Shami produces magical spell

MOHAMMED Shami needed just 18 minutes of brilliance to make his mark at the new Perth Stadium.

India were in big trouble as Australia moved to 4-192 in their second innings at Perth Stadium – an overall lead of 235.

At that stage, Australia looked set to build a lead in excess of 350 on a cracking and unpredictable pitch. But a brilliant spell of pace and bounce from Shami knocked over Australia’s last three recognised batsmen.

Shami started the rot when his rising delivery cannoned into Tim Paine’s glove and popped to Virat Kohli at slip.

Aaron Finch, who was batting with a bung finger, departed next ball when he gloved Shami down the leg side.

Pat Cummins did well to survive the hat-trick ball.

But Shami snared the key wicket of Usman Khawaja for 72 when the ball spat violently off the pitch and caught the batsman’s glove on the way through.

In the space of 10 Shami balls, Australia’s hopes of a big total evaporated.

He also dealt out some pain along the way, with a bouncer cannoning into Nathan Lyon’s helmet. Lyon became his sixth victim next ball – with Shami finishing with career-best figures of 6-56. It was the fourth best return by an Indian bowler in Australia.

Kapil Dev’s 8-106 in Adelaide in December 1985 remains the benchmark, followed by Anil Kumble’s 8-141 in Sydney (January 2004) and Ajit Bhalchandra Agarkar’s 6-41 in Adelaide in 2003. BRISBANE Heat are set to unveil the “Baby Bash Brother” – a rugby league prodigy they believe can dominate the Big Bash League this summer.

Teen sensation Max Bryant will be unleashed as Brisbane’s latest six-hitting star when the Heat begin their Twenty20 BBL campaign against the Adelaide Strikers at the Gabba tomorrow night.

The nephew of former league star Matt Seers, Bryant is expected to open the batting with New Zealand star Brendon McCullum against the BBL champions.

At 19, Bryant will be one of the youngest players in the BBL this summer, but he has already earned a reputation for being a big hitter.

Dubbed the “Baby Bash Brother”, Bryant is hoping to make his mark on the BBL in the same fashion as Heat blasters Chris Lynn and McCullum.

“If I open they will be one and three so I can bat with them,” Bryant said.

“It’s pretty tight and there are a couple of pretty good players in the squad.

“It’s going to be hard to get in so I need a couple of good performances.”

Bryant was born and raised just south of the Queensland border in the Tweed region, playing cricket in summer and league in winter.

He was such a handy halfback that the Gold Coast Titans signed him to a contract at 15, Bryant eventually choosing to pursue cricket when Queensland offered him a long-term deal at 17.

Bryant’s mother Renee is the sister of former North Sydney and Wests Tigers star Seers, who was jailed in February following a widely publicised cocaine trafficking case.

Bryant said his uncle was his idol as a young footy player.

“I played a bit of footy back in the day, I loved sport in summer and winter,” he said.

“I’d probably say my uncle, Matt Seers (was my footy idol).

“I used to watch him play footy and all of his highlights.

“I got a good opportunity with cricket and took it. It’s all happened from there.”

Bryant scored his first century at 14 and has been playing for the Gold Coast Dolphins for the past five years.

He blasted the fastest halfcentury by a Queenslander in JLT Cup history in September, rocketing to 50 off 23 balls.

Bryant’s knock of 71 from 31 balls included 68 runs in boundaries – eight fours and six sixes.

While Bryant’s first goal is to become a permanent fixture at the top of the Heat batting order, he also has aspirations to play for Australia and in T20 leagues around the world.

I GOT A GOOD OPPORTUNITY WITH CRICKET …. IT’S ALL HAPPENED FROM THERE