Last night’s win over the Strikers marked leg spinner Luke Holt’s debut for the Scorchers, becoming the 85th player to represent Perth in the Big Bash League.
Sports Breakfast spoke to Holt this morning to recap the week leading up to the game.
“The last week has been hectic… It’s been awesome living out a childhood dream,” he said.
“I got the phone call on Thursday and got straight on the phone to mum and dad and my sister and they absolutely loved it, there were a few tears of joy, even dad choked up a bit I reckon.”
Various injuries within the Scorchers roster has opened up spots for new players to come through within the last few games, including Englishman David Payne just last week.
Holt bowled two overs in last night’s match and was happy with his overall performance.
“All of a sudden AT pointed at me and said I’m bowling the next over and I went’ oh wow, this is actually happening,'” he said.
“I got to the top of my mark and stood there and went, that’s Matt Short at the end, and if I get him a single I’m bowling to Alex Carey at the other end.
“I was nervous as anything, I couldn’t feel the top half of my body, that’s probably why the first two balls landed in the middle of the wicket and went up into the stands.
“I managed to close out the rest of the over okay and obviously the second over, I was really happy with that, to be able to come back and get another chance was crucial. If I had have walked off the ground with just the one over it might’ve been a bit of a different feeling sitting here talking to you guys today.”
The young leg spinner credits his craft to Scorchers legend Brad Hogg, claiming it was at a barbeque many years ago where he was taught proper leg spin form by Hoggy over a game of backyard cricket.
He says his strengths lie within his wrongun, but unfortunately he didn’t bowl any in lasts nights game.
“I think wrongun’s certainly are my strength, I can go out the front of the hand and slide one through,” he said.
“Obviously in T20 cricket with leg spin you’re trying to bowl the ball a bit quicker, but I think a strength of mine is being able to get a bit of extra grip out of the surface.
“I just thought after the first two balls got hit into the stands I better stick to my guns and trust my stock ball which I’ve worked on for so long.”
Holt heads over to Melbourne with the team today, hoping to get another go on the big stage to show his craft at Marvel Stadium against the Renegades on Thursday.
IMAGE: FILE