Bushrangers return serve at journalist
'Shoddy' article motivates Vics to win
The CommBank Bushrangers have an Adelaide cricket journalist to thank for providing extra motivation for their crushing win over the West End Redbacks today.
Victoria steamrolled South Australia on the final day of their Bupa Sheffield Shield match at the Adelaide Oval, dismissing them for 130 to secure victory by an innings and 46 runs.
And shortly after the match, the Bushrangers made a point of reminding News Corp journalist Richard Earle of the article he had written at the end of day three.
Hey @RichardEarle7, how mind-numbing did you find today's play? #snoozefest http://t.co/gFAEwb7owH
— Victoria Bushrangers (@bushrangers) November 19, 2014
The Bushrangers had finished the penultimate day on 5-521, a performance that Earle labelled "mind-numbing" and one that had "reinforced why the traditional format (of the game) is fading from relevance in the modern age".
He claimed that Victoria's tactics meant that "all hope for a result (had) evaporated".
But the Vics had other ideas.
Having declared their innings closed at 7-607 on the final day, Victoria's bowlers then ripped through South Australia's batting line-up in just 40.3 overs to secure victory with a session to spare.
Peter Siddle did his chances of retaining his place in Australia's Test side no harm with figures of 5-31, while legspinner Fawad Ahmed took 3-12.
And some tweets from assistant coach Trent Woodhill shows that Earle's article had been stuck on the wall inside the visitors' dressing-room to act as extra motivation for Victoria's bowlers on the final day.
Thanks @RichardEarle7 @LawrieColliver @bushrangers #motivation pic.twitter.com/JNQ61w7hEm
— Trent Woodhill (@TrentWoodhill) November 19, 2014
@RichardEarle7 Thanks for your ill informed tweets & shoddy article it's proving great motivation for @bushrangers SA 3/39 #GameOn #Lunch
— Trent Woodhill (@TrentWoodhill) November 19, 2014
Great to Sheffield Shield cricket back in discussion! Congrats to @petersiddle403 today and @bushrangers
— richard earle (@RichardEarle7) November 19, 2014