Sunshine Coast Scorchers pioneer Eddo Brandes is back at the helm of the representative cricket team, and determined to lift them off the canvas.
The 58-year-old propelled the side to its one and only Queensland Premier Grade premiership in 2005/2006, during his previous tenure at the club from 2003 to 2009.
The former Zimbabwe fast bowler steered the Scorchers through a remarkable campaign, when they shocked University in the decider.
In recent years, he’s focused mainly on business, including chicken and tomato farming, but he’s now returned to the cricket scene with enthusiasm and know-how.
Brandes offered to coach the Scorchers again, in pursuit of a challenge.
“I’m older, my kids are older, and I wanted to get a bit of work-life balance again,” he said.
He has done some coaching at the Scorchers during the past two years, with 10 sessions a season assisting Ashley Holznagel.
The latter stood down in March, after five seasons of toil.
“When Ash said he was giving it away, I ummed and ahhed and asked some questions and did a bit of groundwork, and the response was positive,” Brandes said.
“I felt like they might like me around and I feel like I’ve got something to offer, so I put my hat in the ring and here we are.”
He said his prior success at the club “puts a bit of extra pressure on” him but “it doesn’t just happen”.
He’s taking the reins of a team which finished last in 2020/2021.
“A lot of hard work and effort is needed from coaches and players,” he said.
He’s certainly not thinking about winning the premiership at the moment.
“That’s pie in the sky stuff. We’ll just work on improving as a club, compete a bit more and get the trend going upwards.”
“Even if we finish eighth, that’s an improvement.
“Having won it before, hopefully I can help expedite the process, but it’s not something you can rush.
“It’s a journey, to go through match and practise situations, chipping away. Development always takes time.
“The core (of players) is there, so I will come at it from a different angle, and probably work a lot on game discipline.
“It’s not an easy game to play if you don’t practise properly and get the basics right, but when you start repeating the basics and minimising errors then you should get better.
“All we can control is how we practise, our attitude towards training, our attitude towards each other, and our attitude towards cricket. If we can continue to improve on those, then the end result takes care of itself.”
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Brandes said the role would bring some spark to his routine.
“I was sort of just working, going to sleep, and going to work again.”
“So, this adds a bit. I’m meeting new people and being involved in an active sport freshens up your mind.
“It creates a bit more work life-balance.”
Brandes has an agricultural background and he’ll continue to run a two-hectare tomato farm at Eumundi, with about 40 staff.
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From Zimbabwe, he notched 10 Tests for his country, and 59 one-dayers, from 1987 to 1999, while chicken farming.
He gained a reputation for tormenting England with his pace bowling, snaring a hat-trick against them in 1997.
He moved to Queensland in 2003 and took on the coaching role at the Scorchers, helping the club win their only premiership in their 26-year history, while tomato farming.
He then went back to chicken farming, before returning to tomatoes.
He expected the Scorchers pre-season to start in mid-June.
