They boast a fast-bowling corps as fearsome as any in the Big Bash but it's the Sydney Thunder's spin bowling division which might just unlock their title quest this summer.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Coach Shane Bond has an embarrassment of tweaking riches to work with ahead of his side's BBL opener against the Melbourne Stars at Manuka Oval, where the ex-New Zealand paceman will no doubt be tempted to select two spinners - much like Justin Langer did last week in the third one-day international between Australia and India.
Leading the charge is finger spinner Chris Green, who brings in recent Caribbean and Indian Premier League experience.
He's joined by two wrist spinners in ACT Comet Jonathan Cook and young gun Tanveer Sangha, while off spinner Arjun Nair rounds out the slow bowling group which is set to play a huge role for the club this season.
"There's a lot of competition at training which is really healthy," Cook said.
"We don't have too many bowlers that are the same. All our spinners are all different spinners and our quicks are the same as well, each with a different arsenal under their belt.
"It's not easy just to stand out [at the nets] among the higher class of spinners."
The Thunder's versatility should lend itself perfectly to this season's BBL law changes, which include the ability to substitute a player midway through the first innings.
It's a law Cook said the Thunder would look to exploit.
"It throws a bit of a spanner in the works, we're pretty lucky in that I think we play two games in the first nine days so we can sit back, watch, analyse, and just see how other teams are going," Cook said.
"We've got the depth in our squad to really adapt to anything that's thrown at us."
Cook has spent his early cricket summer in Sydney, playing grade cricket with Western Suburbs and training alongside NSW squad members.
MORE CANBERRA CRICKET
The Port Macquarie native made his Comets debut three years ago, but won't be playing for the side this year after Cricket Australia scrapped the second-tier competition amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 30-year-old has been granted about 10 weeks away from his job as an environmental planner for the NBN to play in the Big Bash.
"Most people at NBN have heard of the BBL so I've got a decent excuse to have that time off, they've been really nice with that period," Cook said.
"It's a bit tough on the work-life balance but it's good to have something outside of cricket to focus on."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
