Bowe describes BBL experience as “surreal”

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BENDIGO’S Liam Bowe describes his Big Bash League debut for the Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Tuesday night as a surreal experience.

The 19-year-old left-arm leg-spinner from Sandhurst sent social media into a frenzy – at one stage he was trending No.1 nationally on Twitter – when he picked up 1-21 off three overs in the Stars’ two-wicket win over the Adelaide Strikers.

Brought into the attack in the seventh over, Bowe claimed a wicket off the final ball of his first over when he had Strikers’ dangerman Ben Dunk caught by a stretching David Hussey at deep cover in a moment that caused a contingent of 45 family and friends and 25 from the Sandhurst Cricket Club to erupt in the MCG stands.

“It was definitely a crazy few hours last night,” Bowe told the Bendigo Advertiser on Wednesday.

“It was an amazing experience… very surreal and I’m still pinching myself at it.

“I feel a bit out of place, but it was just incredible.”

While Bowe admits he may have felt out of place playing alongside the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Hussey, Rob Quiney, Luke Wright, Peter Handscomb and Ben Hilfenhaus, it didn’t show.

Bowe drew high praise from commentators Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Damien Fleming for his temperament, control and willingness to toss the ball up to the Strikers’ batsmen. 

Only a season ago Bowe was a developing young chinaman spinner plying his trade on the grounds of the BDCA under the tutelage of Sandhurst coach Craig Howard.

Now he’s quickly becoming a cult figure with the Stars and has already earned the nickname ‘The Wizard’, with his glasses drawing comparisons to that of Harry Potter.