After impressing with the bat in his debut T20I series against the West Indies, Mitchell Owen is now gearing up for his maiden ODI series. While he’s expected to slot into the middle order, the Tasmanian all-rounder is unfazed, ready to embrace the demands of 50-over cricket with the same aggressive mindset.
Owen earned his first ODI call-up for the upcoming home series against South Africa, starting August 19, following a standout T20I debut where he scored 50, an unbeaten 36, 2, and 37 at a remarkable strike rate of 192.30, primarily batting at No. 6. With Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis stepping away from ODIs, Owen is likely to play a crucial middle-order role.
“Whether I’m opening or batting lower down, my approach doesn’t really change,” Owen said in Hobart on Monday. “I just try to hit the ball. If I think too defensively, I go into my shell and that doesn’t work for me. So I’ll stick with the same mindset.”
At just 23, Owen has only 17 List A games under his belt. Initially batting at No. 7 for Tasmania, he was moved to the top of the order during last summer’s Dean Jones Trophy, partly to prepare for a similar role in the Big Bash League.
Though he has found success as an opener, Owen’s strong performances in the middle order highlight his adaptability and suggest he’s ready to take on whatever role the team requires.
For More Sports Related News: Follow RevSportz