Sunshine Coast product James Bazley is relishing his time at the Brisbane Heat, after overcoming a series of setbacks.
The towering 25-year-old produced a victory-sealing maiden outing for the team on December 27, scoring 31 not out from 17 against the Hobart Hurricanes.
He then thrashed bashing 49 not out from 21 balls in his second game against the same opposition.
He savoured his debut against his former team.
“It was a lot of fun out there,” he said.
“All the talk about the Gabba being loud with a great atmosphere from the boys – it was definitely true.
“It was loud, and it was a lot fun. And to get the win, (to get the team) over the line at the end was the most pleasing part.”
The all-rounder said he gained confidence from his display, after developing his game in recent seasons.
“The last couple of years has been really helpful for learning my game and creating some processes and skills that I know can not only work in grade cricket but can work at this level too, so that’s very pleasing.”
In his second game, he drew praise from West Indies great Brian Lara, who was in commentary for Channel 7.
Lara said Bazley was a powerful striker with the bat and he was impressed with his bowling (0-15 from two overs).
“He’s bowled some beauties , pitching middle and leg and going straight across. It’s tough (as a batsman) when you get a bowler capable of doing those things.”
Persistence pays off
Bazley’s BBL appearances are reward for perseverance.
The former Sunshine Coast Scorchers and Australian under-19 player showed his potential for the Cricket Australia XI as a 20-year-old in Brisbane in 2015, when he scored a half century and claimed the wickets of the West Indies openers.
He was signed by the Queensland Bulls and Brisbane Heat as a youngster and he then went to the Hurricanes but did not get a chance to make an impact, with back and groin injuries impacting his progress.
But it would only be a matter of time for Bazley, who starred for Redlands in the Queensland competition this season, earning another call-up to the Heat and his debut.
“I’m a more mature person and cricketer now,” he said.
“I needed to go through that down period of being thrown into the deep end, a kind of a sink or swim situation and (I was) maybe not taking the most of those opportunities and doubting myself a little bit.
“I was a young cricketer, a young person, so to go away and get better as a cricketer and more mature as a person was the best thing that has happened to me.”
He said he’s been helped by good friend, Australian representative Marnus Labuschagne.
“We’ve known each other for a long time and we’ve been on the journey together and he’s helped me a lot along the way and I’m sure I’ve helped him along the way at times, with a few things as well so it’s been very good to have someone like that to bounce off and to learn from and to train with but also just be really good friends with as well, outside of cricket.”
