West Australian debutant Albert Esterhuysen has been busy picking the brains of its experienced bowling contingent, which proved to be useful during his unexpected state debut last week.
The 19-year-old debutant took a handy three wickets and two catches in Western Australia’s clash against reigning champions South Australia, which helped steer his side towards its first One Day Cup victory this season.
He and veteran bowler Joel Paris combined for eight of WA’s wickets, with Parris’ five-wicket haul earning him Player of the Match plaudits. However, Esterhuysen’s performance also caught people’s attention after claiming the second-best bowling figures of the day, finishing on 3/42 from seven overs.
Esterhuysen told SportFM, he has focused on taking in as much knowledge from the seasoned WA fast bowling cartel before his debut.
“Those guys have a wealth of knowledge. Joel Parris, Matthew Kelly, and Lance Morris,” he says.
“Honestly, every single bloke I’ve tried to pick their brains, just trying to find one key thing to take away that I can implement in my game.
“Tim McDonald’s been awesome. Leading from the front, we recently had Simon Mackin, ‘Big Mac,’ who came in as well. He’s been good for me as well.
“Everyone’s been good, even Mahli Beardman. As a youngster, just learning what’s been working for him, coming through the ranks, and just trying to pick everyone’s brain.”
For Esterhuysen, his debut came unexpectedly, receiving the news via phone call around eight or nine o’clock the night before the game.
However, despite finding out so last-minute, he says he remained calm and collected throughout an occasion many may find nerve-racking.
“I honestly didn’t think I was going to play,” he says.
“Got my Uber Eats and feet up, and just got the call, and I was over the moon. Genuinely, not many nerves went through me, which is unheard of on debut.”
He also says he didn’t have many expectations leading into the game and approached it as just another game.
“I woke up, morning routine, had brekkie, went to the game, listened to some music,” he said.
“It was just a game of cricket. That’s when I play my best cricket, when I’m not nervous. I think that’s what I implemented, and luckily, all went well.”
With a white ball debut and an appearance in the Perth Scorchers’ Top End T20 Series title win, Esterhuysen says he has red ball aspirations for WA, but is focused on putting in the hard yards first.
“Whatever happens this year, I’m open-minded,” he said.
I’ll train the house down, and if the opportunity comes to play red ball, I’ll definitely take it, but my goal for this season is just to train and let the opportunities present themselves.”
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