BBL: ‘He needs to play’: How backing Owen has paid off for Hurricanes

After another season without finals last campaign, Tasmania’s high performance boss used Mitch Owen as an example of the Hurricane’s need to back local talent. She’s been proven right, and then some.

Mitch Owen has been in outstanding form at the top of the order for the Hurricanes. (Photo by Linda Higginson/Getty Images)

After another failed BBL campaign last season, Tasmania’s frustrated high performance boss Salliann Beams almost anointed Mitch Owen as a poster boy for the Hurricanes’ need to back local talent.

After not only earning a regular place but being thrust into the opening spot, Owen has justified those words and then some after becoming one of the finds of the season.

The injury-affected Hurricanes suffered a major injury blow with fast bowler Billy Stanlake’s season over after leaving the field with a shoulder concern in Tuesday’s home win over Melbourne Renegades.

It put the Hurricanes top of the table before Thursday’s road trip to Brisbane, where they’ll continue their quest for a top two finish and two bites at the cherry in finals.

Owen’s form, including a superb century against Perth, allowed Matt Wade to bat at six against the Renegades, where he scored 36 off 23 balls in the last-over win.

Facing the media a year ago after a second season without finals, Beams couldn’t hide her disappointment and declared the Hurricanes would give local stars more responsibility over imports.

“Mitch Owen’s probably the main one, because he’s been in our program at least two years now and only played about seven games,” she said.

“We know what he’s capable of, it’s again about being brave and putting him in a position where he’s not coming in with eight balls left, and he has to win a game by scoring 30 runs. We’ve got to give him an opportunity to find his way in this competition. That’s going to be a difficult one for us, he needs to play.

“Is it he needs to play for us because he’s ready, or is it playing for someone else where he comes back and he’s even better?

“We’ve got to learn a little bit from the Tigers program. We’ve engineered big change in there to give opportunity to what we think are our core group of players.

“We’ve backed them, and they’ve surprised us. We can take that messaging and strategy into the Hurricanes, and give them the opportunity to do what we think they can.”

Mitch Owen and Nathan Ellis of the Hurricanes celebrate a wicket against the Renegades. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Thankfully for the Hurricanes, they’ve managed to keep Owen in their ranks.

He’s also proven himself as a superb outfielder, and even took 1-13 off two overs after Stanlake could manage just one over.

Owen has also opened the batting for Tasmania in one day cricket, and Wade said his dynamic starts have been crucial.

“Mitch has had a terrific year. Having high impact in the powerplay is really important given it’s only four overs,” Wade said.

“He’s developed quickly opening the batting for the Tigers in one day cricket and getting experience there, and managing to follow it into BBL.

“He’s been really important, just the impact he’s having early on in games and swinging momentum in our favour early.”

It remains to be seen whether Wade will open with Owen once McDermott (hamstring) is back to provide more experience in the middle order.

Wade said he and England international Chris Jordan (back spasms) are both “a chance” to return against the Heat.

But the news wasn’t as good for the luckless Stanlake, who has endured a series of serious injuries.

The Hurricanes confirmed he fractured the scapula in his right shoulder taking a catch against the Renegades.

“We’re calling on everyone, we’ve got all hands on deck at the moment,” Wade said.

“You have to develop teams to get players in the right positions, to get some momentum and continuity like we’ve got at the moment.

“The road for the team over the last couple of years, to go through those hard times and understanding what it feels like to be on the other end is really important once we get into those scenarios now.

“It comes down to experience and getting the right players together.”

DAVID NOT FEELING PRESSURE BEFORE FINALS TILT

Hobart Hurricanes batsman Tim David says his side isn’t feeling any extra pressure as it closes in on a BBL home final.

After winning five games on the trot, the Hurricanes will move closer to securing a final at Ninja Stadium if they are to overcome the Melbourne Renegades on Tuesday night.

As the franchise chases its first title in competition history, the talk surrounding the Hurricanes as one of the favourites to go all the way continues to grow.

“The expectation is far greater than ourselves than anything from outside,” David said.

“We’re not particularly bothered by that stuff because we know if we do our best each game, we can look ourselves in the mirror.

“We’ve always enjoyed our time together as the Hurricanes, we’re all really close mates.

“Our biggest expectations is from ourselves and it always has been.”

Since losing to the Renegades, in what David described as a “trainwreck” tournament opener, the Hurricanes have become one of the BBL’s dominant forces with bat and ball.

Given they’ve had a consistent squad in recent seasons, there will be no looking too far ahead according to David.

“I think it comes from experience and hunger,” he said.

“Our whole team has played a lot of cricket now. We don’t run away with our thoughts.

“We’re pretty level headed and I think that’s a huge strength for our squad.”

David will enter Tuesday’s game on the back consecutive unbeaten half-centuries.

And said he is still determined to represent his country.

A T20 journeyman across the globe, David was part of the squad who took on Pakistan in November.

While he last played a one-day international in 2023.

“Every time I play I want to put my best foot forward, I want to put in big performances.

“I’ve been very fortunate to be playing for Australia over the last couple of years and it’s something I love doing.

“Hopefully I can keep being part of that. It’s something I never take for granted.

“But I think the bring something to do the team when I do play.”