Latest news with #MitchOwen
The Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Cricket: Mitch Owen reveals simple plan after brilliant debut
The elevation in arenas was significant for Mitch Owen, but the idea to just 'swing hard' remained his guiding principle after a stunning international debut in which he joined the most esteemed company. Only fellow Tasmanian Ricky Ponting and David Warner had made a half-century on T20 debut for Australia before Owen, shuffled down the order having made his name as an opener, blasted six sixes in an unforgettable 27-ball 50 under the bright lights in Jamaica. With his parents and girlfriend in the stands at Sabina Park, Owen, who has been 'on the go' since putting his name in the headlines with a century in the Big Bash final, took a wicket with the ball, then made his mark immediately with a fourth-ball six, his first scoring shot, as a signal of intent with the bat. That was the plan too, always is for Owen, who was modest post-match about his brilliant first-up performance. 'I'm firstly happy we got the win and it was nice to contribute,' he said. Mitchell Owen blasts one of six sixes at Sabina Park. Picture: Randy Brooks / AFP 'But yeah, it's great to join those class players. 'For me, I've been trying to play positive over the last six to eight months and today wasn't any different, going out there, trying to put the pressure back on the bowlers and I was lucky enough I got a few away early and was able to work into my innings.' Owen, noting the extra fielders out in the deep the only real difference between coming in as an opener and in the middle order, said his batting plans hardly changed. 'I still went out there and tried to hit six first then work my way down,' he said. 'The difference is five fielders out, but I tried to put that to the back of my mind and just swing hard.' Owen and Cameron Green put on 80 runs. Picture: Randy Brooks / AFP Owen put on 80 runs off just 40 balls with Cameron Green, who also made a half-century, forming what could be an imposing long-term partnership between two players still in the infancy of their careers 'It was great to bat with Greeny, it was the first time I've experienced that,' he said 'He was great, kept me nice and calm and to my process. Hopefully, we can do it a lot more.' Owen's stunning turn in the Big Bash, scoring two hundreds including his whirlwind 108 off just 42 balls in the final in Hobart, resulted in contracts around the international T20 circuit. He started in South Africa in January, then got gigs in the Pakistan Super League and hit the big-time playing with a call-up to the Indian Premier League, albeit getting just a single game. Most recently, Owen has been blasting bowlers in Major League Cricket in the US where he was named player of the tournament after making 313 runs and taking 14 wickets in 12 games. Owen celebrates his half-century. Picture: Randy Brooks / AFP His efforts landed him an Australian call-up ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, with a spot up the top, or in the middle as a slugging partner for Hurricanes teammate Tim David, all now live options. 'Any time you get a young kid who comes in and performs like that in his first game for Australia, it's always exciting,' Australian captain Mitch Marsh said after Owen's Sabina Park heroics. 'We're pumped for him. 'We want him to come in here and be as relaxed as possible. We understand he's going to be nervous playing for Australia but try and create a relaxed environment where he can hopefully keep doing that for us.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mitch Owen equals Ricky Ponting and David Warner with historic feat on Aussie debut
Tasmanian Mitch Owen has etched his name alongside Aussie greats Ricky Ponting and David Warner after becoming just the third man to hit a Twenty20 half century on debut for Australia. Big Bash hero Owen - whose record-equalling century fired the Hobart Hurricanes to last season's title - also claimed a wicket to go with his maiden 50 in T20i cricket to help Australia clinch a nervy three-wicket win in the first match against the West Indies. Owen was named man of the match in his first game in the national colours of Australia, with the 23-year-old belting six sixes in his eye-catching 50 (off 27 balls) in Kingston. Owen and Cameron Green combined for a match-defining 80-run stand for the Aussies, who chased down the Windies' 8-189 with seven balls to spare after slumping to 4-78 in the ninth over. The stunning fifth-wicket stand from Owen and Green changed the complexion of the run chase after Australia's top order fell cheaply. Skipper Mitch Marsh (24 from 17), Josh Inglis (18 from 8), Glenn Maxwell (11 from 10) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (2 from 7) were all dismissed inside nine overs to leave the Windies in the driving seat after Roston Chase (60 from 32) and captain Shai Hope (55 from 39) helped the hosts set a competitive total. Mitch Owen emulates Aussie greats in historic knock But Owen - who earnt his national call-up after a record-equalling 39-ball century for the Hurricanes in last January's BBL final - showed exactly why he's been earmarked as a star of the future. The Tassie all-rounder got off the mark with a big six over mid-off to open his account for Australia in style. And in combination with Green - who hit five sixes in his own half century (51 off 26) - the pair blasted 80 runs in less than six overs to change the course of the game. They took the total to 4-158 in the 15th over before Green was caught out the very next ball after bringing up his 50. Owen kept up the assault and brought up his historic half century with another big six but was also caught out off the next ball when he skied one to mid-on. The damage had largely been done though, as Owen emulated Aussie greats Ponting and Warner as the only men to score half centuries on their T20 debuts for Australia. 50 on his Australian debut 🙌You're the man, Mitch Owen 👏 #WIvAUS — KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) July 21, 2025 Great response 👏 — cricFusion Aashi (@cricket_x_Ashi) July 21, 2025 Mitchell Owen's debut was box-office stuff-• Power-hitting masterclass: 50 off 27 with six sixes•Smart with the ball: Removed the dangerous Shai 23, he's ticking all the T20 boxes — future star loading! 🚀 — Rafi (@rafi4999) July 21, 2025 Congrats Owen 👏🏻 — SportyCinema (@CinemaSporty) July 21, 2025 MITCHELL OWEN HAS ARRIVED IN INTERNATIONAL CRICKET...!!!- Coming to bat at 6.- Scored 50(27) with 6 sixes.- Wicket of Shai Hope.A Package in T20I, he is just 23 years old, big future 👌 — Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 21, 2025 Aussies survive late scare to clinch three-wicket win Despite the batting heroics of Owen and Green, it was a tense finish for Australia, who required just seven runs from 13 balls left when Sean Abbott was dropped on the boundary. It would have left the Aussies eight wickets down and facing an even more nervous chase but the massive let-off gave the visitors breathing space and they were able to wrap up the three-wicket victory. RELATED: Pat Cummins makes call on Sam Konstas after struggles continue Marnus Labuschagne spotted in strange moment amid Aussie win Paceman Ben Dwarshuis was the pick of the bowlers for Australia after claiming a career-best 4-36 that featured three wickets in four balls. Chase and Windies skipper Hope led the way with the bat after notching half centuries for the home side, while Shimorn Hetmyer chipped in with a vital late 39 from 18. Dwarshuis and spinner Cooper Connolly (1-24 from two overs) were the only two Aussies to pick up wickets inside the first 15 overs but the tourists rallied with 6-37 in the last five overs. Dwarshuis set up a hat-trick after grabbing back-to-back wickets in the penultimate over of the innings, which was his fourth and final over. Jason Holder successfully defended the West Australian's hat-trick ball but caught on the boundary the very next ball to hand the Aussie his career-best figures. The series continues on Wednesday in Kingston before three games in St Kitts on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday (all times AEDT). MITCH OWEN 50 ON DEBUT!! 💪What a start in Aussie colours it has been for the Hobart Hurricanes star!! 🌪️Catch every ball of Australia's tour of the West Indies live on ESPN on #disneyplusau / #disneyplusnz 📺 — ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) July 21, 2025 with AAP
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Cricket world blown away by debutant Mitch Owen as he leads Australia to victory over the West Indies
Mitch Owen has sent the cricket world into raptures after scoring a sizzling half-century on debut, lifting Australia to a win over the West Indies on Monday. Owen – who emerged as a white-ball star with a century in the Big Bash final opening the batting for the Hobart Hurricanes last summer – was given a middle-order role for Australia's first T20 against the Windies in Jamaica, and he took the opportunity with both hands. Chasing a 190-run target for victory, Australia were in a spot of bother at 4-78 in the ninth over before Owen came to the crease and took the match by the scruff of the neck. His blistering 26-ball half century made waves, as he produced several big strokes to turn the match on its head. The 23-year-old Tasmanian powerhouse swatted his first ball down the ground for a massive six off retiring veteran Andre Russell. And from there, he added five more maximums as he stormed to 50, reaching his half century with another six before being dismissed the very next ball. His bold batting effort, set the tailenders up for success as they easily chased down the West Indies' 8-189 with seven balls to spare. Owen's incredible debut, where he also took a wicket with the ball, saw him awarded man of the match honours. 'I'm firstly happy we got the win, it was nice to contribute,' Owen said during the post-match presentation. 'I was lucky enough to got a few away early and was able to settle into my innings.' Owen's half century also saw him join the game's elites. The Tasmanian joins just Ricky Ponting and David Warner as the only Aussie men to make 50 in their T20 international debuts. And his performance sent the cricket world into a spin as Aussie fans suddenly felt Australia's future is looking bright. 'Mitch Owen is the future, what a debut, what a player,' one fan wrote on X following his barnstorming debut. 'Future star. Wow,' another added. While a third wrote: 'Mitch Owen absolutely outstanding on debut for Australia. Doesn't look out of place at all.' Others added, 'he makes it look so easy' and 'Mitchell Owen, remember the name'. Jake Fraser-McGurk fails to impress Fraser-McGurk didn't deserve a national call-up, give his horror recent form, and there was no turnaround at Sabina Park, casting a cloud over the future of the one-time batting dynamo. The 23-year-old had scored just 45 runs in his past five T20 innings, playing for the San Francisco Unicorns in the Major League cricket tournament, after a shocking stint in the IPL on a seven-figure contract. By virtue of his location, being next door to the West Indies, Fraser-McGurk was called in as an injury replacement and inserted as opener after first-choice Matt Short suffered a side strain. But he never looked like making an impact. It took six balls for him to get off the mark, with a wafty swipe to the leg side, and after three plays and misses, before miscuing a drive to be caught at mid-off for two. While Short has been ruled out of the series, it would be unpalatable for every other Australian white-ball hopeful if Fraser-McGurk was given another chance. In his 15 games for Australia across T20s and ODIs, he's made just 213 runs, with just one half-century.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Mitch Owen only has one plan no matter where he's batting and it paid off big time in T20 international debut
The elevation in arenas was significant for Mitch Owen, but the idea to just 'swing hard' remained his guiding principle after a stunning international debut in which he joined the most esteemed company. Only fellow Tasmanian Ricky Ponting and David Warner had made a half-century on T20 debut for Australia before Owen, shuffled down the order having made his name as an opener, blasted six sixes in an unforgettable 27-ball 50 under the bright lights in Jamaica. With his parents and girlfriend in the stands at Sabina Park, Owen, who has been 'on the go' since putting his name in the headlines with a century in the Big Bash final, took a wicket with the ball, then made his mark immediately with a first-ball six as a signal of intent with the bat. That was the plan too, always is for Owen, who was modest post-match about his brilliant first-up performance. 'I'm firstly happy we got the win and it was nice to contribute,' he said. 'But yeah, it's great to join those class players. 'For me, I've been trying to play positive over the last six to eight months and today wasn't any different, going out there, trying to put the pressure back on the bowlers and I was lucky enough I got a few away early and was able to work into my innings.' Owen, noting the extra fielders out in the deep the only real difference between coming in as an opener and in the middle order, said his batting plans hardly changed. 'I still went out there and tried to hit six first then work my way down,' he said. 'The difference is five fielders out, but I tried to put that to the back of my mind and just swing hard.' Owen put on 80 runs off just 40 balls with Cameron Green, who also made a half-century, forming what could be an imposing long-term partnership between two players still in the infancy of their careers 'It was great to bat with Greeny, it was the first time I've experienced that,' he said 'He was great, kept me nice and calm and to my process. Hopefully, we can do it a lot more.' Owen's stunning turn in the Big Bash, scoring two hundreds including his whirlwind 108 off just 42 balls in the final in Hobart, resulted in contracts around the international T20 circuit. He started in South Africa in January, then got gigs in the Pakistan Super League and hit the big-time playing with a call-up to the Indian Premier League, albeit getting just a single game. Most recently, Owen has been blasting bowlers in Major League Cricket in the US where he was named player of the tournament after making 313 runs and taking 14 wickets in 12 games. His efforts landed him an Australian call-up ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, with a spot up the top, or in the middle as a slugging partner for Hurricanes teammate Tim David, all now live options. 'Any time you get a young kid who comes in and performs like that in his first game for Australia, it's always exciting,' Australian captain Mitch Marsh said after Owen's Sabina Park heroics. 'We're pumped for him. 'We want him to come in here and be as relaxed as possible. We understand he's going to be nervous playing for Australia but try and create a relaxed environment where he can hopefully keep doing that for us.'
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Mitch Owen stars on debut to lift Australia to T20 victory over West Indies
Mitch Owen has dazzled on his international debut with a power-hitting masterclass that helped rescue Australia on the way to a three-wicket victory over the West Indies in the first T20I at Sabina Park. With Australia using the five-match series in the Caribbean as an opportunity to test the next generation and build depth for the longer term, Owen took little time to show that he could be part of the future with a gamechanging half-century. Australia still had to call on the more experienced Ben Dwarshuis and Sean Abbott to guide them home at the death, as the tourists reached 190 to win with seven balls to spare. After West Indies made a blazing start before being restricted to 189-8, the target was soon looking much more ominous when Owen replaced Glenn Maxwell at the crease with Australia four down and needing another 112 runs. But in perhaps the first sign of a passing of the baton, Owen looked comfortable facing both the West Indies pacers and spinners, and clubbed six stunning sixes to reach 50 from 26 balls. The 23-year-old was caught on the boundary from the next ball after raising his bat, but by then Australia only needed 15 more runs and were back in control. Cameron Green was just as critical to rebuilding the Australia innings as he carried over his reasonable form from the Test series with 51 runs from 26 balls that included five sixes and two boundaries. West Indies were left to wonder what could have been after getting off to a flyer with half-centuries to captain Shai Hope and Roston Chase taking them to 159 for two in the 16th over. When Hope lofted a slower ball from debutant Owen to point when on 55, and with Chase already back in the pavilion, the hosts soon looked shaky after a target beyond 200 had seemed much more likely. The collapse that followed might not have been to the depths of the recent red-ball horror show, but losing six wickets for a scarily familiar 27 runs allowed Australia to chase an achievable target. This was the first of Australia's 16 T20 internationals over the next four months as they seek answers to their questionable form in the shortest format ahead of the T20 World Cup early next year. Greater depth, power-hitting options and flexibility within games are among the more obvious concerns as white-ball specialists and emerging players were handed an opportunity to impress at Sabina Park. Green and Josh Inglis were the only survivors from the 13 players used to claim a 3-0 Test series sweep, while the West Indies could take some early relief from Australia resting all of their formidable red-ball attack. Sign up to From the Pocket: AFL Weekly Jonathan Horn brings expert analysis on the week's biggest AFL stories after newsletter promotion With Dwarshuis and Abbott posing fewer problems with the new ball, Brandon King returned to the top of the order in place of the injured Evin Lewis and set out to ensure that the West Indies left the third Test humiliation behind them. King was one of seven batters to be dismissed for a duck in a fourth-innings total of 27 last week, but back in his preferred format the opener was soon on the front foot and clattered four boundaries from the first two overs of the game. When King stepped down the pitch once too often and was stumped for 18, Chase came to the crease and took little time to blast Australia's spinners out of the attack. The all-rounder made next to no impact with his own off-breaks in the three-Test series but looked like a different player with the bat as he smashed his fastest T20I half-century. Chase reached 60 from 32 balls with a pair of sixes and nine boundaries before becoming the first of Dwarshuis's four victims when picking out Maxwell just inside the rope at long-on. Hope moved through the gears to keep the run-rate above 10 an over as Shimron Hetmyer (38 from 19) lent valuable support, but when the skipper made way, the West Indies crumbled and Dwarshuis later claimed three lower-order wickets in an over as the hosts' dream of a hint of redemption was gradually lost.
