Stanlake cautious after SCG fireworks

Having shaken off an underwhelming start to his international career with a captivating performance on Saturday evening, two-metre tall paceman Billy Stanlake could achieve anything at international level.

That's according to a man who's watched Stanlake's recent progress as closely as anyone, state teammate Chris Lynn, who has spent more hours than he'd like in recent years facing his fellow injury-plagued Queenslander in the nets.

Coming off some devastating domestic form with his KFC BBL club Adelaide Strikers, Stanlake looked equally as threatening against a New Zealand side only recently dethroned as the world's best T20 team, tipping the speed gun up above 150 kph at the SCG on Saturday.

Fighting off nerves to claim wickets with his first two balls of the match, including the ball of the match to knock over Black Caps opener Martin Guptill, Stanlake finished with 3-15 from his four overs, a fearsome spell from which New Zealand never recovered.

It's the kind of performance Lynn has long believed Stanlake is capable of.

"With our rehab he’s often bowling to me in the nets and I’m the guy who has got to cop them," Lynn said. '(I'm) a bit like, 'Billy, go bowl in the other net please'.

"He's getting quicker, he's getting taller and he's swinging the ball. He’s someone you want on your team.

"It's great for him to hit the ground running, because he's a guy who can get nervous early on so it was great for him to get early wickets.

"We're going to see him go from strength to strength with that confidence, especially in T20. We're going to see some pretty special things and we're going to see some pretty quick spells."

It was the kind of effort that proved why Australia's fast-bowling and medical gurus have so carefully managed the one-of-a-kind quick and handed him a national contract for this season despite having played just two first-class games.

While playing for Australia undoubtedly brings with it an added level of pressure, Stanlake conceded his pre-match jitters on Saturday were particularly heightened having fallen short of the hype in his initial foray onto international scene.

Last summer, the right-armer collected just a single wicket in three games - two ODIs against Pakistan and a T20I against Sri Lanka - and was forced to leave the field when he fell ill after sending down just three overs on debut at the Gabba.

"It was probably the most nerves I've had going into a game for a while, especially after last year not going too great in my few Australian games," Stanlake said on Sunday.

"It was nice to get a couple of early wickets to settle myself down a little bit."

Owing largely to a rotten run with various injuries, including a big toe infection so bad he was nearly forced to consider amputation, Stanlake has now played double the number of games for Australia as he has Sheffield Shield matches for Queensland.

His returns in those two four-day games two seasons ago were encouraging, collecting seven wickets at 21.57, but Stanlake is keeping aspirations of translating his strong T20 form into the back end of the JLT Sheffield Shield season in check.

Despite feeling like he's in career-best physical shape.

"The last few years as I've started to mature with my body, each year I've been able to add a bit of pace," Stanlake told Channel Nine on Saturday. "I don't want to put a ceiling on how fast I can bowl."

On Sunday, he added: "The body is the best it's been. The first half of the year obviously didn't go to plan with the toe injury.

Image Id: BBED90EF0DCD4E9697ED837919FA1A94 Image Caption: Injury has restricted Stanlake to just two first-class games // Getty

"(But) the body's in really good nick, I've put a lot of hard work in over the pre-season so I'm feeling really good at the moment.

"I don't want to look too far ahead. The main priority is just taking each game as it comes. If that (first-class) opportunity arises, I'd love to. But if not, I'm prepared for that as well.

"I'm sure the medicos and the docs are looking closely into that. We'll see how we go with this series."

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

Australia squad: David Warner (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

England squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, David Willey, Mark Wood.

New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Tom Bruce, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Anaru Kitchen, Colin Munro, Seth Rance, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Ben Wheeler. 

First T20I Australia won by seven wickets. Scorecard

Second T20I Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final TBC, Eden Park, February 21