Historic Hurricanes: Mitch Owen’s BBL final heroics immortalised at Tasmanian Museum

Cricket fans across Tasmania will soon have the chance to witness one of the most significant sporting artifacts in the state’s history. Here’s how.

Cricket fans across Tasmania will soon have the chance to witness one of the most significant sporting artifacts in the state’s history.

Hurricanes fans will remember exactly where they were the night opener Mitch Owen blasted a 108 from 42 balls to help Hobart chase down Sydney Thunders 182.

Owen has given his famous bat, which smashed 11 sixes into the Ninja Stadium crowd, along with his gloves from the same innings to the Tasmania Museum and Art Gallery.

The 23-year-old said it was pretty special to have something of his in the museum.

“The fact that it is the Tasmanian museum, it was the Hobart Hurricanes, our Tasmanian team and the fact I’m Tasmanian, the fact it just all tied in together,” Owen said.

“When I reflect back and look at the final it is something that I am really proud of and proud to be Tasmanian and proud to help win a tournament for Tassie.

“It all just ties into that Tasmanian piece and I think it will be very cool to see it in the Tassie museum.”

BBL Final hero Mitch Owen has donated his bat and gloves from the Hobart Hurricanes championship win. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

The Gray-Nicolls willow was just any old ordinary bat in Owen’s bag on January 27, little did he know he was just moments away from making history with it.

Owen said there was nothing particularly special about it or why he chose to bat with it.

“Not until that night,” Owen said.

“I get sent a few Gray-Nicolls bats and this one was just the one I picked up on the night.

“It could have been any of them but Gray-Nicolls don’t really miss, they’re all good.

“They are the best in the business and this was the lucky one on the night.”

Senior curator, cultural heritage at TMAG Isobel Andrewartha with Hobart Hurricanes Mitch Owen. Picture: Linda Higginson

Hobart claimed a seven wicket win with 35 balls to spare, finishing at 7-185.

Senior Curator for the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery Isobel Andrewartha said it is exciting for them to receive such a big piece of sporting history.

“There is something really important about collecting recreation,” Andrewartha said.

“We think of a museum we think of coins, we think of taxidermy animals.

“But when you collect what Tasmanians care about, what Tasmanians do in their free time, that really starts to speak to what it means to be Tasmanian.

“With the Hurricanes having their maiden win, it was the perfect time to start saying lets collect elite sports, lets start representing those Tasmanians who go on to really succeed and really excel in their chosen field.

“We’ve certainly got athlete equipment in the collection before now, but since I started we have really started to work towards sort of that contemporary content.

“We’ve got a lot of things from the 50s and 60s but now we are really trying to bring us bang up to date with modern stuff.

“So not only the Hurricanes but the JackJumpers and maybe when the Devils get on the field, some of their stuff to.”

Currently in the museum they have the JackJumpers inaugural captain Clint Steindl’s jersey from their first season and also the FIBA Intercontinental cup where the JackJumpers came third, winning the Bronze Medal.

Along with the bat and gloves being donated, Owen has also donated a signed Hurricanes replica helmet while Hurricanes’ Nathan Ellis has donated a signed match worn shirt from the BBL14 season.

The Hurricanes gear won’t be on display until later this year with a time of when the exhibit will be available to be view still to be determined.