Quantcast

Behrendorff building towards national call

Perth Scorchers quick in sizzling form as talk of Australia honours gathers steam

Emerging star Jason Behrendorff says he's cherry ripe to fire if he's picked to represent Australia in the near future.

Behrendorff has been a key cog in Western Australia's resurgence over the past 18 months, with the 24-year-old paceman becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Shield, one-dayers and Twenty20s.

On Monday night, Behrendorff snared 4-22 off four overs in the Perth Scorchers' heartbreaking one-wicket loss to the Adelaide Strikers in the KFC T20 Big Bash League.

Quick Single: Hodge, 'Dorff' shine as Strikers win a classic

Last month, the left-arm speedster claimed 3-44 and 7-70 to guide WA to a Shield win over Queensland.

Behrendorff looms as a smoky to make Australia's ICC World Cup squad, and the Sydney-born, Canberra-raised West Australian says he would jump at the chance to play for his country.

"Yeah I do feel ready," Behrendorff said.

"I feel like I am bowling really well.

"All I can do is keep taking wickets. That's my currency. If I can keep doing that then the rest is up to the selectors."

Behrendorff said working with WA bowling coach Adam Griffith and Centre of Excellence mentor Troy Cooley had boosted his progress in recent years.

"I have worked really hard since I got over here in Perth and my body has started to mature a little bit and I am getting stronger," he said.

"Those things are really helping me to hold my action better at the crease and be able to bowl longer spells and stay more consistent."

The Scorchers were on track to produce a remarkable victory after reducing Adelaide to 9-139 in reply to Perth's 7-146 at the WACA.

Needing seven runs to win off the last three balls, Adelaide snuck home courtesy of a six to tailender Adam Zampa and then a Yasir Arafat no-ball.

The Scorchers won the BBL last summer, but they face an uphill battle to repeat those heroics without Simon Katich (retired), Nathan Coulter-Nile (hamstring), Shaun Marsh (Test duties) and Mitch Marsh (hamstring).

"I've been told that every time we've lost the first game we've made the finals, so hopefully that's a good omen for us," Behrendorff said ahead of Friday's home clash with the Melbourne Renegades.