Sunshine Coast product James Bazley is poised to make his Queensland Bulls debut, after being included in their squad for Saturday’s one-dayer against Victoria at Allan Border Field.
The 25-year-old allrounder has enjoyed a strong season, with Redlands in the state premier grade and the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League.
Now he’s ready for his first Bulls game.
“I’m pretty excited and very stoked to get the opportunity,” he told sunshinecoastnews.com.au
“It’s a very strong team that’s been going well for the last couple of years … I look forward to contributing to their success.”
Bazley previously held Bulls and Heat rookie contracts but never saw game time and subsequently linked with Hobart Hurricanes, but did not break through there as injuries continued to hamper his development.
But he’s forged a comeback, largely in the Queensland Premier Grade, to earn positions on the Bulls and Heat rosters.
“It’s been a work in progress for many years,” he said.
“I was an up-and-coming junior in the Queensland system and was part of the squad earlier in my career, but losing my contract and having to grind away in grade cricket and work it out for myself has been good for me,” he said.
“I’ve learned how to trust my game and work out my processes.
“It’s been a heck of a journey and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
He said playing for the Bulls is something he has wanted to do “since I was kid”.
“When I was part of the squad for a few years (as a rookie) I wanted to play so badly, and then I went away and I still wanted to get there just as badly.
“I worked it out for myself and have done it the long and hard way, outside the system, but it’s been the best thing that’s happened to me, because it’s helped me and shaped me and made me a better player, and taught me lots of lessons.
“It was always something I wanted to do and something I believed I could do and now that I’m back here (at the Bulls) I feel a lot more confident and ready this time around.”
He said the recent BBL campaign was valuable.
The big-hitting batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler had a top score of 49 not out for the Heat and his best bowling figures were 2-17.
“I think it helped. There were some high pressure situations there which I handled pretty well,” he said.
“It should put me in good stead for this kind of cricket.
“The BBL experience was good for me and a step forward for me and helpful for this experience.”
Bazley has replaced fellow allrounder Jack Wildermuth (quad strain) in the Bulls game day squad, with a 12th man to be named just before the game.
He’s expected to be utilised as a middle order batsman and bowl medium pacers.
The former Sunshine Coast Scorchers player has notched 11 List A matches before, between 2014 and 2016, when the CA XI, consisting of young players, was included in Australia’s domestic 50-over competition.
He’s also played one first-class match, for the CA XI against West Indies in 2015.
The Bulls are third on the ladder and their match will be broadcast on Foxtel and streamed on Kayo and cricket.com.au.
Queensland v Victoria in Marsh One-Day Cup, Saturday, 10am, Allan Border Field, Brisbane. Admission is free.
