Joel Davies in unlikely Australia T20 call-up after two Big Bash games
The 20-year-old did not expect the unlikely call-up to the squad.
Joel Davies had just finished watching the John Candy classic Uncle Buck after polishing off a take-away dinner to celebrate mum Simone's birthday when his phone rang around midnight Monday. It was Australia cricket selector Tony Dodemaide on the end of the line, asking if the young NSW cricketer had any plans over the next fortnight.
If not, there was a business class ticket with his name on it to join Australia's fatigued T20 squad in India. In one of the more remarkable national team call-ups, 20-year-old Davies flies out of Sydney on Tuesday night to link up with the tourists ahead of game four of the series in Raipur.
'SHOCKED': Josh Hazlewood announcement stuns cricket world
UPROAR: Marsh cops fresh dig from rival over World Cup trophy scandal
ODI World Cup squad members Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa and Sean Abbott are set to return to Australia early, with Ben McDermott, Josh Philippe and Chris Green among the replacements. Davies, who has just two BBL games to his name, is not expected to play but will act as a net bowler, emergency fielder and drinks runner for the Aussies' final two matches of the series.
"We'd just finished watching Uncle Buck, one of Mum's favourites, and I was going off to sleep," Davies told Yahoo Sport Australia. "Normally when someone calls at 12 at night you think it's going to be some sort of fake call and you let it go, but I'm pretty glad I answered.
"He (Dodemaide) asked me if I had any plans for the next couple of weeks or any reason I couldn’t potentially fly over and I said I had grade cricket with Manly and a BBL practice match, but I was free if they needed me. Basically, they just need another man on deck to help run drinks and potentially field if people have to come off.
"They've probably gone for me because there's a lot of players involved in (Sheffield) Shield at the moment and they don’t want to pull too many out, but it's nice to be asked. I've been around a few of the players in the Blues set-up but it will be cool to join up with the rest of them and see how it all works at that level."
Joel Davies makes Big Bash switch
Davies, whose older brother Ollie has made a name for himself at BBL and Shield level, came to national prominence last summer with a series of stunning run outs for Sydney Thunder in BBL12. His rocket left arm produced three runs out in just two appearances.
"I like to see myself as an aggressive fielder, and I think that allows me to get involved in the game a lot," he said. "I love being in the hot spots and in the action." Davies will line up for Thunder's cross-town rivals the Sydney Sixers for the next three BBL seasons following an off-season switch.
Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.
