Uncapped teen snares star
AARON Hardie is yet to celebrate a 20th birthday or firstclass debut but yesterday he achieved something that so many bowlers around the world have struggled to do: single-handedly dismiss Virat Kohli.
Hardie, an all-rounder who was born in the English coastal town of Bournemouth but started playing cricket as a child in Perth, achieved the feat on day two of India’s tour game at the SCG.
Kohli, having otherwise ex- hibited trademark concentration and class throughout a 97-minute stay at the crease, offered the right-armer a return catch during yesterday’s post-lunch session.
The 19-year-old’s reflexes were up to the task.
Hardie pocketed the catch then nonchalantly tossed the ball in the air as India’s captain trudged off, watching a scoreboard replay of his dismissal on 64, wondering where it all went so wrong.
Hardie, who is captained by banned Test batsman Cameron Bancroft at Perth club Willetton, has form when it comes to performing in tour games. Last year, Hardie dismissed England captain Joe Root and James Vince in the same over.
Hardie finished with figures of 4-50 yesterday, cleaning up the tail clinically after he had Rohit Sharma out edging for 40.
Hardie is one of WA’s most exciting prospects, having captained the state at under-17 and under-19 level and earned a rookie contract for 2018-19.
He was named in WA’s extended Sheffield Shield squad for round three, but didn’t make their final XI.