IPL 2018: Billy Stanlake hoping to do well for SRH in the T20 extravaganza

Billy Stanlake looks optimistic about doing well in India.

Ricky Ponting had said that I had found a blueprint going forward that would trouble the best batters across the world - Billy Stanlake | Getty Images

Young Australian pace sensation –Billy Stanlake, who was outstanding during the Trans-Tasman T20 tri-series with eight wickets from five games, and even drew praise from Aussie legend –Ricky Ponting, who reckoned that the tall pacer has all the skills to become one of the "all-time great fast bowlers".

The Queenslander made headlines during the Big Bash League (BBL) 2017 when his pace was increasing and getting closer to 150 km/h and taking 3 for 17 in 3.2 overs for Adelaide Strikers. However, the 23-year-old has played only 2 ODIs and 6 T20Is for Australia, but his stunning bowling at the domestic circuit and T20 leagues forced Cricket Pundits to consider him strong assets in international cricket.

Billy, who is the tallest player to ever represent Australia in international cricket with 204 cm height, has now become new T20 sensation following his signing with Yorkshire County Cricket Club for the 2018 T20 Blast, and then Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for the base price of Rs. 50 lakh for the IPL 2018.

The fast bowler now believes that he is able to mix his height and speed to trouble the best batters across the world. Stanlake is also looking forward to do well for SRH in the upcoming IPL 2018, as he has quite an experience of sub-continent condition after playing the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the last season of the lucrative T20 league in India.

Stanlake told Sportstar, "I think (my strength) is being able to mix my height and speed as well as being fairly accurate which is continuing to get better with more cricket I start playing. I’ve been over to the sub-continent a few times, so I have a bit of an idea of what to expect now."

On being asked how does he stave off the burn-out during his downtime, as he has a long history of back injuries which have caused problems in the past, the right-armer replied, “Cricket Australia have got me on a gym program that I work on while I’m away. This keeps me fit and ready to go. With my bowling, it’s just about keeping my workloads up to stay match ready.”

In the last season with RCB, Stanlake played only two games, and the pacer said that it was frustrating for him after traveling thousands of miles and featured in only two games.

Billy signed off by saying, “It can be frustrating and sometimes you don’t even get to travel with the team so you can end up staying back in the team hotel. If you have mates around you it always makes this easier. Last year I had Travis Head with me at RCB and it was good to hang out with him when we both didn’t play.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 02 Apr, 2018

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