Billy Stanlake eyeing Red-ball return to Queensland

Billy Stanlake has played 2 One Day Internationals and 6 T20Is for Australia so far.

Billy Stanlake has played only two First-class matches so far | Getty Images

Australian fast bowler Billy Stanlake, who has hogged headlines for his regular speeds of 150kph, is really keen to play the First-class Cricket for the Queensland again after a hindrance of a three-and-a-half year due to the numerous injuries in his immature career.

The 26-year-old tall pacer was offered a rookie contract with the Queensland for the 2014–15 season following his outstanding display in the Under-19 World Cup, but he had to miss the entire season with stress fractures in his back. Later, Billy made his debut in all three major formats of cricket in the 2015–16 season for Queensland, and following his List-A performances, he got a national call-up in 2017.

The towering speedster has played only two first-class matches, because of the various injuries – including back, toe and now finger problems – which have prevented him from playing Red-ball cricket, and the young fast bowler became a much-demanded White-ball player.

However, Billy has been enjoining his Cricket Australia contract but wants to play all format of the game, as he is currently playing only limited overs cricket. He believes that the Red-ball cricket is his strongest outfit, and he is eyeing to make comeback to the First-class cricket with 2019 Sheffield Shield.

Stanlake told CA’s official website, “I want to play all three forms of the game. I still feel like red-ball is probably my best format, so I'm itching to get back out there. Hopefully, this year is the year I can get a few games in. It's hard. It's been a few years now and you do feel a little bit lost in a way, not being in the (Shield) playing group.

I still loved every minute of them winning the Shield final, and hopefully, I can experience one in the future. It's still six, seven months away so hopefully, everything goes well for me in the winter and I can stay injury-free, so I can then look at playing some red-ball stuff in the summer.”

Meanwhile, the speedster is all set busy in the White-ball cricket with England and Zimbabwe series and then with Yorkshire for the coming English domestic T20 tournament.

If Stanlake succeeds in delivering some eye-catching performance in that matches, then he will certainly get selected back for the Red-ball cricket both at domestic and international level.

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 15 May, 2018

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