Trio star in Big Bash debut

Friday witnessed four KFC Big Bash League teams thrash it out, three players of varying notoriety make their BBL debut and two teams record emphatic victories.

The Hobart Hurricanes and Perth Scorchers gave their fans an early Christmas present with a resounding win each, but much of the attention from the SCG to the WACA Ground and everything in between was focused on a trio of uncapped Big Bash Leaguers who stole the show. 

Starting in the east, Hurricanes whirlwind opener D’Arcy Short shocked the Sixers attack with an onslaught against the new ball that few have seen but won’t forget any time soon.

After getting off the mark first ball – a result he revealed as his ultimate goal leading into the match – Short then exploded in the second over of Hobart’s innings.

The left-hander dispatched Sixers southpaw seamer Ben Dwarshius for three fours and a six to commandeer the match’s momentum before upping the ante in the next over he faced.

Having watched his skipper Tim Paine soak up the third over, Short was desperate to maintain his positive approach, much to the detriment of Sydney speedster Joe Mennie, who was on the receiving end of two fours and two maximums from the Hurricanes’ freshest face. 

Quick Single: Hurricanes crash Sixers party

A tight stumping chance and dropped return catch off the bowling off left-arm orthodox spinner Steve O’Keefe provided a brace of scares for the 26-year-old, but once pace was reintroduced he smoked two boundaries to the point boundary.

As quick as it began it was over, out for 61 from 29 balls to a splendid catch by his former housemate Jason Roy in just the ninth over the twilight fixture.

However, Short had one more moment in the spotlight when he caught a bullet off his own bowling to dismiss veteran Johan Botha and all but wrap up Hobart’s maiden win of BBL|06.

On the other side of the continent, Scorchers new recruit Ian Bell was preparing for his first BBL innings in front of heaving crowd at The Furnace.

Accustomed to receiving boos and jeers from Australian fans during his three Ashes tour for England, Bell was given a warm reception when he strode out to the middle at No.3 after Perth opener Michael Klinger was dismissed from the final ball of the first over against the Adelaide Strikers.

Quick Single: Scorchers thump Strikers 

Bell’s stay should have been a short one – dropped at mid-on from his first ball by Strikers’ top-order batsman Jake Weatherald to the despair of bowler Billy Stanlake.

As often happens in cricket, Bell cashed in on his chance, taking the unlucky Stanlake through backward point and mid-wicket for boundaries in the towering quick’s next over.

When in peak form there are few batsman in the world more aesthetically pleasing than the 34-year-old from Warwickshire, and on Friday night two trademark shots proved he’s somewhere near his best.

The first was a tremendous six over cover off the bowling of speedster and fellow Englishman Chris Jordan, a stroke played with complete authority even if, judging by is own reaction, he didn't quite get all of it. 

The second signature shot was also aerial although this six was charged to the leg-spin of Liam O’Conner, who was left powerless as Bell skipped down the wicket and lofted the youngster high and handsomely straight down the ground.

Fortune followed Bell as he passed fifty before his luck ran out – quite literally – on 61 when he was called through by Ashton Turner for a questionable single as was run out by Weatherald’s direct hit.

While Short and Bell lit it up with the bat, the man who everybody wanted to see back in action, from Sydney to Perth, was former Australia spearhead Mitchell Johnson.

Having almost missed the game due to a dislocated finger he sustained two days before his debut, Johnson looked unimpaired and just as fast and frightening with a Kookaburra ball in his left hand.

Coming on in the seventh over as the Scorchers’ third-change bowler,  it took only five balls for Johnson to capture his first wicket in his maiden appearance in the revolutionary T20 tournament.

Strikers allrounder Kieron Pollard couldn’t resist a Johnson rocket pitched short of a length, but as so many have tried before him, the West Indian couldn’t control the pace or bounce and was caught by Marsh at fine-leg to the delight of the crowd and the bowler, who was mobbed by his new and adoring teammates.

The 35-year-old then removed Adelaide captain Brad Hodge, exacting some revenge after the batsman banished his first ball to the cover boundary.

Needing plenty of runs and quickly, Hodge lost his shape as he missed a Johnson off-speed ball and was castled for 56.

Johnson capped off the night with a third wicket, that of Michael Neser, who was caught by Jhye Richardson running in from deep square leg to complete his four over spell with the figures of 3-33 and conclude the third impressive debut on the last Friday before Christmas. 

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