Billy ordered to take it easy
BIG Billy Stanlake said he pulled up well from destroying New Zealand and would have loved to have been sending them down in last night’s Big Bash League.
But he understands why he was put in cotton wool.
The 2.08m fast bowler took 3-15 in the first Twenty20 international at the SCG on Saturday night.
But while batsmen D’Arcy Short (Hurricanes) and Strikers teammates Alex Carey and Travis Head were released for last night’s BBL decider, Stanlake was forced to watch the final in Hobart ahead of Wed- nesday night’s game against England at Blundstone Arena.
“It is a bit of a shame but I am going to be watching very closely down here in Hobart and hopefully the boys can get up,” Stanlake said.
“It is probably understandable with playing last night and obviously the quick turnaround with the travel this morning.
“That is just the nature of being a bowler but that is how it is.
“Physically I feel fine but I completely understand the logic behind it.
“Playing for Australia is the priority and I can understand it.”
While Australia has been a dominant force in Test and one-day cricket in recent years, its T20 form has been abysmal. It sits at No. 7 in the world rankings.
Stanlake, playing in just his second T20 international after two one-day games, has started the comeback, decimating the Black Caps’ top order in Sydney.
“It is probably the most nervous I’ve been going into a game, especially after last year, not going too great in my two Australian games,” he said.
“So I definitely had a lot of nerves. It was nice to get a couple of early wickets to settle myself down a bit.”