- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
It’s been more than two years since Ed Cowan last swung his bat in Twenty-20 cricket but the 32-year-old is confident he can continue his Sheffield Shield form in the Big Bash League.
The Tasmania opener is back in his home town for the six-week competition where he’ll once again play for the Sydney Sixers, who he helped win the BBL in 2012.
Despite not playing a competitive match in the shortest form of the game since a spell with Gloucestershire two-and-a-half years ago, Cowan believes it won’t be an issue when he faces Melbourne Renegades at the SCG on Friday.
“Players are used to adapting from the red to the white ball nowadays, it’s pretty easy for professional cricketers,” Cowan said.
“I was pretty jaded last summer so I elected out of the Big Bash.
“Obviously I didn’t have much time prior to that due to my commitments with the Test team.
“But I’ve played a little in the UK and had some success and I am looking forward to getting back out there.”
Cowan will face the Renegades full of confidence after chalking up hundreds in both innings against South Australia in Hobart last week.
He credits a more aggressive attitude at the crease to his good form this year.
This mentality was adopted after he analysed what went wrong with his game after being axed from the Test team during the 2013 Ashes series in England.
“Technically I feel better,” he said.
“I sat down at the end of last season and realised I’d faced 300 more balls than in Shield cricket than the season before but had scored less runs.
“I was playing too defensively and not putting enough pressure on the bowlers. That comes by being a bit more natural with my batting.”
The Sixers have five players unavailable due to the Test match in Brisbane and were rocked by the loss of West Indies allrounder Dwayne Smith, who withdrew from the BBL due to personal issues for a second successive season.
His place has been taken by Riki Wessels, who is the son of former South Africa and Australia Test opening batsman, Kepler Wessels.
But Cowan, with his tongue firmly in his cheek, believes he’s been the missing link over the last two years for the Sixers.
“I’m a little bit of a talisman,” he said.
“It’s not just we go on to win the Big Bash, we tend to win the Champions League as well, when I’m involved.
“I think that’s why they dragged me back.”
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.