One of cricket’s rising stars opens up on why he chose to chase a baggy green over an NRL dream
He’s the latest addition to the Brisbane Heat’s ‘Bash Brothers’ — but this future star of Australian cricket was so nearly punishing defenders instead of bashing leather with willow.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Cricket’s newest six-hitting superstar Max Bryant might be able to smash a Kookabbura further than Chris Lynn.
But he could also kick a rugby league ball out of the Gabba.
Bryant is set to be unveiled by the Brisbane Heat this summer as the youngest triplet of the ‘Bash Brothers’, but after making Virat Kohli’s Indians chase leather at the SCG this week, the 19-year-old powerhouse has revealed how close he was to signing in the NRL.
MORE CRICKET NEWS
TRUSTED: Langer’s right-hand man in mix for high performance role
CRUEL: ‘Next Sachin’ crestfallen as worst fears confirmed
COMMENT: Aussies in no position to bring out the sledge
Cricket’s ranks are full of emerging talents like Alex Carey and Will Sutherland who were on the verge of playing Aussie rules, but Bryant is rugby league’s ‘what if’ story.
Contracted by the Gold Coast Titans the moment he turned 15, Bryant was rated by the club to be every bit as good as their current playmaking prodigy AJ Brimson at the same age.
Titans junior development boss Jamie McCormack once saw a 14-year-old Bryant blast a dropout 80 metres on the fly on its way to cantering over the dead-ball line and cannoning into a sideboard 110 metres away.
LISTEN: The first Test side, Alyssa Healy from our all-conquering women’s team and a deep dive into the supertalented India squad features on this week’s episode of Cricket Unfiltered.
However, the opportunities available for a kid with such freakish hand-eye coordination in cricket were so strong that in the end even the Titans were telling him to replace his studs with spikes.
“He’s got rugby league in his blood but we sat down with his family and we were all of the same opinion he should pursue his opportunity in cricket,” said McCormack, who likens Bryant’s natural ability to that of Queensland phenomenon Kalyn Ponga, who is also a scratch golfer.
“He was one of our better juniors coming through. Maxy had a great kicking game and was more of a runner of the ball. AJ was a scheming little halfback, and at the time they were probably on par.
“He had to make his decision at 16, and that’s a fairly big ask for a kid to have to make that call. He has a great network of family who supported him.”
MORE CRICKET NEWS
TOUGH TIMES: Langer calls on inspiration from Aussie legend
REDEMPTION: Handscomb firming for a Test recall
Bryant was a teammate of Brisbane Broncos giant Payne Haas and although he misses the physicality of rugby league, he isn’t looking back.
Rather than trying to kick a ball 100 metres, Bryant’s goal this summer was to face 100 balls in an innings for the first time in his life — something he achieved in club cricket a few weeks ago.
Now he has his sights on the Big Bash.
“I was pretty close to choosing league,” he said.
“It’s hard. If you get out early you sit in the sheds and don’t get a second chance. I still miss footy. The contact and the physical side of it.
“I think it was more about the opportunity in cricket. Training with the Queensland squad, with guys like Khawaja and all the Test players, I thought it’d just be a good opportunity and took it and it’s all come from there.”
Every Test, ODI & T20I live, ad-break free during play and in 4K. Only on Foxtel. SIGN UP NOW!