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.
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.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Over 800 runs now with another big century against Victoria, only he 14th Tasmanian to score 800+ in a shield season
Nick
Roar Rookie
That "journeyman T20 slogger" is leading the shield season in runs and was top 10 in the Matador. Agree he didn't have the best BBL but credit where credit is due.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Renshaw is after Dunk's Shield Run Tally lead....He's probably going to be just short at the end of the current round.
Don Freo
Guest
Yes. I don't see why they wouldn't just play Paine as a batsman at 3 or 4. Triffitt is worth the time but Paine would have to be better than Doolan.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Don, How bad is Doolan going? He's been absolutely terrible since his selection for Australia. Probably one of the main reasons I would think Tassie selectors are still very comfortable with where they stand with Doran.
Andy Hill
Roar Pro
Dunk had a pretty poor BBL and hasn't made any runs so far in this second half of the shield season. Could it be he is out of form again and won't make any more decent runs this season? I like the look of Beau Webster and Ben McDermott and hope they score the runs for Tassie. Couple of young blokes with a future, rather than a journeyman T20 slogger like Dunk.
Roger
Roar Rookie
Doran out for 24 in the 2nd innings giving him a season total of 301 runs in 14 innings at an average of 21.5. Will be interesting to see if he is finally dropped. Heazlett 480 runs for the season. Renshaw 558. Ben McDermott has done well for Tas with scores of 65, 79*, 34 and 9*
Don Freo
Guest
Try Hopes and Hartley then. They are two experienced heads that every team would love. The Warriors have young uns like Bancroft, Bosisto, Harris , Turner, Cartwright all being guided by Klinger and Paris, Moody and Nicholson being guided by Hogan. Paine, Bailey, maybe Hilfy and Doherty have value at Tassie. Doolan's goose may be cooked.
Don Freo
Guest
Tassie promised Doran every game this year as a lure to get him to sign with them.
ajay
Guest
"They’re also playing with a stronger team with the likes of Lynn, Khawaja and Burns to assist in their development." Wow khawaja and burns (test duty) and Lynn? Don't know what has happened to him nothing but slog don't get me wrong reanshaw is long form player for sure last year he smashed England in u19 but played "patiently" unlike doran(nothing against him) but surely reanshaw looks much better than him. And you guys forget "swepson" geez he took 3 more wickets yesterday.
Bearfax
Guest
They're also playing with a stronger team with the likes of Lynn, Khawaja and Burns to assist in their development. But hey. I'm not suggesting anything negative about the two QLD lads. They are going gangbusters.
Roger
Roar Rookie
Jake Doran 2/11/1996 Matt Renshaw 12/3/1996 Sam Heazlett 12/9/1995 Heazlett is nearly 14 months older than Doran but Renshaw is only some 8 months older. Neither Heazlett nor Renshaw has had anywhere near the amount of publicity that Doran has had over the years. I recall Stuart Macgill asking for Doran to be selected in the 2015 Oval Test before even playing a Shield game.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Doran is a long term prospect and there is nothing wrong with spending some time in Grade cricket to get some confidence back if they think that is what is needed. The bigger issue in Tasmanian cricket is what to do with these out of form veterans
Bearfax
Guest
All credit to Renshaw and Heazlett. Outstanding talents. But need to point out that both are older than Doran, one almost a year the other around 18 months. But you're right that Doran needs to start making big runs soon.
Nick
Roar Rookie
It's a balancing act for the Tigers at the moment between giving young guys a game and developing them at shield level and struggling (as is evident) or making them score some big runs at grade level. Paine got pushed out after two games but now Triffit is struggling again. Some big calls on some experienced guys futures coming up this winter.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Doolan has been in poor form for two years now, Doran is a good talent just needs time, like McDermott. I like the look of Webster as well
Roger
Roar Rookie
Prior to the current game v Qld, Jake Doran had a top score of 7 in a first innings in 6 shield games. His average of 21 has just not been good enough. He is a talented youngster but one wonders how long he can keep his place in an unsuccessful team before he is asked to go back to grade cricket and come back a better player. Doran has a much better junior record than players like Renshaw and Heazlett from Qld who have performed much better than him in their first season of Shield.
Bearfax
Guest
Dunk and Bailey are the only two from Tas making any sort of impression. Silk has lost his mojo, Doolan is just scratching around, and Doran is finding the step up at this stage, a bridge too far.
Tom Cahill
Guest
He has definitely stepped up this year, hopefully he gets a 4th century to really hammer home the transformation.