Big Bash League: Perth Scorchers’ Cooper Connolly poised to take over summer as breakout Twenty20 star

Cooper Connolly is poised to be the Perth Scorchers’ summer breakout star — if he hasn’t broken out already. The big-hitting whiz kid took the competition by storm when he blasted the Scorchers to a miracle final victory as a teenager. But he is now 21, ensconced in Perth’s best team and has started this season batting at No.3. He hit 64 off 51 to spearhead a first-up Scorchers win over arch rivals Melbourne Stars on Sunday night. Connolly’s first season in orange was a three-game whirlwind where he was tossed in for a debut to become the star of one of the greatest moments in club history weeks later. He was thrown around the order last season, but has now played 14 games and feels it is enough to be comfortable in the side. He has also played two Twenty20 internationals and two one-day internationals as national selectors I him off as their next project player. The knockabout teenager, who plays as if he has just washed up from Scarborough Beach, is Generation Big Bash. He grew up with the format taking over summer and is now ready to take it over himself. “I’ve played 14 games now, so I feel like I have had a little bit of experience and exposure, but I feel like I am just looking to get better,” Connolly said. “Hopefully it is a good season and consistent, but it is only the first game, we have still got nine games to go, so plenty of time.” A blazing six that flew over cover off New Zealand international Adam Milne was as good a sign as any Connolly is up to the rigours of batting in the top order. With Josh Inglis on international duty and Aaron Hardie battling a quad issue that is expected to keep him out until after Christmas, Connolly was elevated to No.3. Connolly batted at the top to start the Scorchers’ season last summer and made 25 runs from three matches, with 20 of those coming in a win over Melbourne Stars at the MCG. It’s where he feels he can add the most to Perth’s batting unit. “I found out two days before the game so I had plenty of time to prepare for it. Obviously had a bit of a chance at the top of the order last year and enjoyed it, I guess you get to face more balls, it’s more exciting,” Connolly said. “I’m happy that I got the opportunity and hopefully I can continue to make the most of it. “Long term I would like to be at the top of the order, but T20 cricket is now about being as versatile as possible, so happy to bat anywhere in the top seven, but just being versatile.” Coach Adam Voges said the mature innings is part of Connolly adding another string to his expanding bow. “He is still very young into his career at the moment and he is learning with each one of these experiences that he gets,” he said. “It was a great opportunity to bat at three this game, I spoke to him earlier in the week and he was really excited about the opportunity. “It’s great that he has been able to make the most of it and there was a maturity to the innings along with a bit of power as well. “It’s team balance, with a couple of the guys we have got out at the moment, but equally, I think we have said all along that Coop can bat anywhere in our top seven and we are really open to exploring all the different options and so is he. “He has just added another string to his bow. We know he can play that finishing role, so it’s great to see him play really well at three.” Hardie isn’t likely to travel with the Scorchers for Saturday’s clash with the Hurricanes and Monday’s meeting with the Renegades in Melbourne, but is in line to return for the club’s Boxing Day date with Brisbane Heat. “Hards is a great player, that’s not my decision unfortunately. I’m happy wherever, as long as I’m contributing to some good wins for the Scorchers,” Connolly said. Connolly is still wearing a brace from his hand after undergoing surgery to fix a broken fourth finger he suffered in an ODI against Pakistan in Perth last month. He had been in doubt for Sunday night’s season opener, but surgery fast-tracked his recovery and he was one of three players, alongside Ashton Agar and captain Ashton Turner, to be passed fit despite injury clouds. “The hand was all good, it felt nice, it’s five weeks post-surgery now so it’s all good and ready to roll,” Connolly said. “I had no issues with it. I did think I might have some issues with it, but over the past couple of weeks I have had plenty of training and it has been good.” That includes bowling, with his left-arm orthodox proving a game-breaking option for Turner. Connolly was called on just out of the powerplay on Sunday night and jagged the wicket of Stars opener Tom Rogers, who reverse-swept a ball to deep point. “It’s about being versatile and if I can bowl four overs, or two overs, it is going to be handy for the team’s structure,” he said. “I feel like my bowling has come along way and it’s feeling good.” “I think you got a glimpse. He is not going to stick around for a while. Hopefully he bats for 15 overs and scores a hundred off 30 balls, but I think he showed what he is capable of with that one ball and hit it for six. “He is going to be exciting and win us some games.” The Scorchers have a six-day break between matches, which will leave Hardie as the only player with an injury concern. They will also hope Inglis, who was not released from Test duties for Sunday night, could fly to Hobart days out from Melbourne’s Boxing Day Test. The Hurricanes will play their first match of the season against the Renegades on Thursday night before returning to Tasmania for Saturday afternoon’s clash.