Stanlake warns: ‘I’ll get quicker’
Billy Stanlake has warned he’ll only get quicker after his electric three-wicket haul helped Australia demolish New Zealand at the SCG.
Stanlake dismissed Black Caps openers Colin Munro and Martin Guptill off the first two balls he bowled on Saturday night, beating the New Zealand top order for pace and bounce in his figures of 3-15 off four overs in the Twenty20 triseries opener.
New Zealand posted a meagre 117-9 and Australia won by seven wickets chasing a rain-reduced total.
The 23-year-old was clocked at speeds as quick as 151.5kmh on just the third ball of his spell, when Tom Bruce clamped down on an attempted yorker for the hat-trick delivery.
The 204cm beanpole quick regularly hovered around the high 140s in just his fourth international match, and shell-shocked New Zealand will have to come up with ways to combat him in the return tri-series match at Auckland’s Eden Park on February 16.
Stanlake wasn’t prepared to put a limit on how fast he could go, as he aims to join Australia’s battery of out-and-out quicks that already includes Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Jhye Richardson.
‘‘I don’t want to put a ceiling how fast I can bowl,’’ Stanlake told Channel Nine.
‘‘I want to bowl faster each year.
‘‘I knew I had natural pace growing up.
The last few years as I started to mature with my body I have been able to add a bit of pace each year.’’
Key to Stanlake’s growth will be the ability to keep his body injuryfree.
Having finally overcome stress fractures in is back, pelvis and feet, Stanlake enjoyed a full preseason this summer before he was struck down by a toe infection that largely ruled him out of Queensland representation.
However, it’s to the winter’s work he is now owing his pace.
‘‘Just having a full pre-season under my belt for the first time in my career,’’ he said.
‘‘And then just playing continuous cricket and playing all the Big Bash games. It’s the first time I have ever done that.
‘‘Having a bit of cricket behind me and another big pre-season and a lot of work in the gym. It has put me in good stead.’’
Stanlake’s time in Queensland’s recovery squads has often seen him pitted alongside fellow T20 star Chris Lynn in the nets, who has experienced his development first-hand.
Even he admits he’s now got to the point where he’s scarily quick.
‘‘I’m the guy who has got to cop them,’’ Lynn said. ‘‘Some good speeds, some good signs, swinging the ball and as a batter it’s an absolute nightmare.
‘‘He’s only young, he’s only raw but he’s getting better and better.
‘‘But deep inside sometimes it’s a bit like ‘Billy, go bowl in the other net please’.’’