Carberry Confident Ahead of New Big Bash Season

Hampshire batsman Michael Carberry believes his Perth Scorchers side can handle the pressure of being the team to beat, ahead of the 2015-16 KFC Big Bash competition.

The 35-year old left for Australia this week and is very much looking forward to what’s ahead, in what will be his second year in the Big Bash after winning the competition with the Scorchers last season:

“We have a really good history in the competition and we are definitely one of the teams to beat which comes with its own pressure, but I have no doubt the boys will be up for a challenge and I’m really looking forward to it.”

After a slow start to the competition last season, Carberry finished the fifth leading runs-scorer across the campaign, notching 266 runs at an impressive average of 44.3. The Hampshire batsman believes Justin Langer and the Perth coaches deserve praise for his eye-catching form, which included a highest score of 77 not out from 37 balls against the Brisbane Heat: 

“Last year the first few games didn’t really go the way I wanted them to, I struggled to get some fluency more than anything.

“The WACA is such a unique place to play as well so it takes time to get into the swing of things. But credit to the coaching staff, who were very supportive of me and It was a great feeling to reward them towards the back-end of the season.

“I have never been anyone’s overseas player so it was great to be a part of that last season so obviously I’m really pleased that they did ask me to go back this season.

“A year on, I’ve got to know the lads a lot better and we’ve kept in contact over the summer and we’ve followed each other’s progress.”

Big Bash champions for the past two seasons, the Scorchers have perhaps the most settled squad in the competition. However, this campaign Carberry is joined by England all-rounder David Willey in a squad that the Hampshire man believes will be good enough to compete at the right end of the table once again:

“We don’t play too many games, but there are a lot of hard training sessions, fitness sessions, and just getting ourselves ready. But as I get older, it’s all about mindset and just being ready to play when you step over the rope."