THE Saints have the most powerful batting line-up in the competition.
They bat down to No.11, as proven by Robin Sebastian’s tail-wagging knock in the Kookaburra Cup final, where he made 34 not out in a 54-run 10th-wicket partnership with Charlie King.
It is at the top where they are most deadly, with the blistering opening pair of Jake Foster and Jonty Chaproniere capable of taking the game away in the first 10 overs.
The duo have been hit or miss in red-ball cricket this season, but Holmes-Brown was backing his stars to perform when it matters.
“They’re natural power hitters who are extremely talented, so I just let them do their thing – even if we’re 1/50, I’d take that as a win – it would be awesome if they could bat all day though,” he said.
Should they fail, there was plenty to back them up, with Bailey Codling, Corey Daniels and Charlie King all still to come.
“We’ve got blokes batting six or seven who would be batting first drop is most sides in the competition,” Holmes-Brown said.
Dickson was under no illusion about the strength his rivals possess.
“You have to bowl the right avenues to them because if we stray onto their pads, they’ll punish us – we’ll definitely leave one out on the fence to try and limit those big shots,” he said.
Before Christmas, it was Dickson or bust for the Bombers.
Their skipper was still the big wicket, but during the unbeaten streak, he had found plenty of friends in the middle order with Declan Higgs and McKnight brothers Ethan and Bohden.
Dickson said this ability to find lower-order runs had been vital to their season’s resurgence.
“I think that’s been a key for us,” he said.
“The group’s pretty handy in that we can bat to 11 and all make runs.”
Holmes-Brown said the focus was still on Dickson, who has hit 441 runs this season at an average of 40.
“We’d love to get Greg early, but if not, we just have to find a way to tie him down and limit his scoring ability – and we feel we have the bowlers to do that.”
It was at the top where a crucial cog in the Bombers’ game plan lies, though.
Less well-known names opener Patrick Oliver and first drop Luke Murray provide the critical anchor roles for more explosive teammates Laine Gibbons and Dickson.
Dickson said having one of the pair bat through the innings was vital to their success.
“We can’t afford to be two down for not many – one of the guys has to anchor the innings,” he said.
“If we can be two down at the last drinks break, we’ll back ourselves to hit a run a ball in the last 15 overs.”
