Stars replace Steyn with English death bowling specialist

A 21-year-old Englishman likened to Australia’s white-ball ace AJ Tye has the daunting task of filling the giant shoes of Dale Steyn at the Melbourne Stars. WATCH the bowling prodigy’s best work.

Dale Steyn has enjoyed a successful cameo with the Stars. Picture: AAP/Dave Hunt

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Melbourne Stars have replaced Dale Steyn with a young Englishman they believe bowls in the same mould as Twenty20 superstar AJ Tye as they shoot towards a maiden Big Bash League championship.

Pat Brown, 21, has been with Stars since the start of the Big Bash season and, after spending three weeks learning tips off Steyn in the nets, he is set to be unleashed against Sydney Thunder at the MCG on Wednesday night.

“He’s an AJ Tye-type bowler (who) bowls really good at the death,” legspinner Adam Zampa said.

“I think he’ll enjoy the wicket here at the MCG, particularly the size of the ground.”

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Dale Steyn has enjoyed a successful cameo with the Stars. Picture: AAP/Dave Hunt

Brown was last month named in England’s ODI and T20 squads. Stars list boss Trent Woodhill scouted Brown in 2018 and would’ve signed the right-armer last season if he was fit.

Brown’s 4-21 and economical 0-15 in the finals of England’s 2018 T20 Blast competition speared Worcestshire to the title.

Brown will partner Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane as the club’s overseas imports with Pakistan sensation Haris Rauf in reserve in an embarrassment of riches for the green team.

Zampa and batsman Pete Handscomb jet to India with Australia’s ODI squad on Thursday and will miss five matches, starting with Friday’s return derby against Renegades.

But with captain Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Nathan Coulter-Nile all axed from Australia’s World Cup squad the 5-1 Stars have been spared their usual decimations as they sit on top of the ladder.

“I think we’ve done really well selection-wise to be honest,” Zampa said.

“I think we’ll be in a pretty strong position going into the finals.”

Zampa said Stoinis – the BBL’s leading run-scorer who is averaging 297 from his past six innings against the Gades at a strike-rate of 122.2 – was in career-best touch.

“He was on fire last year as well, but as the leading run-scorer I just think the way he can change the pace of his game as well,” Zampa said.

“Last year he really took his time up the top. He takes down the spinners when he can, but (on Saturday night) against (Richard) Gleeson he showed he can step it up a notch against the quicks in the power-play as well.”

Lamichhane wants Zampa to come hiking in Nepal with him – but not Mount Everest – with the legspinners bonding on and off the field.

Andrew Tye is one of the best T20 bowlers on the planet. Picture: AAP/Richard Wainwright

“He’s quite young and raw and he loves getting wickets and he’s really good at that, but sometimes the conversation has to be had about bowling a little bit more defensive,” Zampa said.

“He takes the boys out for some curries whenever there’s a Nepalese restaurant in town, too. He’s a bit of a character.”

Zampa – who took 2-19 against the Gades – is donating $200 to Wildlife Victoria and Wildlife Rescue, alongside Peter Siddle and Kane Richardson.

“Being proud vegans we thought we needed to be a voice for the animals,” Zampa said.

“There’s been half a billion wildlife death toll (in the bushfires) … it’s crazy numbers. There’s a lot of animals out there that need the help as well.”

Originally published as Stars replace Steyn with English death bowling specialist