There isn't much that New South Wales bowling all-rounder Trent Copeland hasn't done. A first class hundred, several five-fer, even a Baggy Green. It's easy to forget that on first-class debut for NSW he snared 8 for 92.
'Copes' hasn't however had a decent crack at the Big Bash - this year he'll get that opportunity.
We were lucky enough to get the ask the versatile paceman a few questions, and quiz him about the tournament ahead. Copeland will be blogging about Fantasy BBL for the Sydney Sixers' website.
SuperCoachHQ: Thanks for your time Trent. You played 3 tests for Australia back in 2011 and debuted alongside Nathan Lyon. What was it like to dismiss a player of the calibre of Tillakaratne Dilshan with only your second ball in test cricket?
Trent Copeland: Firstly, it's a very special moment to earn the right to wear the coveted Baggy Green. And the feeling of making my test debut was and still is a very surreal moment in my life. I distinctly remember having our plans to Dilshan - no width, ball coming back in. First ball (nervous as I've ever been) wide - smashed for four! I thought this could be a bloody long day! Second ball was slightly closer and thankfully he hit it to Ricky Ponting with safe hands at cover. Winning that test also means Dilshan and Galle, Sri Lanka will hold a special place in my memory.
SCHQ: Australia certainly has some depth in their fast bowling stocks now. Do you see yourself getting back into the test team in the near future?
'Copes' hasn't however had a decent crack at the Big Bash - this year he'll get that opportunity.
We were lucky enough to get the ask the versatile paceman a few questions, and quiz him about the tournament ahead. Copeland will be blogging about Fantasy BBL for the Sydney Sixers' website.
SuperCoachHQ: Thanks for your time Trent. You played 3 tests for Australia back in 2011 and debuted alongside Nathan Lyon. What was it like to dismiss a player of the calibre of Tillakaratne Dilshan with only your second ball in test cricket?
Trent Copeland: Firstly, it's a very special moment to earn the right to wear the coveted Baggy Green. And the feeling of making my test debut was and still is a very surreal moment in my life. I distinctly remember having our plans to Dilshan - no width, ball coming back in. First ball (nervous as I've ever been) wide - smashed for four! I thought this could be a bloody long day! Second ball was slightly closer and thankfully he hit it to Ricky Ponting with safe hands at cover. Winning that test also means Dilshan and Galle, Sri Lanka will hold a special place in my memory.
SCHQ: Australia certainly has some depth in their fast bowling stocks now. Do you see yourself getting back into the test team in the near future?
TC: It's certainly encouraging for Australian cricket. The likes of Starc, Pattinson, Bird, Cummins & Hazlewood have all come onto the scene since my last test tour of South Africa. Ultimately I am a cricket fan and just want to see Australia dominating international cricket again. I certainly hope I can get back there, but if I don't I'm certainly a lucky man to pull on the Baggy Blue for NSW and hopefully I can help continue winning games there.
SCHQ: After spending the first two seasons of the Big Bash at the Sydney Thunder, you only played 2 games. Was more game time behind the move over to cross town rivals, the Sydney Sixers?
TC: I have actually missed the majority through injury which is rare for me. The first year I came in for the last game for the Thunder as a replacement for Doug Bollinger. Last season was a complete wipe-out and I wasn't able to take any part at all.
I was 12th man in the last Sheffield Shield game before the BBL break, went to run a drink out to Brad Haddin and rolled my ankle on the in-between step on our SCG race. Grade three tears in all three lateral ligaments - how embarrassing I wasn't even playing! So, hopefully this year I have a full quota of preparation and can contribute if/when the opportunity arises.
SCHQ: How do you rate the Sixers squad? It's a different looking squad to BBL|02, that's for sure.
TC: I actually think the Sixers have made some very astute pickups. The big guns are all still here, for example: Lumb, Maddinson, Starc, Henriques, Hazlewood, Lee, Smith, Haddin, O'Keefe etc. But it's the diamonds in the rough that are often the difference in success and failure in the shortest form of the game. I'd have Marcus North, Jordan Silk and Mark Cosgrove in that category.
SCHQ: You had a couple of stints with Northants over the winter - do you feel playing in England was worth your while?
TC: Most definitely! I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity over there last season particularly in such a successful season for the club. Winning the T20, securing promotion to Div1 and narrowly missing the Pro40 finals on quotient. David Ripley the coach, Steve Peters & Alex Wakely the two captains were fantastic. I learnt a lot about the Duke ball, the English conditions and mostly about my own game both batting and bowling. I tell you one thing though - no fun fielding in the slips over there in Baltic conditions!!! Recipe for broken fingers!
SCHQ: After spending the first two seasons of the Big Bash at the Sydney Thunder, you only played 2 games. Was more game time behind the move over to cross town rivals, the Sydney Sixers?
TC: I have actually missed the majority through injury which is rare for me. The first year I came in for the last game for the Thunder as a replacement for Doug Bollinger. Last season was a complete wipe-out and I wasn't able to take any part at all.
I was 12th man in the last Sheffield Shield game before the BBL break, went to run a drink out to Brad Haddin and rolled my ankle on the in-between step on our SCG race. Grade three tears in all three lateral ligaments - how embarrassing I wasn't even playing! So, hopefully this year I have a full quota of preparation and can contribute if/when the opportunity arises.
SCHQ: How do you rate the Sixers squad? It's a different looking squad to BBL|02, that's for sure.
TC: I actually think the Sixers have made some very astute pickups. The big guns are all still here, for example: Lumb, Maddinson, Starc, Henriques, Hazlewood, Lee, Smith, Haddin, O'Keefe etc. But it's the diamonds in the rough that are often the difference in success and failure in the shortest form of the game. I'd have Marcus North, Jordan Silk and Mark Cosgrove in that category.
SCHQ: You had a couple of stints with Northants over the winter - do you feel playing in England was worth your while?
TC: Most definitely! I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity over there last season particularly in such a successful season for the club. Winning the T20, securing promotion to Div1 and narrowly missing the Pro40 finals on quotient. David Ripley the coach, Steve Peters & Alex Wakely the two captains were fantastic. I learnt a lot about the Duke ball, the English conditions and mostly about my own game both batting and bowling. I tell you one thing though - no fun fielding in the slips over there in Baltic conditions!!! Recipe for broken fingers!
SCHQ: As well as performing well with the ball, you have done well with the bat too, notching up a first class century last year to go with six 50s. Can we expect some big lower order hitting from you this summer?
TC: Haha, thanks for noticing! I'm happy I have been able to contribute, particularly in some pressure moments, certainly a lot more than when I first played for NSW. I'm still a long way from where I think I can get to with my batting but I'm working hard at it. As far as big hitting goes, I reckon you're more likely to see a reverse sweep or a ramp shot than a slog over cow corner!
SCHQ: On to the important stuff - you're a bit of a fantasy sport buff. Which sports do you do and which of your team-mates are your main competitors?
TC: A bit? Haha, Doug Bollinger insists I would play a Fantasy Baccarat league if there was one! I'm such a competitive person and a self-confessed sports 'snuff'. I love the playing against mates aspect of it, and also the timing of form, injury and trading in the American sports.
I do Fantasy BBL, NRL, AFL, Premier League and NFL. We're in the playoffs at the moment of NFL so every Monday morning you can bet I'm up early watching how my players are doing over in the US sending sledging texts to the other boys in the comp.
My main competitors across these sports are Ben Rohrer, Nathan Hauritz, Josh Lalor, Moises Henriques, Nic Bills, Jay Lenton to name a few. I can see a future career as the Michael Fabiano (Full-Time NFL Fantasy Guru) of an Australian Sport one day! Better focus on cricket for now though!
SCHQ: How's your Fantasy BBL side shaping up? Which BBL stars find themselves in there?
TC: Not too bad at this stage, still waiting to finalise the timings of all the overseas players before locking it in. There's a few locks in my opinion, a few different categories of locks, but mainly the guys that consistently perform or have the capacity to go large!
Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Lasith Malinga, Murali fit the mould. A few smokies in my team will definitely be Nic Maddinson, Marcus North, Sean Abbott, Craig Kieswetter and Fawad Ahmed.
SCHQ: Does T. Copeland ($32,000 Bowler) find himself in your side?
TC: Haha, even if I was a seasoned veteran, playing every game and in the form of my life I wouldn't be picking myself! But for those that do, I'll certainly be doing my best to help you win a fantasy title!
TC: Haha, thanks for noticing! I'm happy I have been able to contribute, particularly in some pressure moments, certainly a lot more than when I first played for NSW. I'm still a long way from where I think I can get to with my batting but I'm working hard at it. As far as big hitting goes, I reckon you're more likely to see a reverse sweep or a ramp shot than a slog over cow corner!
SCHQ: On to the important stuff - you're a bit of a fantasy sport buff. Which sports do you do and which of your team-mates are your main competitors?
TC: A bit? Haha, Doug Bollinger insists I would play a Fantasy Baccarat league if there was one! I'm such a competitive person and a self-confessed sports 'snuff'. I love the playing against mates aspect of it, and also the timing of form, injury and trading in the American sports.
I do Fantasy BBL, NRL, AFL, Premier League and NFL. We're in the playoffs at the moment of NFL so every Monday morning you can bet I'm up early watching how my players are doing over in the US sending sledging texts to the other boys in the comp.
My main competitors across these sports are Ben Rohrer, Nathan Hauritz, Josh Lalor, Moises Henriques, Nic Bills, Jay Lenton to name a few. I can see a future career as the Michael Fabiano (Full-Time NFL Fantasy Guru) of an Australian Sport one day! Better focus on cricket for now though!
SCHQ: How's your Fantasy BBL side shaping up? Which BBL stars find themselves in there?
TC: Not too bad at this stage, still waiting to finalise the timings of all the overseas players before locking it in. There's a few locks in my opinion, a few different categories of locks, but mainly the guys that consistently perform or have the capacity to go large!
Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Lasith Malinga, Murali fit the mould. A few smokies in my team will definitely be Nic Maddinson, Marcus North, Sean Abbott, Craig Kieswetter and Fawad Ahmed.
SCHQ: Does T. Copeland ($32,000 Bowler) find himself in your side?
TC: Haha, even if I was a seasoned veteran, playing every game and in the form of my life I wouldn't be picking myself! But for those that do, I'll certainly be doing my best to help you win a fantasy title!