Big Bash League finals: Melbourne Stars banking on fiery paceman Haris Rauf to provide inspiration

He went from grade cricket to an international call-up all in the space of a few months. It’s no wonder Glenn Maxwell labels the rise of Haris Rauf as the story of this season’s Big Bash League.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 15: Haris Rauf of the Stars celebrates after taking the wicket of Cameron Green of the Scorchers during the Big Bash League match between the Perth Scorchers and the Melbourne Stars at Optus Stadium on January 15, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)

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Glenn Maxwell has described Melbourne Stars teammate Haris Rauf as an absolute superstar, and says the Pakistan bowler’s emergence is the story of the BBL season.

Rauf has enjoyed a sensational breakthrough campaign after being plucked from grade cricket in Tasmania at the start of the season when the Stars were searching for a stop-gap measure to cover injured spearhead Dale Steyn on a short-term basis.

The speedster has since become one of the best bowlers in the BBL, earning his international debut in Pakistan’s Twenty20 series against Bangladesh in Lahore last week.

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Haris Rauf has made the step up into the big time seamlessly.

Rauf has now returned to the Stars ahead of their BBL qualifier against the Sydney Sixers on Friday night, and Maxwell expects the 26-year-old to be available for the crucial clash at the MCG.

Rauf’s return is a welcome boost for Melbourne, who have lost three matches on the spin despite topping the table at the end of the regular season.

“There’s no limit to what he (Rauf) can do, he’s an absolute superstar,” Maxwell said.

“We probably didn’t quite get as much out of him as we could have.

“Because of the slight language barrier he can probably sometimes miss a few things, but he has still performed unbelievably well.

“He was an absolute entertainment machine and people love coming to watch that.

“The story of him coming from club cricket into Pakistan’s eyes was absolutely outstanding and probably the story of the BBL tournament.”

Haris Rauf got among the wickets for Pakistan recently.

Maxwell has also heaped praise on Stars teammate Marcus Stoinis, who has collected the golden cap after scoring 607 runs at a strike rate of 134.29 and an average of 60.70.

Stoinis, 30, hasn’t represented Australia since the World Cup last July, but is in contention for a return to the international fold.

“The sky is the limit if he (Stoinis) keeps going the way he is,” he said.

He’s dominating games single-handedly at the moment. If he can do that in red-ball cricket, he’ll be a hell of a proposition for the Australian Test side.”