BBL: Sydney Thunder hero Daniel Sams and his backyard cricket lessons

Daniel Sams stunned the BBL with his grit for Sydney Thunder this week. But the fighting spirit he showed is a direct result of something special from his childhood.

Daniel Sams celebrates after claiming the wicket of Sam Heazlett of the Heat.

Sydney Thunder’s Daniel Sams was so buzzed from his extraordinary performances for Sydney Thunder on Monday night he wasn’t able to sleep until 4.30am on Tuesday.

Daniel Sams woke fatigued, “not that sore’’ and delighted at being able to put on a show for his Thunder teammates who scored a four-wicket win over Brisbane Heat at Manuka Oval

“I always just want to do what is needed,’’ said the 28-year-old Randwick-Petersham cricketer who saved Thunder from defeat by smacking 65 runs from 25 balls - including four sixes in the penultimate over.

Daniel Sams saved the day for Sydney Thunder in the BBL match against Heat.

He combine with all-rounder Ben Cutting for a 69-run sixth-wicket stand after heading to the crease in the 11th over when Thunder was almost 100 runs short of the 179 run total set for victory.

“I was buzzing. I was pumped and didn't get to sleep last night,’’ said the left-arm seamer who has been workign hard to be recognised as an all-rounder.

“I think I finally got some sleep about 4.30am.’’

Daniel Sams and Chris Green celebrate the victory.

Sams said he went into the match just hoping he wouldn’t get a duck.

“My mentality for the first balls was to give myself the best change to make some runs and not hit the first ball out of the ground,’’ he said.

Sams said like many other cricketers, the lessons he learned in the backyard have shaped him as a player.

Daniel Sams during the match at Manuka Oval.

“I played soccer and golf as a kid but cricket from the age of four with three older brothers (Michael, Gerard and Anthony),’’ he said.

“There’s 16 years, 12 years and four years age difference.

“I used to just bowl to them. They didn’t give me any quarter.

“One hundred per cent it had an effect on my cricket.

“My brothers will love hearing this. All I did with them is part of the reason I am doing what I am doing now.’’

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Originally published as BBL: Sydney Thunder hero Daniel Sams and his backyard cricket lessons