February 2010 - Queensland Cricket

A marked improvement inthe Konica Minolta QueenslandFire’s batting performancesresulted in abetter showing in the2009-10 WNCL season, althoughcoach JoanneBroadbent is still searchingfor the knockout punch.That might come in theform of some interstateimport imports as the Firesearch for that elusivechampionship after 14fruitless seasons.The Fire finished equalthird on points on theWNCL ladder, althoughthey only accumulated halfas many points as runawayfinalists Victoria andeventual champions NSW.Yet the Queenslanderswere in winning positionsin both games againstKONICA MINOLTA QUEENSLAND FIRE — 2009-10 SEASON IN REVIEW 22 16IT’S ALL ABOUTIMPROVEMENTNSW in Sydney at the startof the season, and hadtheir opportunities againstVictoria as well.“In four games out of thelast five we scored 200 orwere on target to score200 – we haven’t donethat for a long time,” saidBroadbent *above). “Wehad some players who performedat their absolutebest, made 200 runs as ateam on a consistent basis,but still couldn’t winsome of those games.“It was heartbreakingreally, but it is a progressionwe have to gothrough. We have been astrong bowling team butour bowling couldn’t backour batting this time.”Inconsistency is the hallmarkof youth and theyoung Fire combination isstill gelling. “When Ilooked around the field inAdelaide, we had sevenplayers who had not beenin the program at the startof the season – that waspretty daunting consideringwe were already ayoung and inexperiencedside,” Broadbent said.The Fire lost the first gameagainst SA after scoring240, but won the next witha record team score.While Broadbent refused tooffer excuses, it is a factthat the Fire attack washampered by injuryagain.Promising fastbowler Jo-Ann Verrallplayed a solitarygame due toongoing shoulderproblems, the levelheadedLyndaPetherick missedthe second half ofthe year, Year 12commitments madefor a stop-startsummer for highlyratedspinner JessJonassen, and leadingwicket-takerfrom last yearSelena Tainton splitthe webbing in herhands three times.“Next season is going tobe very competitive amongour bowling attack,”Broadbent promised.Kirsten Pike led the Firewicket-takers with 19 at14.05 and an economyrate of 3.07 which rankedsecond in the WNCL behindVictoria’s Sarah Elliott(2.95).Continued page 17KirstenPike