How Owen, Webster inspire Tassie’s next big thing

Tasmania all-rounders Beau Webster and Mitch Owen have exploded onto the world stage, and youngster Aidan O’Connor is taking inspiration from them after taking another big step on Wednesday.

Aidan O'Connor bowling against NSW in his Tasmania debut at UTAS Stadium on Wednesday. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

The next big thing on Tasmania’s impressive all rounder production line will take inspiration from the success of Beau Webster and Mitch Owen after his promising Tigers debut.

Aidan O’Connor, still just 18, showed why he was given his first cap so early with 27 off 37 balls batting at no. 7 in Wednesday’s One Day Cup loss to NSW in his home town Launceston.

O’Connor had indicated he’s ready for the next step after featuring in Australia’s under-19 World Cup triumph, his selection in the Prime Minister’s XI and some dominant club performances for Greater Northern Raiders.

He took 0-53 off 8.3 overs with the ball as the Blues strolled to a comfortable seven wicket, bonus point win with 69 balls to spare.

O’Connor said he feels ready to step up to the elite level.

“You’ve got to always be ready for games like this, if you’re not there’s a problem I reckon,” he said.

“I felt like I was ready to go, and I’m glad they backed me in to do my thing.

“I got a call from Vaughany (Tigers coach Jeff Vaughan) Monday morning to say I was in the squad and found out later that day I was playing, it was very exciting.”

O’Connor has been motivated by the rise of Webster and Owen in recent months.

Webster’s two years of sustained excellence in state cricket has been rewarded with a Test debut, while Owen was the breakout star of the Hurricane’s maiden BBL title.

“You take a lot of inspiration from what Mitch has done. He was only in this spot a year ago, maybe two,” O’Connor said.

“The way he’s progressed, he’s definitely someone to look up to with how he goes about it.

Asked if their success makes his goals feel more attainable, O’Connor said: “A little bit, one hundred per cent. Beau is over 30 now and been around a long time, he’s learned his craft from the older boys and now he’s one of them.

“(For me) it will be about rebounding ideas off the older guys.”

O’Connor is known for his aggression with the bat, and showed the stage held no fears by stepping down the wicket and launching Moises Henriques over mid on around ten balls into his innings.

“They said all week to back yourself and do what you normally do,” he said.

“I’ve been working on those type of shots with Vaughany, and had some confidence around that.”

He added the lessons learned with the ball would be invaluable.

“I was doing OK. Just that one ball an over went for four or six which was a bit disappointing, but it’s definitely something to learn from,” he said.

“It’s a good first hitout, you don’t want to go too well or too bad, I’ll almost take that for a debut.

“If you miss by a little bit (at this level) you go to the boundary. It was very good learning today, and hopefully i can put it into practice in the back half of the year.”

Tasmania begins a Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria in Hobart on Saturday.