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A career year for Ben Dunk

Nick new author
Roar Rookie
15th February, 2016
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Ben Dunk has been a rare bright spot for Tasmanian cricket this season. He should get a spot in the Aussie side. (AAP Image/David Crosling)
Nick new author
Roar Rookie
15th February, 2016
19

It has been a terrible year for Tasmanian cricket.

The Tigers are currently stuck on the bottom of the Shield table after giving up first innings points to Queensland yesterday. They failed to make the one-day finals and the Hobart Hurricanes blew a couple of big chances at the back end of the big bash to miss out on the semi finals.

There has been few positives, but Ben Dunk is certainly one of them.

The man from far North Queensland has had his best year in first class cricket by some margin.

After making his debut for Queensland, ironically against the team he plays for now, in 2010 he found himself stuck behind Chris Hartley with the gloves and not being able to break into a deep Queensland side.

This forced a decision to move to Tasmania in 2012 and he hasn’t looked back. He is well known for his Twenty20 prowess – as was shown by his inclusion in the 2014 Australian side to face South Africa.

While that was a great feather in his cap, his biggest challenge has been to contribute in every form of the game and this year he has certainly done that.

He made 300 runs at 60 in the Matador cup and and even with three small scores in a row he sits atop the Shield runs with 604 at an average just over 50.

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Previously he has never averaged over 36 during a full Shield season and only once has he scored over 600 runs in a year.

He has been the lone contributor up the top of the order, with Tasmania desperately seeking to find a long term replacement for Ed Cowan.

Tasmania have tried three openers this year and all have struggled, scoring 143 runs at an average of 11 combined with not one 50 partnership in 13 innings.

This season Dunk also made his maiden first class century and then backed it up with two more before Christmas.

So while Tasmania supporters must be frustrated with the season so far, let’s take our hats off to Dunk for a wonderful summer.

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