Lethal leftie Sams would love green cap after golden summer

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This was published 4 years ago

Lethal leftie Sams would love green cap after golden summer

By Christian Nicolussi

Unheralded Big Bash leading wicket-taker Daniel Sams has been spotted with his golden cap at the airport and even on the golf course.

Now the man with the most lethal left arm in the BBL would love another cap, but this time of the green and gold variety.

Daniel Sams is eyeing an Australian call-up after a breakthrough Big Bash campaign.

Daniel Sams is eyeing an Australian call-up after a breakthrough Big Bash campaign.Credit: Getty

Sams finished with a record 25 Big Bash wickets this summer and returns to Hobart on Thursday night for the Sydney Thunder's elimination final, six days after he cleaned up danger men Matthew Wade and Apple Isle pin-up George Bailey at the same venue.

The Australian T20 bowling attack is as strong as it ever has been heading into a World Cup year with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Kane Richardson.

But Sams, who was deemed not good enough to make the cut by the Thunder just three summers ago - and was given his first taste of the BBL with the Sixers - is prepared to play the waiting game.

The 27-year-old knows will be firmly on the selectors' radar if he can perform strongly through the high-pressure BBL finals and then again next summer in the shortest format.

"One of my goals over the next year to two years is to try and get myself into the Aussie team,'' Sams told the Herald.

"That's why we play, to represent Australia, and I'd be lying if I said that wasn't on my radar.

"I was always confident I'd have a good Big Bash [this year], but I never expected to be the top wicket-taker.

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"I think learning from the past two Big Bashes I've played, I've learned how to cope with the pressure and staying present, even if you bowl a bad over.''

His Thunder teammates quipped the golden cap, which is handed to the top wicket-taker and will continue to feature through the finals, had rarely left Sams' head.

If the Thunder are to stop the Hurricanes and their dynamite openers Wade and D'Arcy Short in their own backyard, Sams will need plenty of support.

"He wears that cap everywhere,'' Thunder quick Nathan McAndrew quipped.

"I'm no golfer but rumour has it he's worn it on the golf course as well.

"He's had an amazing campaign for us and it hasn't surprised anyone in the group. He works hard, has a very good cricket brain and a tremendous amount of talent to back it up as well.

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"He's been executing really well for us, especially towards the back end and bowling some really high-leverage overs.

"We also know what a class batter he is, he hasn't shown that yet this tournament, but we know how damaging he is with the bat, and I think he's only one game around the corner from changing a game with the bat as well.''

Thunder coach Shane Bond and skipper Callum Ferguson both backed Sams for international duty in the coming years, especially if he could become more consistent with the bat.

The Thunder flew out for Hobart on Tuesday night and were only assured a finals berth after the Melbourne Renegades triumphed over Brisbane a day earlier. Should they beat Hobart, they will travel to Adelaide on Saturday night for the right to play the loser of the qualifying clash between the Melbourne Stars and Sydney Sixers.

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