New Delhi: Thirteen-time Sheffield Shield winners and two-time Ford Ranger Cup Champions – South Australia, christened as the 'Redbacks' in the Twenty20 circle – last won any major domestic competition way back in 1995-96 when they added another Sheffield Shield to their illustrious cabinet.
As far as performance specific to domestic Twenty20 competition – KFC Big Bash – is concerned, the farthest they have reached is the final in 2009-10, which got them entry into the Airtel Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20). Continue reading below
The Redbacks - who have Adelaide Oval as their home ground – have been going through a transition phase, where the team's command has changed hands between Graham Manou and Michael Klinger. Though Manou led the team to its best-ever Big Bash performance in January, a wooden-spoon finish in the Sheffield Shield and Ford Ranger Cup led to him being sacked.
But the choice of Manou's replacement as skipper baffled Redbacks' fans no end. The management handed over the team's command to 30-year-old Michael Klinger who is relatively short on Twenty20 experience. Probably it was the second consecutive 'State Player of the Year' award that tilted the scale in Klinger's favour. In addition, Australian international Callum Ferguson was appointed as Klinger's deputy for the multi-million dollar event in South Africa.
The team is an interesting mix of specialists and all-rounders, featuring baggy-green holders Shaun Tait and Graham Manou; ODI cappers Tom Cooper (Holland) and Callum Ferguson (Aus); and T20 international Daniel Christian (Aus).
Having said that, there are just four specialist batsmen (Michael Klinger, Cameron Borgas, Callum Ferguson and Daniel Harris) in the 15-man Redbacks’ squad and that could well have a say in where South Australia finish among world's top T20 clubs.
The Redbacks would represent Australian challenge in a group that has two of three teams from the Indian Premier League (IPL) – Sachin Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians and Anil Kumble-led Royal Challengers Bangalore – along with Caribbean champions Guyana and losing finalists from South Africa Highveld Lions.
TEAM:
Bowlers: Cullen Bailey, Peter George, Jake Haberfield, Gary Putland, Shaun Tait
Batsmen: Michael Klinger (c), Cameron Borgas, Callum Ferguson, Daniel Harris
All-rounders: Daniel Christian, Tom Cooper, Chris Duval, Aaron O’Brien
Wicketkeeper: Tim Luderman, Graham Manou
