‘Exceptional’ Melbourne Stars quick Brody Couch can be anything, says Clint McKay

Rising Geelong speedster Brody Couch has impressed in his first handful of BBL games, with a former Australian white-ball star declaring he has the potential to push for higher honours.

FORMER Australian white ball star Clint McKay has been stunned by Brody Couch’s ”exceptional” start to his BBL career, declaring the “world is his oyster”.

The Geelong quick was drafted into the Melbourne Stars squad as a replacement player on the eve of the season and has impressed from the outset, taking six wickets in four matches and bowling with an economy rate of 8.23 in the tricky later overs of the innings.

Brody Couch in full flight at the MCG. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

And celebrating the wicket of Sydney Thunder star Alex Hale. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Stars coach David Hussey mused after a win over the Sydney Thunder in the club’s third game of the campaign that Couch could be a future Australian prospect.

McKay, who is an assistant coach at the Stars, agreed there was no limit on where Couch’s bowling can take him.

The two first crossed paths in Premier Cricket, when McKay faced a young Couch while playing for Essendon.

“The world is his oyster at the moment, he has the potential to be whatever he wants to be,” McKay said.

“What we love, and you don’t see much around, is he is very good in the middle overs and in the back end, which is very hard to find in quick bowlers.

“He has the making to be an outstanding death bowler as well so if he continues his development, who knows where he will be in three, four, five years time.”

Brody Couch whirls into the crease. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

A skilful fast bowler who took 97 one-day wickets for Australia at 24.37 apiece, while playing one Test match and six T20 internationals, McKay said he was impressed by Couch’s speed and control.

But it was the ability of the 22-year-old to hit his spots under pressure in the first few games of his Big Bash career that stood out.

“You worry about a young player and how he will handle bowling to some of the best players in the world but the way he has kept his composure and delivered under pressure has been exceptional,” McKay said.

Clint McKay had an excellent one-day career.

“I’m absolutely thrilled with the progress he has been making but it has all been on him and the way he prepares and the conversations he has.

“And that showed when we had the likes of Andre Russell and Nathan Coulter-Nile come into the squad that (Couch) actually kept his spot over other bowlers. That is how happy and the high praise we have for him at the moment because he has actually been our form fast bowler.

“The way he has bowled has been great and he has gelled with the group amazingly well and he is just a great human being, we have loved what he is doing.”

Originally published as ‘Exceptional’ Melbourne Stars quick Brody Couch can be anything, says Clint McKay