Bulletin’s Big Q&A with Australian cricketer Ben McDermott, son of Test legend Craig

HIS father is an Australian Test legend but as he prepares for a Gold Coast homecoming with the Hobart Hurricanes tonight, Ben McDermott is rapidly stepping out of Craig’s shadow.

HIS father is an Australian Test legend but Gold Coast-raised Ben McDermott is rapidly stepping out of Craig’s shadow.

Ahead of a Coast homecoming in Hobart’s Big Bash League battle with the Brisbane Heat tonight, the young master blaster opens up about his journey to cricket’s biggest stages.

Q. Let’s go from the beginning. Tell us a bit about your time growing up on the Coast.

A. I was born in Caboolture and then moved to the Coast when I was about seven or eight. I played at Runaway Bay and Broadbeach and then obviously the Gold Coast Dolphins when I got a bit older. We lived in Runaway Bay and there was lots of driveway cricket (with dad and brother Alister), not much backyard cricket. It was a bit of a flatter wicket for me, which helped me.

Ben McDermott (right) with Nick Stevens in 2009.

Q. How big an influence has Craig had on your career and do you still go to him for advice now?

A. Massive. I don’t think I would’ve played cricket if I wasn’t brought into it by Dad. You never really know (where you’d be without him) but he’s been a massive influence. There’s different things I might go to my dad for but generally for cricket stuff. Down here (in Tasmania) it’s a really good coaching group at the moment and a good senior group as well so there’s lots of heads to bounce off. But growing up, the majority (of advice came) from Dad.

Q. You made the move down to Tassie in 2015. You must feel like that has paid off?

A. Absolutely. I got released from Queensland so I didn’t have much of a choice to go anywhere but Tassie so I’m really happy they gave me the opportunity to come down. I took the opportunities they gave me and I’m very proud of that and keen to repay Tassie for that. I’m happy down here but (Queensland) is where family is as well so there’s always a soft spot there. Tassie gave me the opportunity when Queensland didn’t so I’m pretty happy to honour that commitment to Tassie.

Craig McDermott in action for Australia.

Q. Coming home for the T20 International at Metricon last month must have been special?

A. It was unbelievable actually. It was very special to play on the Gold Coast. I love it there (on the Coast), it’s probably my favourite city in the world so to play in front of family and friends that I grew up with, it was surreal. Hopefully (tonight) I can put a better performance on the board and the rain stays away, unlike the T20 International.

Q. You made your T20I debut in the three-match series against Pakistan in October. Do you feel like you belong now?

A. I definitely feel like I’m good enough to be there but it’s just a matter of getting that really good performance on the board at the moment. Batting at six I think is one of the hardest positions to bat in Twenty20 cricket. I didn’t nail it but in saying that you don’t really get too much opportunity to go out there and play the way you want to, or as much as I would’ve liked, at six. Batting at six, you’re pretty much coming in at the end every innings. (But) that’s just the way it is, you’ve got to come in and do the best you can with the role you’re given.

Ben McDermott playing for Australia against South Africa at Metricon Stadium last month. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Q. In your three games against Pakistan you were run out – bad luck or is it something to work on?

A. No, not at all. It’s a bit of bad luck. One was a no-look flick to one stump that hit the stump, which is fine. I’m happy to take that risk in Twenty20 cricket. The first one was just trying to get off strike and trying to get the other guy that was in off strike, and I’m also happy to take that risk. The third one was a mix-up and I got sent back when I thought there was a run there so I’m not too worried about it and not really thinking about it at all.

Q. Getting the call-up for those games must have been a special moment?

A. It sort of come around a little bit unexpected. I didn’t actually know there was a Twenty20 series on when there was so getting the call I was really surprised about it.

It was good to be involved and recognised for my Big Bash form and one-day form.

Definitely getting called up for Australia and receiving my cap in Dubai, that was probably up there (as a career highlight).

Ben McDermott playing for Hobart in the Big Bash League. Picture: AAP Image/Rob Blakers)

Q. Is following your dad into the Test cricket ranks another goal to tick off?

A. It’s always there but in saying that you want to do well in one-day cricket and Twenty20 cricket as well for Australia. It’s definitely a goal of mine but if you’re doing well for Australia you don’t get too much opportunity to play Shield cricket – I’ve come back from two Twenty20 series and played two Shield games. But it’s definitely a goal so hopefully I can take those opportunities in Shield cricket when they come and do well in Twenty20s and one-day cricket for Australia and hopefully that helps with selection as well. I do feel like (my short form game is ahead), definitely. I haven’t played too much Shield cricket – this year I’ve played two games and got 50 in one of the innings and a couple of starts so it wasn’t great. There’s definitely something to work on.

Q. You grew up playing with Billy Stanlake. Has it sunk in that you lined up for Australia together?

A. It’s pretty special to grow up with Billy and then play my first game for Australia with him as well. We played all our junior cricket together and then parted ways when I moved up to Brisbane and he stayed on the Gold Coast. It was good fun (playing as juniors) and you were always not chasing too many when you had Bill in your team so that was my best memory growing up. We’re very close so it’s good fun (playing against each other), we have a little bit of banter every now and then so it’s always a good contest. That was probably the most memorable thing (about my debut).

Junior teammate and now-Australian fast bowler Billy Stanlake. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Q. Billy wasn’t the only future star you played with as a junior though, was he?

A. I played a lot with (former Queensland batsman) Nick Stevens and Sam Hain. Sam’s going really well, he’s obviously moved over to England and earning a trade there and doing good things. He’s in the England Lions squad now so I couldn’t be happier for him. There’s a lot of guys there (that I played with) but Nick, Sam Hain and Billy were the main ones. There’s a few memories but I just remember playing a lot of cricket with Billy. All the guys at Tassie are really good to play with as well, I really enjoy playing with everyone.

Q. I’m guessing Billy would be up there as the toughest bowlers to face?

A. He’s definitely up there and Rashid Khan (from the Adelaide Strikers) as well I reckon. They’d be the hardest I’ve faced. I can’t really pick (Khan) very well. He’s a got a fast action and his variations are very subtle but still spin a lot. He’s probably the toughest. You do a lot of homework on him and look at different angles of his hand but ultimately the only angle you need to worry about is the front so I watch a lot of that and try to pick up subtle cues that he gives out. If I can’t I just sweep him.

Adelaide Striker spinner Rashid Khan. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Q. Are there any other cricketers who have had a big impact on your career?

There’s so many to name. Graeme Hick, who’s now the batting coach for Australia, was pretty influential and he’s based on the Gold Coast as well. And Stuart Law. (I met them) in an Australian under-21 (development) squad where 20 guys got together for a week’s training and that was the first sort of international recognition you got before getting prepared for an Under-19 World Cup. It was the best 20 players coming through and working with international coaches. And obviously Dad was probably the biggest influence on me growing up.

Q. What can we expect from the Hurricanes tonight and for the rest of the BBL campaign?

A. I’ve never played a Twenty20 on the Gold Coast for the ’Canes so I probably will cop a bit from the crowd (tonight) but that’s fine. I’m still going to cherish this just as much, it will be a special night hopefully. We just played two practice games against the Auckland Aces down here (in Tassie) and won both of them. So we’re feeling quietly confident and hopefully we can replicate that form from last year and have another good year. You’ve got a lot more time than you think in T20 cricket. It’s not all about hitting big sixes and fours, it’s about building an innings and having fun ultimately. That’s the best part about Twenty20 cricket, it’s just fun.