Fresh from his starring role in Australia’s T20 tri-series campaign, it’s been announced that fast bowler Billy Stanlake will play T20 cricket with English county side Yorkshire this year.
The 23-year-old will join New Zealand captain Kane Williamson at the Vikings and his set to play 12 matches in his first taste of English domestic cricket.
Yorkshire said Stanlake would miss the opening two matches if he’s selected for Australia’s winter tour of Zimbabwe, which is slated to be a T20 tri-series but is yet to be finalised. Recent reports said the series could be in doubt due to financial issues.
Stanlake took eight wickets in Australia’s triumphant tri-series campaign and was a key player for Adelaide Strikers in their recent KFC BBL triumph.
And it was his form with the Strikers, who are coached by former Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie, that impressed Director of Cricket Martyn Moxon.
“He’s someone I noticed when I went out to see Dizzy (Jason Gillespie) in the Big Bash,” Moxon said.
“He’s a tall, fast-bowler with pace and is a wicket-taking option for us. Obviously since then he has progressed to being a full international T20 cricketer so we’re really excited about him joining up with us.
“The pace and bounce he gets really stood out for me and he’s a genuine wicket-taker which is just as important as keeping the runs down in one-day cricket.”
The right-armer set to go another season without playing first-class cricket but remains optimistic he can build towards a long international career.
Stanlake has gone more than two years without first-class cricket after multiple back injuries and, most recently, a toe infection that almost led to the digit being amputated.
He is desperate to add to his two first-class matches but last week confirmed he won’t play any part in Queensland’s remaining JLT Sheffield Shield campaign.
“I don’t think so. It doesn’t look like it at this stage,” Stanlake told AAP.
“Unfortunately, my workloads aren’t quite up to scratch just due to the fact that I missed that first half of the season because of the toe infection.
“I’d love to be able to play Shield cricket. It’s always a goal for me to get back to playing that. But I’m also realistic and know everything that’s been put in place is looking out for my best interests.
“The important thing for me at the moment is I’m playing a lot of white-ball cricket and I’m really enjoying it.
“I’ve got another big off-season of Twenty20 cricket again, so hopefully with that coming up I can have a really good base to build off for the start of next season.”
Stanlake will again play in the IPL this year after being snapped up by Sunrisers Hyderabad in last month’s auction.
Arguably the most exciting young fast bowler on the domestic scene, Stanlake’s talent was underscored when Cricket Australia last year awarded him a coveted central contract.
The towering Queenslander hopes to follow a similar path to fellow quick Pat Cummins, who is thriving in Test cricket after being carefully managed through years of injuries.
“We had a very similar, pretty much identical, injury path,” Stanlake said.
“I think they did a great job with him. You see how good he is now. He’s getting through Test matches, he’s been bowling beautifully for a couple of years now. That gives me a lot of confidence.
“I know he’s done a lot of hard work too so to see him out there doing well and injury-free, it’s great to see.”
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