New cult hero Cooper Connolly has revealed how he was left in a state of shock after Test nice Adam Gilchrist received in contact with him on the eve of his match-winning efficiency within the BBL grand last.
Connolly cracked an unbeaten 25 off 11 balls to assist raise the Perth Scorchers to a well-known five-wicket victory over the Brisbane Heat in Saturday night time’s BBL decider at Optus Stadium.
The 19-year-old pummelled 18 runs off the 18th over – bowled by James Bazley – to assist arrange the victory.
The two sixes and the 4 Connolly hit in that over despatched the 53,886 crowd into raptures.
Connolly had solely confronted 11 balls in his three earlier matches this event, however he confirmed nerves of metal when the ultimate was on the road.
The day earlier than the decider, Gilchrist despatched him a textual content message to want him luck.
“I just said all the best, you’ve done everything you can. Just go out and enjoy it,” Gilchrist instructed Fox Sports.
“He messaged back and said I can’t wait to go out and soak it all up. He’s got a lifetime memory there.”
Cooper could not consider it when he obtained the textual content message.
“Last night, I was in shock,” he mentioned.
“I was like, ‘how has he got my number?’
“That gave me an additional enhance of confidence.”
Connolly was the Australian captain at the Under-19 World Cup last year, and he looks to have a bright future ahead in both red and white-ball cricket.
The batting allrounder feels his grand final heroics will hold him in good stead for the future.
“It simply offers me that further enhance that I can play at this degree,” he mentioned.
“A few video games in the past I wasn’t too positive and this was like, ‘I can play on the massive stage and I’m assured in myself that I can carry out below stress’.”
Connolly has worked hard on his spin bowling, and he heaped special praise on Ashton Agar for helping him.
“He’s been so good for me,” Connolly mentioned.
“He’s taught me how he goes about it and he is among the best T20 spinners on the planet, so to study from him is superb and he is an absolute hero of mine as effectively.”
Connolly became an instant cult hero after the match, with large sections of the crowd chanting his name during the title-winning celebrations.
“Not many 19-year-olds get to play in entrance of fifty,000 so I’m simply right here to soak all of it in and benefit from the second,” he mentioned.
“I’m so grateful for the group as a result of they helped us recover from the road.”
When asked if he thought he would ever have to buy a beer again in Perth, Connolly smiled: “Hopefully not within the subsequent couple of days. Maybe ultimately, however the subsequent couple of days I do not wish to.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
