MELBOURNE Stars have called up Bendigo teenager Liam Bowe for Tuesday night's Big Bash League game against the Adelaide Strikers at the MCG.
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The left-arm spinner has been drafted into the Stars squad as a replacement for hard-hitting all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who has been picked in the Australian one-day squad to face Pakistan.
Bowe was informed of his elevation late on Monday.
With the Stars also having lost another spinner Adam Zampa and all-rounder James Faulkner to national duties, Bowe is assured of either playing or being 12th man against the Strikers.
It caps a rapid rise to prominence for the former Sandhurst cricketer.
The leg spinner has been in scintillating form this season for Essendon in Premier Cricket, taking 18 wickets.
He impressed Stars coach Stephen Fleming and selectors in pre-season practices matches in New Zealand and Albury.
His efforts did not go unnoticed by cricket experts, with former Victorian and South Australian wicket-keeper Darren Berry last month labelling Bowe the "next big thing" in spin bowling.
Forecasting Bowe's BBL selection, Berry drew comparisons with veteran BBL star and former Australian Test and one-day spinner Brad Hogg.
“As a left-arm Chinaman (bowler), they are pretty rare. There hasn’t been many of them in our lifetime,” Berry said.
“Brad Hogg has been the only successful one.
"If this kid does well in the Big Bash, don’t be surprised – we could have just unearthed our next big thing.”
Playing in a warm-up game for the Stars against Wellington earlier this month, Bowe took 2-30.
He claimed the wickets of New Zealand internationals Luke Ronchi and Hamish Marshall.
Bowe impressed once again for Essendon on Saturday, taking 2-14 in a 63-run win over St Kilda.
This is the teenager’s first season with the Bombers.
