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“She made it almost impossible for us to bow to her,” Wareham said. “It puts a lot of pressure on the player and makes sure that if she misses it’s probably going to be long. We all found it very difficult during those T20s to be able to contain her and obviously we didn’t do a very good job of it.”
“I hope you don’t use all those runs in the T20 series and can save some for us.”
I think her versatility is in her game, she’s an all-rounder and an excellent player, and with her leadership, she’s been able to cover all the bases.
Simon Helmuth for Hayley Matthews
“Part of our planning was that we wanted to make sure we could secure a captain,” Helmut told ESPNcricinfo. “Hayley [captained] For us in the last two or three games last year, they were exceptional. She really enjoyed her time with the Renegades last season and became very invested.
“What impressed me was her attitude towards the team. Obviously she is the captain of her country, but her appetite to support others and lead and nurture others is first and foremost one of her greatest attributes.”
Helmut has coached some of the world’s best T20 players in the men’s game having worked in the IPL, CPL and BBL and he speaks as highly about Matthews as any player he has ever coached. Without trying to make any direct comparisons, he said her growth as a triple-threat player and leader in T20 reminded him of Duane Bravo, who he coached at Victoria, the Renegades, and with the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Premier League where the duo combined as captain and coach to win the 2021 title.
“Her ability to read the game and change gears, it’s not just bump and bump,” Helmuth said. “Her ability to hit boundaries, but also her ability to handle shots and spin shots and develop partnerships. That’s what I’ve seen from a batting point of view. And from her bowling point of view, she has a good understanding of when to attack and when.” To hold on tight and defend.
“I think she’s very versatile in her game, she’s an all-rounder and an excellent player, and with her leadership, she’s been able to cover all the bases.”
The respect between the coach and the Renegades’ new captain cuts both ways. Matthews had a big smile on his face after catching up with Helmut upon her arrival in Melbourne.
“We went to a bar and talked,” Matthews said. “Great guy and obviously had the opportunity to work with him last year in the WBBL, so it’s great to come back and have him at the helm coaching the team as well.”
Part of his mantra since taking over the Renegades role ahead of the Covid-affected 2021-22 season has been to create a home-away-from-home environment for his players. It resulted in the long-standing Renegades having their best ever season in the WBBL, finishing second on the table before the Challengers lost to the Adelaide Strikers. But he also wanted to learn more about how to get the best out of each individual as he chases the elusive WBBL title.
“I wanted to dig deeper into how I can help the players and how our coaching group can help prepare the players to be the best they can be and perform the best they can,” he said.
“Whether you’re a senior player or a new player, you still want to have clarity on roles. Having a discussion about that outside of training is just a good reminder for me that regardless of experience, Sarah Kuyty still wants to know her role and how she can work.” Better within the team.
“Secondly, it gave me a good reminder that some players like to prepare in certain ways and it’s not one size fits all. Although team strategy is paramount, I have to make sure I remain versatile, and our coaching staff remains versatile.” And flexible enough to support our players.”
While he wants his players to feel happy and comfortable, he also wants them to play with an advantage and keep playing. He believes his leaders in Mathews and Harmanpreet will set that tone.
“I said on draft night that we want to play with an advantage and we know that with Hayley Matthews and Harmanpreet Kaur you are going to get the best,” Helmut said. “Tammy Beaumont is experienced and accomplished. Jess Duffin has a no-nonsense approach and has high expectations of herself and her teammates.
“I think we have more experience on our team this year. And that’s not just through recruiting but also being able to get some players back in Wareham and Davin. We’re going to miss a lot of Sophie, she would have finished the whole thing, but I think we probably have more of an advantage.” difficulty on our list.”
Alex Malcolm is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo
