Fearless Turner has tons of ability

Budding Western Australia star Ashton Turner says he fears no bowler in the state ranks after completing a rapid rise from fringe player to prolific batsman this summer.

The casual cricket observer wouldn’t have known much about the 23-year-old before this season, but his Sheffield Shield run-scoring heroics demand attention.

Turner nailed his maiden first-class century against Tasmania in November and repeated that feat against Queensland earlier this month, giving him 429 runs at 71.50 from four matches.

After making just five Shield appearances last summer – and logging 228 runs at 32.57 – Turner’s swift ascension has him in third spot on the competition run-scorers’ chart.

Former Australia opener Chris Rogers has even floated the possibility of Turner, who also bowls handy off-spin, being an option for the Test side after captain Steve Smith said national selectors may look to draft an allrounder into the squad for the Boxing Day Test to help relieve the pressure on his four-man bowling attack.

Peter Handscomb, Matthew Renshaw and Nic Maddinson – all aged 25 and under – made their Test debuts against South Africa in Adelaide last month, proving strong performances at state level will be rewarded.

"I don’t think (selectors) would be against a Travis Head or a Glenn Maxwell-style player who can bat at six and bowl spin for 10 to 15 overs a day," Rogers told Optus Sport's 'Stumps' show.

"Ashton Turner and Ashton Agar could be smokies as well.”

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Turner isn’t expecting a call up any time soon, but the show of faith in the aforementioned trio should leave him and others around the country upbeat.

“I feel like I’m so far away from Test selection at the moment that I don’t really think about it,” he told cricket.com.au.

“But I think about other guys around Australia who are on the brink and guys in our team – it does make you realise you are only a couple of good games away from putting your name in front of the selectors.

“And the way the selectors are going at the moment, it seems they’re willing to back young guys in and give them a chance.

“I think all young players around the country are put on notice and know that they’re only a couple of good games away.”

When you consider Turner started the season batting at No.8 – he has since earned a promotion to No.6 – and was concerned about his spot in the Western Australia’s team, it has been a superb start to the campaign.

“It comes with confidence, but I’m in that mindset at the moment where I feel like I have no fear going in to any Shield game,” said Turner, who is in his fifth season with the Warriors.

“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing against or the bowling attack.

“I think I’ve been able to prove to myself that I can crack it at that level.

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“I’ve got a really simple game plan at the moment and I’ve really just backed that in. When it comes off, it’s just positive reinforcement that I’m able to keep backing that game plan.

“I feel like we’ve batted in different conditions so far. We’ve played on spinning wickets at the SCG and fast wickets at the WACA and day-night games. So far I’ve been able to adapt.”

Only Victoria’s Marcus Harris and Queensland Test batsman Usman Khawaja have scored more Shield runs than Turner so far this season, but the momentum the right-hander has gained has been somewhat stalled by the KFC Big Bash League, which starts on Tuesday.

Turner was a regular fixture for the Perth Scorchers last summer and fans should expect the hard-hitter to play a big role in BBL|06 as he aims to capitalise on his impressive form.

“The last few years I’ve been in and out (of the Shield side) a bit, but I feel like I’ve cemented my spot for the moment,” Turner said.

“It’s exciting to go into the Big Bash period, but I feel like I’m just starting to find some good form in four-day cricket and almost feel like I want to keep playing. But it’s time to adapt, like you have to in the modern game, and move over to white-ball cricket.

“I’ve gained a lot of self-belief so far this season and have been able to put my best foot forward on the ground and reap the rewards from that.”

Western Australia’s next Shield clash will be against South Australia from February 1 as the BBL takes centre stage over the holiday period.

While Turner described his first century as a “money off the back”, the platform for his standout performances was laid in his first match of the season.

He struck 81 in the first innings against NSW and has continued to find the middle of the blade since with knocks of 32, 110, 8, 49 not out, 49 and 100.

“I batted eight at the SCG on a wicket that was spinning, and it’s pretty hard work for batsmen,” Turner said.

“I got 80 in the first innings there, in my first hit in Shield cricket for the season, and that gave me a lot of confidence, especially batting with the tail.

“We had a few Aussie Test players out and we knew they were going to come in the next week, so there was a bit of pressure on. If I got runs, I knew I’d be a chance to stay and if I didn’t, I was probably gone the next week.

“I had a lot of pressure on that game and found a way to get some runs. I was pleased with that.”

Turner’s Scorchers will start their BBL|06 campaign against the Adelaide Strikers on Friday.

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