‘His life just changed’: Aussie set for huge payday after BBL heroics

Mitch Owen single-handedly ended the Sydney Thunder’s hopes of winning the BBL final on Monday night and now he is set to land a huge payday.

Mitch Owen’s life has changed forever after the innings of his life propelled the Hurricanes to their first BBL title in Hobart on Monday night.

The powerful opener’s record-breaking knock of 108 from just 42 deliveries, with a whopping 11 sixes and six fours, had to be seen to be believed.

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And the incredible innings has sent shockwaves around the cricket world, with several IPL sides undoubtedly sitting up and taking notice of the rising T20 star.

Barely known before this BBL season, Owen’s performances in BBL14 have not just seen him slingshot into contention for an Australian call-up, but it is sure to see him field several big-money offers from international T20 tournaments.

Mitch Owen is sure to attract attention from lucrative T20 franchises (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Owen’s innings on Monday night was in the same league as some of the most incredible innings’ from the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Kevin Pietersen, Chris Gayle and more recently Jake Fraser-McGurk.

The 23-year-old reached his half-century off just 16 balls – the third-fastest 50 in BBL history and the quickest in a final.

By the end of the powerplay, his heroics helped the Hurricanes to 74 without loss, far and away the highest tally for the season by any team.

“The power and the execution of these shots, not many players can do this,” Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket. “Six after six after six. The crowd have gone wild.

“I tell you what the Australian selectors will have to be taking notice of Mitch Owen’s batting in this tournament. It’s as good a hitting as I’ve seen for a long time. He fields well, he can bowl.”

Owen’s 108 also not only helped his side to a comfortable BBL triumph but saw him finish the top run-scorer of the tournament, netting 452 runs in 11 matches at an average of 45.20 and with a remarkable strike rate of 203.60.

Following Owen’s unbelievable knock, Waugh said on Fox Cricket “his life’s just changed”.

And the Tasmanian can expect to be inundated with big-money contract offers from T20 franchises around the world.

The first franchise likely to make a move for Owen is a team from the lucrative IPL.

While he might feel unlucky the BBL season happened after the IPL 2025 auction, Owen will be the first cab off the rank for many teams if and when injury strikes.

Much like Fraser-McGurk last year, Owen can thrive in the IPL if given the opportunity, where the fields are small and pitches favour big hitters.

Fraser-McGurk was snapped up last year to replace South Africa seamer Lungi Ngidi, who withdrew due to a lower back injury.

The 22-year-old was signed initially to an $92,000 deal, but one year on he was handed a $1.65 million deal for the 2025 IPL season.

And with several withdrawals always the case ahead of the new IPL season, there is a good chance Owen could find his way into a side and land by far the biggest contract of his young career.

But Owen said he his immediate sights were set on “playing for Tassie”.

“I do feel like I’ve found who I want to be as a cricketer and the position I want to play as a cricketer,” Owen said after being named player of the match in the BBL final.

“I’ve got one-dayers and Sheffield Shield coming up for Tassie, so I’m getting ready for that and then I’ll try and fill my off-season up with whatever’s available.

“I’ll jump at any opportunity I get … filter out the comps and work out what I want to do.

Originally published as ‘His life just changed’: Aussie set for huge payday after BBL heroics