Seb Gotch will be using Melbourne Stars’ clash with Sydney Thunder in the upcoming Border Bash to stake his claims for the wicketkeeper’s position.
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The 24-year-old debuted for the Stars in the last match of the season and backed it up with 48 runs in the semi-final loss to Perth Scorchers.
Gotch has become a regular in Victoria’s Sheffield Shield side this season with Peter Handscomb on Australian duties and Matthew Wade crossing to Tasmania.
He admits the Border Bash on December 12 will be even more important than last year.
“Last year I probably had a bit longer to prepare for T20, but with red ball cricket going a bit longer it’s going to make the transition very quick,” Gotch said.
“It’s been a bit of a surprise, but hopefully it holds me in good stead for Big Bash time and I might be able to sneak a couple of games in for the club.
“For individuals, you’re trying to put your name out there to get a game, but as a team it’s pretty important to gel together.
“There’s 17 or 18 blokes on the list, so you want to do as well as you can in the practice games and make sure you’re there first game.”
Gotch feels he is in better form 12 months on and is keen to make an impact.
“I think my preparation last year, especially in the practice games, was good and the coaches gave me a lot of faith,” he said.
“That’s the good thing about T20, you’re only one innings away from being back in the mix.
“You could be in a rough patch and all of a sudden you whip out a hundred off 50-odd balls and you’re playing on the MCG.”
Gotch was blown away with the response to the inaugural staging of the event on the Border last year.
“I couldn’t believe the crowd, we were expecting a couple of hundred people to come down and have a look and it was absolutely packed,” he said.
“It makes you nervous when there’s lots of people there and it’s just like a real game.
“It had a really competitive feel about it which was great.”