookies to our two, and that allows for a much better levelling of new talent with proven talent. I'm sure the two new guy will to well, too... they both show good fight off the field and I'm confident they'll show that same fight when facing the music. Blue's batting may be strong, but it's very notable that they don't have a single bowler with an average under 27 - well... they did, but Timewell and Bryce are wearing Green now!
Mwahaha.
As far as I can see, using both top six and top eight, all the squads are fairly evenly balanced in the OD bowling department. I'm trusting it'll be our depth and aggressive nature that we've shown so many times in the past that will push us through easily. Our OD batting is easily the superior batting lineup in season 8 - our top six average 42.66 each between them!
It will be interesting to see Bryce and Weber perform and I trust everyone in the team will do their best to teach them the tricks of the trade while we're in training and also that everyone who has returned from last season will help each other as well to improve their batting, bowling, keeping and fielding. As we all know, you're never too old to learn from those around you and there's always room for improvement!
When the CWXI is playing, we'll likely lose a lot of people, but so will the opposition. There was a stage that we would effectively have no seamers, however the aquisition of Bryce and Rob has solved this issue, and we now have four highly effective fast and fast-medium bowlers (as we have Hoy and Rose as well). We also have a lovely spin attack for our wicket which is apparently very spinner friendly, so don't think you'll be missing out. Reuben, Gooljar, Weber, Feeney, Majin all bowl well in both forms of the game. We have an arsenal to back them up, too. Notably with a nice eco rate in 25Smash last season was Biased Indian, who also opens nicely. We have wicket keepers in Lezama who suits the OD/25Smash game and Jamee who suits the 4D. Everyone has the opportunity to learn from someone else in their team and I'm really looking forward to it, especially continuing to learn from the highly regarded batsmen who I hope to share the order with.
My only real worry is... with all this talent... I'm going to find it hard to find a place in the starting team.
It's good to be amongst exemplaries and prodigies!