Express bowler Shaun Tait says some chin music could help change the tune of Australian cricket’s off-key summer.
Tait promised to deliver some short barrages to England’s Twenty20 cricketers in the two-game series starting in Adelaide on Wednesday night.
The South Australian tearaway, to be partnered by fellow quick Brett Lee in Australia’s Twenty20 side, said the shorter formats could bring some long-awaited joy after a dismal Ashes loss.
“They (England) are current Twenty20 world champions, they beat us in the final, so we have got a bit of revenge there,” Tait said on Monday.
“So the next two games, if we can turn the summer around for Australian cricket as well, it’s a good opportunity for the Twenty20 and one-day series to give the fans something to cheer about.”
Tait predicted he and Lee would return a fear factor to Australia’s bowling.
“Brett and I, our job is to bowl fast, and try and bowl at the stumps every now and then helps as well,” he said.
“But we’ll definitely be steaming in.”
The Adelaide Oval encounter marks Cameron White’s first as national Twenty20 captain, and also Tait’s return to Australian colours.
Tait had elbow surgery in October and only last week made a comeback for his state in the domestic T20 tournament.
Tait was unconcerned at only bowling eight overs in domestic ranks before stepping out for his country.
“The last time I played for Australia I played really well in the one-day series in England and before that my lead-up was Twenty20 cricket for two or three months,” he said.
“So I was actually quite fresh and I got through those 10 overs better than I have in my whole career, so I’m not concerned about that at all.”
Tait aimed to use the T20 games as a reminder to national selectors considering their squad for the 50-over World Cup starting next month.
