Billy to join big shots in India
AUSTRALIA have lost their way in Twenty20 but big Billy Stanlake feels like a rolled gold winner after coming from the clouds to clinch international debuts and an Indian Premier League pay cheque.
Stanlake, 22, has extra beer money after Virat Kohli’s 2016 IPL runner-up Royal Challengers Bangalore picked up the 204cm speedster for $58,000 in the 2017 player auction.
The Gold Coaster didn’t envisage one-day and Twenty20 debuts for Australia this summer after recovering from back stress fractures. An IPL gig seemed remote after conceding 0/42 against Sri Lanka in Melbourne last Friday.
“I didn’t see that one coming especially after the other night’s performance. It is funny how it happened,” said Stanlake of his ascension to a glamour franchise headlined by South African superstar AB de Villiers, bad boy Chris Gayle and India skipper Kohli.
“I was reading the live auction commentary and had gone unsold in the first round. Some players were brought back in and out of nowhere I had been sold so it was a bit weird but very exciting.
“Coming into the season I was just aiming to play some of the Big Bash and finish the season off injury free, so for all this to happen has been a great added bonus.”
Stanlake was stunned by the “crazy” money lavished on England all-rounder Ben Stokes who pulled $2.8 million from Pune Supergiants.
New Bangalore teammate Tymal Mills will pocket $2.3m in a record price for a bowler. Stanlake’s just happy to join the party.
“I wasn’t expecting much at all, it is a great opportunity to go over there and be around the world’s best cricketers,” said Stanlake, who will enjoy the support of Adelaide Strikers and Australian teammate Travis Head at Bangalore.
“Getting to bowl to the likes of Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle day in, day out will be a great opportunity.”
The gloom that descended on Stanlake after struggling for rhythm at the MCG and being axed for game two in Geelong has lifted.
Avoiding a 3-0 whitewash against Sri Lanka at Stanlake’s “second home” Adelaide tonight and consolation win is imperative.
Australia faces a slip to No.8 in ICC T20 rankings with a 3-0 series defeat against Sri Lanka on an Adelaide Oval patched up from last Saturday’s Guns N’ Roses concert.
“I was pretty down on myself after the game, pretty frustrated and angry,” said Stanlake, who has only played two first-class games for Queensland.
“Everyone around me was great and the coaches were really good to me. They said ‘don’t be too hard on yourself, just move on and get ready for the next one’.”