Billy Stanlake ready to return to action
Billy Stanlake, who left the Indian Premier League 2018 with a broken finger after playing just four games for Sunrisers Hyderabad, will resume bowling later this week.
Stanlake, 23, picked up five wickets while in India at an economy rate of 8.12, but fractured his right little finger during a game against Chennai Super Kings on 22 April and returned home. He consulted a surgeon after that, and it has been confirmed that he can start bowling as early as on Friday 11 May.
That should get him ready for the limited-overs international series in England and Zimbabwe in June and July. Stanlake is in both the one-day international and Twenty20 International squads for the two series. Prior to leaving for England, the squad will train at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, and Stanlake hopes to be in full throttle by then.
“I saw the surgeon a couple of days ago, he said the finger is looking quite good,” Stanlake was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. “I'm going to start bowling again tomorrow, so I've got plenty of time to get myself ready to go.”
In England and Zimbabwe, Australia will take the first steps towards building a new team under the stewardship of Justin Langer and without the presence of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.
With the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 and then the ICC World T20 2020 around the corner, good performances in these games might help the players make strong cases for selection in the marquee events.
“I think I've found that if I get it right, it's going to be difficult for anyone to score or do well against (me),” said Stanlake. “It's a simple game plan that I don't really need to overcomplicate: Bowl fast, bowl aggressive and take wickets.”
Stanlake has played just two ODIs, in January 2017 against Pakistan at home, but was impressive after being called up for the Trans-Tasman T20 Tri-Series earlier this year. In his first game, against New Zealand, he returned 3/15 in a seven-wicket (DLS method) win, and picked up at least one wicket in each of the remaining matches in the tournament.
In the absence of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, both of whom are out with injuries, Stanlake hopes to raise his stature and keep bowling as fast as he can.
“I don't want to put a ceiling on (speed), and I don't want to just be happy with where I am now – I've still got a few years for my body to mature and strengthen. So I don't see why I can't get faster,” he said. “That's the challenge. I know I've got a big year of hopefully playing a lot of games, and getting another year older is going to play a factor in that.”
Speaking about the chances of making the 50-over World Cup squad next year, Stanlake added, “That's a great goal to have, to try and make that team. But that's a long way away. The important thing for me is to stay injury free, and be playing cricket. Last summer, the volume of games I played, I got some continuity for once. And the more you play, the more confident you get.”