Haan, wahi Shipperd, jo shayad soch rahe hain ki unka jadoo ab bhi purane zamane ki tarah chalta hai! Par sach kahu, NSW ki team, jo Sheffield Shield mein pichhle do seasons se teesre aur chauthe sthan par rahi, unhe ek aise coach ki zarurat thi jo unhe phir se shikhar par le jaye. Kya Shipperd yeh karishma kar sakte hain?
Shipperd ka record bolta hai. Unhone Victoria ko char Sheffield Shield titles (2003-04, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2014-15) dilaye aur Sydney Sixers ke saath do Big Bash League titles (BBL|09, BBL|10) jeete. Unka experience ek khazana hai, aur NSW ki young brigade, jaise Sam Konstas aur Ollie Davies, unke guidance mein chamak rahe hain. Konstas, ek teenager, ne Shipperd ke under match situations ko samajhna shuru kiya hai, jabki Davies ne pichhle season mein teen centuries ke saath 67.00 ka average rakha. Yeh do ladkon ka future roshan lagta hai, aur Shipperd unhe tarash rahe hain jaise koi jeweller heere ko chamkata hai.
NSW ke Key Players ke Stats (2024-25 Sheffield Shield):
| Player | Matches | Runs | Average | Centuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ollie Davies | 7 | 536 | 67.00 | 3 |
| Sam Konstas | 6 | 412 | 45.78 | 1 |
| Jack Edwards | 7 | 389 | 38.90 | 0 |
Shipperd ka magic Sydney Sixers ke saath bhi dikha, jahan unhone pichhle chhe seasons mein team ko kabhi teesre se neeche nahi rehne diya. Do titles aur ek runner-up finish unki tactical nous ko darshata hai. Unhone ek baar David Warner ki tarah Josh Inglis ko Test opener ke roop mein bhi push kiya, yeh dikhata hai ki woh apne players ke potential ko kitni gehraai se samajhte hain. NSW ke liye, jinhone 2023-24 mein Dean Jones Trophy final mein Western Australia se haar maani, Shipperd ka yeh vision ek nayi shuruaat ho sakta hai.
Lekin, thodi si chinta bhi hai. NSW ne pichhle do seasons mein final tak ka rasta dekha, par “crunch” matches mein woh hamesha peeche reh gaye. Shipperd khud kehte hain, “Humne competitive cricket khela, par agla step yeh hai ki hum in bade matches ko jeetein.” Kya yeh 68 saal ka coach, jiska “body slow ho raha hai,” us energy ko laa payega jo ek young team ko chahiye? Aur jab tak Sean Abbott aur Nathan Lyon jaise stars international duty par hain, kya NSW apni depth ko prove kar payega? Shipperd ke liye yeh challenge bada hai, aur shayad, thoda sa impossible bhi.
