22 BENDIGO ADVERTISER
au
SPORT CRICKET
A night to remember
In front of 40,254
people at the
MCG, Liam
Bowe stepped
onto the national
stage for his Big
Bash League
debut with the
Melbourne Stars
on Tuesday night.
BY LUKE WEST
Y
OU wouldnt
know it given the
composure in
which he played
with, but Liam Bowe was
so nervous as he bowled
his first delivery for the
Melbourne Stars on Tues-
day night that he couldnt
feel the ball come out of
his hand.
In front of just over 40,000
fans at the MCG, including
a large contingent of family
and friends and members
of the Sandhurst Cricket
Club, Bowe took the biggest
step so far in his burgeoning
cricket career when he
debuted for the Stars in the
Big Bash League against the
Adelaide Strikers.
The 19-year-old left-arm
leg-spinner from Sandhurst
was on the big stage, earning
a call-up from the Stars sup-
plementary list after Glenn
Maxwells selection in the
Australian one-day squad.
It was the biggest stage a
Bendigo cricketer had been
on since Kangaroo Flats
Tim Welsfords debut for
Victoria in a 50-over game in
November of 2014.
Six overs into the Strik-
ers innings, Bowe got his
chance, brought into the
attack by Stars skipper
David Hussey with Adelaide
cruising along at 1-51.
On strike to The Wizard
was Adelaides Tim Lude-
man, who swept Bowes first
delivery to short fine leg for
a single.
With that first ball, I
was just trying to land it in
the right area and not do
too much with it, Bowe
told the Bendigo Advertiser
on Wednesday.
With all my nerves, I
never felt it come out of
my hand, but it landed
alright and it got a bit easier
from then.
Towards the end of the
first over it definitely started
to feel a lot better after there
was a bit of pressure with the
first few balls going for a few.
But when I got the wicket
it was definitely a relief.
And that wicket was the
Thursday January 12, 2017
PROUD: Kevin Bowe (under hat) congratulates his son, Liam, after his debut for the Melbourne Stars on Tuesday night. Picture: SHANE HOGAN
scalp of Strikers opener Ben
Dunk, who had loomed as
a major threat for the Stars
when he had moved to 35 off
24 balls.
However, a mis-timed
shot off the final ball of
Bowes first over landed in
the hands of a stretching
Hussey at deep cover and
Bowe had his first wicket,
with the loudest noise com-
ing from 45 of Bowes family
and friends, plus 25 from the
Sandhurst Cricket Club.
I couldnt believe it when
the catch was taken I was
extremely happy and re-
lieved to get the first wicket
out of the way, Bowe said.
It was an awesome
feeling and nice to get Dunk
at that time of the game.
Bowe sent down three
overs and finished with very
tidy figures of 1-21 in a debut
performance that drew
plenty of praise on not only
social media when he was
one stage trending No.1 na-
tionally on Twitter, but also
from commentators Adam
Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and
Damien Fleming.
"What I like in that first
(over), even though they
were going after him, he
landed the ball really well,"
Fleming said.
"There was no full-tosses
or half-trackers, he was very
consistent in his length.
"It's a great start for the
youngster."
The Stars biggest name,
Kevin Pietersen, who was
the first to congratulate
Bowe after his wicket, said
he was mightily impressed
by the chinaman bowler,
bendigoadvertiser.com.
WELL DONE, MATE: Ben Welch, Michael Whiting, Jeremy WHAT A NIGHT: Liam Bowe's grandparents Jack and
Hancock, Matt Fitzgerald, Zebb Murrell and Braedyn Cath Bowe were among 45 friends and family to watch
Woodhatch support Liam Bowe on Tuesday at the MCG. his Melbourne Stars' debut at the MCG.
who has this season made most nervous part about the from Sandhurst and others the first three balls because
the move to play Premier whole game, Bowe said. from Bendigo cricket dotted I thought thats where he
Cricket with Essendon. I was just praying that around the MCG and we might struggle, but right
Bowe who is about I wouldnt have to go were just so proud of how he from ball one he nailed it,
to start a Bio Medicine out there. went about the whole day. Howard said.
course at Deakin University And to his relief he wasnt To see him run onto the Hes the prototype of a
Burwood was hit for only required as man-of-the- MCG, Julie (step mum) had spinner that you want in that
one boundary, by Ludeman, match Ben Hilfenhaus and a tear in her eye and every- he skids it at the stumps and
in his three overs, while his Michael Beer guided the one was really excited. We has a wrongun that people
spell featured 14 balls where Stars over the line with three couldnt be more prouder of find hard to hit. Ive got no
just one was scored. balls to spare. the way he handled himself doubt he will have a long
While there were plenty I couldnt stop fidgeting during and after the game. and successful career with
of nerves before bowling his and moving through those The moment he took the the short-form, and with the
first ball, they were ampli- last few overs, so it was a wicket, its fair to say there way hes going in two-dayers
fied later in the night when big relief when they got were 45 of us who erupted with Essendon, I reckon
Bowe was forced to put the through for that last single, and went a bit nuts. an opportunity will be just
pads on and contemplate Bowe said. The three overs he around the corner with the
that he would be required to Overall, the whole night bowled, on debut I dont longer form as well.
bat at No.11. was one of the best experi- think he could have done As for the large turn-out of
The TV coverage showed ences Ive ever had. much better and the oppor- support, Bowe couldnt have
regular shots of a nervous And so to was it for the tunities the Stars have given been more grateful
Bowe who has a BDCA Bowe family. him have been fantastic and It was awesome seeing
first XI batting average of 8.3 It was a fantastic night so far, he has stepped up. everyone after the game
in the dug-out late in the there was a group of 45 of us Also a proud on-looker and even out in the field I
match when the Stars were that was mainly family with at the MCG was Sandhurst could see a few mates in the
eight wickets down and still a few friends not far behind captain-coach Craig Howard crowd, so that made it a bit
three runs from victory with the Stars dug-out, Liams a mentor of Bowes for the easier, Bowe said.
one over to go. father, Kevin, said. previous three years. Im very thankful that
That was definitely the There was also a group I wasnt going to watch everyone came down.