IPL 2019: First-over hitman Jason Behrendorff eyes World Cup ticket | Cricket - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

IPL 2019: First-over hitman Jason Behrendorff eyes World Cup ticket

Hindustan Times, Mumbai | ByAnkit Kumar Singh
Apr 05, 2019 07:39 PM IST

Before Behrendorff bagged Rayudu’s wicket in his first over on his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, the left-arm pacer had done the same to Shikhar Dhawan on his ODI debut at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January earlier this year.

What is common among Mark Cosgrove, Aaron Finch, Shikhar Dhawan and Ambati Rayudu? The answer is, all of them have been dismissed by Australia pacer Jason Behrendorff in his first over on debut in different formats or competitions.

MI bowler Jason Behrendorff celebrates after claiming the wicket of Ambati Rayudu during the Indian Premier League 2019 (IPL T20) cricket match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Wankede Stadium in Mumbai, Wednesday, April 3, 2019.(PTI)
MI bowler Jason Behrendorff celebrates after claiming the wicket of Ambati Rayudu during the Indian Premier League 2019 (IPL T20) cricket match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Wankede Stadium in Mumbai, Wednesday, April 3, 2019.(PTI)

Before Behrendorff bagged Rayudu’s wicket in his first over on his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, the left-arm pacer had done the same to Shikhar Dhawan on his ODI debut at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January earlier this year.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The Western Australia quick had built on his knack of picking up wickets in his first over on debut. In 2010-11, on his List A debut in Ryobi ODI Cup, he claimed the wicket of Cosgrove in his first over. A year later, on his Big Bash League (BBL) debut for Perth Scorchers against Melbourne Renegades, Behrendorff removed Aaron Finch off the last ball of his first over.

Though he couldn’t reprise his first-over heroics when he made his T20I debut against India in 2017 — he bowled only one over in that rain-curtailed game in Ranchi — he compensated for it by getting the prized scalps of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in his first over in the second match in Guwahati.

On Wednesday, Behrendorff bagged a second wicket when he had Suresh Raina caught by Kieron Pollard at the point boundary in his third over. His match figures of 2/22 broke the back of CSK’s run-chase.

The 28-year-old, who was part of Australia’s ODI team that whitewashed Pakistan in the UAE recently, now hopes that doing well in the IPL might help him earn a place in the World Cup squad due a couple of weeks.

“Any performance here can really help me. My strength is swinging the new ball up front and taking some wickets. So it was good to be able to do that tonight and stay in the selectors’ mind,” he said in the post-match media conference.

Behrendorff can form a potent opening pair with pace spearhead Mitchell Starc who is currently recuperating from an injury but is an almost certainty in the England-bound squad. Behrendorff believes it would be quite exciting if he gets to share the new ball with another left-arm pacer.

“It is not foreign to have two left-handers in the team. Australia have not done it a lot in the past but I don’t see why we can’t do that. Mitch (Starc) bowls exceptionally well at the death and can also bowl at the middle and up front. So, if both of us are picked, it may be a case of us having different roles. I might bowl up front and Mitch may look to bowl through the middle and at the end. It would be quite exciting,” he said.

On being asked about his experience of playing in his first IPL and comparing it with the BBL, he said, “It’s different, both are extremely good competitions. This (IPL) of course has a few more stars with four internationals as against two per team. It’s different conditions as well, quite warm and humid — something I’m not quite used to, so you have to make sure your hands remain dry.”

Stay updated with the latest Cricket News, IPL Live Scores, and exclusive insights on the RR vs DC Live Score, IPL 2024 Schedule, match highlights, and more. Explore comprehensive Cricket Schedule, track the race for the Purple Cap and Orange Cap in IPL 2024, and stay ahead with all the cricket-related updates on the Hindustan Times Website and Apps.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On