The Comets have returned from their Top End T20 Series in Darwin earlier this month, and after going winless in last year’s tournament, head coach Jono Dean was absolutely thrilled to see his side record two wins, both against BBL squads.
“We were certainly capable of it, but we probably weren’t expecting it. But we were really pleased to get up there, and for the boys to really showcase their skills, especially in the first two games,” Dean said this week, as the Comets get ready to return to training in Canberra after a week off.
“And not just compete in those first two games, but win convincingly against the Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars, on reasonably tricky wickets against some really good players.”
After taking a mantra of “being tough to beat” in their return to the National Second XI Competition last season, the Comets in 2024/2025 want to push themselves and their games further. Being tough to beat last season becomes finding ways to win game this season.
And so, on that regard, starting the Top End Series with two wins over BBL opposition was huge.
“We saw it from the first game, where a couple of good things happened out in the field, and a couple of good starts with the bat built some confidence,” Dean said.
“They could see things starting to click, and all the things that we’d been working on, especially from a fielding point of view over the last 14 months, we saw them execute out on the ground.
“They were moving really well, and moving with intent. Diving, saving, good throws into the ‘keeper. We were holding our catches – and not just easy catches, but taking half chances as well. As a team unit we fielded really well.
“It’s nice to see some rewards from the effort they’ve been putting in.”
While he was pleased to see the experienced players in the Comets squad take more opportunities across the week in Darwin, Dean said he was really excited to see the younger players take in big lessons about their game.
“Guys like Tommy Hogan, a young left arm ortho, he now knows that his best ball is good enough. It’s just about being able to do it more consistently.
“The margins for error against players like D’Arcy Short and Jake Weatherald, and international players, it’s a lot smaller. We’ve just got to be better in terms of consistency and execution.”
Esam Rahman was another to leave his mark on the series, picking up the Most Wickets award after finishing the preliminary rounds with 13 wickets at 11.5 and a strike rate of a wicket every 9.5 balls.
Dean said it was nice to see the team and some players gain some interstate recognition, too.
“It was a really good opportunity for me to engage with other coaches from other states, talent managers, players, and talk about our program and the players within it. But what pleased me most was that people were coming up to me and saying ‘You guys played really well today. I really liked what this player did’,” he said.
“(New Adelaide Strikers coach) Tim Paine had a pretty good eye on Mikey McNamara, when he performed against NT Strike with Tim part of their coaching staff.
“Sometimes it’s just right place, right time. We certainly left Darwin with a few people asking some questions, being a little bit more curious about what’s happening within our program and the guys within it, and that’s all we can ask of them.”
Now back in the ACT, and with Canberra’s Spring giving more than just a hint of an early arrival, the Comets must now turn their attention away from coloured gear and white balls, and instead start thinking about the patience required to succeed at a National Second XI level.
“Batters will be leaving a few more balls now, and they’ll be facing a few more bouncers,” Dean said. “Bowlers will be dialling in their best ball, and we’ll work on how we can get that ball to swing, and reverse it late on Day 4.”
Dean says the players know enough about their own games to make the individual changes required, but how they come together as a unit playing longer format cricket will be key.
“Just getting back into, not so much the repetitive nature of four day cricket but being really ruthless and how boring we want to be, in terms of execution, especially with the ball.
“But I still like from a batting group point of view, we still want to take the game on, and we’ve got a lot of run-scoring ability, so we want to use that and move games forward.”
Dean says he’s now looking forward to getting back into preparations for the Second XI season armed with results and performances he can remind his players of when the inevitable seeds of doubt creep into the minds of a group of cricketers.
Certainly, he‘s thrilled that the Comets can gear up for another season at national level with some results under their belt already. And that, he’s quick to remind, is not something all ACT senior sides get to do at this level.
“Not many teams get to go away as ACT Cricket and win two games on the trot, and we did that in a pre-season comp against some of the best cricketers in the country.”
The ACT Comets will begin their National Second XI Competition campaign against Tasmania, in Hobart in later October.