Pink ball match is Sangha’s moment

SYDNEY Thunder teenager Jason Sangha has hardly batted against a pink cricket ball in his life but suddenly it’s the colour that could accelerate his goal for higher honours.

The 19-year-old has excelled batting against the red ball, scoring two hundreds from his eight first-class matches, and is off to a flying start in his white ball career, making a stylish 63 not out on his Big Bash debut.

He hasn’t much experience playing with the pink ball, so will have to learn quickly after being picked for the Cricket Australia XI to play Sri Lanka in the three-day, day-night tour match in Hobart today.

“I haven't played too much with the pink ball, maybe just once or twice, but it should be nice,” Sangha said.

Sangha is among a handful of exciting prospects selected for the match, including 18year-old Will Pucovski, who has already been named in the Australian squad for the two Test series against Sri Lanka.

The pair have known each other for years and Sangha said Pucovski’s rapid ascent had given fresh hope to all of Australia’s young prospects.

“To see him get that opportunity is awesome and I think it shows maybe you aren’t actually that far away,” Sangha said.

“He deserves his spot, for a young guy he’s got a lot of patience about batting and even in under age tournaments he’s always killed it, so I think he fits in really well.”