From clubbies to BBL, Cockbain wants to take on the world

At the age of 34 and raising a young family between two countries, Ian Cockbain may have thought his dream of playing T20 cricket around the world was slipping away.

Despite an extensive decade-long career in England's domestic T20 competition and being snapped up by the Welsh Fire in the new eight-team Hundred tournament last year, Cockbain had yet to play in any overseas leagues.

That was until two weeks ago when he took a call from his mate from Gloucestershire, South Australian seamer Daniel Worrall.

It was then, halfway through KFC BBL|11 where all eight teams had been riddled by positive COVID cases, that the Adelaide Strikers plucked Cockbain from synthetic-wicket suburban club cricket in Melbourne's southeast.

The right-hander had scored 196 runs in seven innings for Langwarrin in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association before he was rushed into the Strikers team to face the Perth Scorchers on January 14.

But his remarkable elevation to the top level of Australian domestic cricket won't come as any surprise to those at home in England.

Cockbain has played 57 first-class games for Gloucestershire in the past decade with a highest score of 151 not out, while he averages 34.15 and has a strike rate of 132.05 in T20 cricket.

And he's taken to the Big Bash like the experienced campaigner he is, with scores of 17, 35 not out and 71 not out in his three games to help a resurgent Adelaide qualify for the BBL|11 finals.

"I was in Adelaide on holiday with my (Australian) wife and little fella catching up with a few people who I used to play with couple years ago and 'Franky' Worrall just messaged me," Cockbain told cricket.com.au.

"He said to me 'a couple of our batters have gone down, do you reckon you'd be keen to get your name in the mix?'.

"I was like 'absolutely'. He threw my name in the hat and I got a phone call a couple of days later and everything sort of fell into place.

"I probably need to buy Franky a beer."

In a "weird coincidence", Cockbain also signed his second overseas T20 deal on the very same day, picked up by Pakistan Super League team Karachi Kings as a replacement player for injured countryman and Brisbane Heat import, Tom Abell.

Cockbain said it was "hugely satisfying" to come into the Strikers team and have an impact straight away, and that it would be a massive boost for his profile as a T20 cricketer.

"I've been trying to get my foot in the door in an overseas league for years now," he said.

"I've never played for England, I've never been on a Lions tour, so my profile as a player doesn't really appeal to teams overseas.

"My record sort of speaks for itself but in terms of profile, of a name, that's what's held me back, I guess.

"Now to get my name out there and do well on the big stage, hopefully that will kick-start a few more leagues coming in the next couple of years.

"I've done it for a number of years back home now and to finally get the chance over here to showcase what I can do and what I have been doing for the last couple of years back home is very pleasing."

Cockbain is no stranger to Australian conditions having played cricket in Melbourne and Adelaide for 10 of the past 14 summers.

He met his Australian wife while playing for Premier cricket club East Torrens in Adelaide eight years ago and together with their 18-month-old, they chase the sun by spending six months a year in England and the other six in Australia.

"It was initially getting away from the winter back home and not getting pounded in pre-season by the S&C (strength and conditioning coaches)," Cockbain said when asked why he first opted to play in Australia.

"Now that my wife's Australian it's a double whammy. It's a no brainer to come over here now for the (English) winters, it gives her a chance to catch up with her family and spend a bit of time with them."

Despite is instant success, Cockbain will need to wait to see if he retains his place in the Strikers' side for Friday night's Eliminator final against the Hobart Hurricanes at the MCG given the returns of Test stars Travis Head and Alex Carey.

"That's obviously up to the coaches to decide what they think is best. I'd love it if I could keep my spot and play alongside those guys," Cockbain said.

"They're two class players and I'll be looking to learn off of those guys."