Tanveer Sangha hoping for Sydney Thunder BBL return – T20 IPL 2024

Young Sydney Thunder legspinner Tanveer Sangha is racing the clock to play in the BBL this season and put his name forward for Test selection ahead of a busy international cricket schedule.

The 21-year-old has been sidelined with a stress fracture in his back but is hoping to return before the end of the Big Bash League season.

“It was definitely a big blow,” Sangha told reporters on Thursday. “I wasn’t expecting it at all.

“But I’m going to try and come back as quick as I can.”

Adam Zampa and Jason Sangha named BBL captains
Zampa gets creative in India Test tour bid
New candidates emerge as Australia search answers for who after Nathan Lyon?

The promising legspinner has already been involved in the national set-up, playing for Australia A against Sri Lanka A in June, and has been touted as a potential long-term replacement for Nathan Lyon when the legendary offspinner eventually retires.

With Australia set for a four-Test tour of spinners’ paradise India in February, Sangha would’ve been hoping for a big BBL season to impress selectors.

But he insists Test cricket is the least of his worries at the moment.

“I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself,” he said. “I’ve got a long career ahead so I just want to focus on my body right now so I can prevent it from happening in the future.”

Another potential bolter for inclusion in the Test squad is BBL cross-town rival Todd Murphy.

Despite having played just seven first-class matches, the 22-year-old Sydney Sixers offspinner has impressed for Victoria in his young Sheffield Shield career.

Sixers teammate and fellow spinner Steve O’Keefe backed Murphy for selection for the India tour but the youngster was a bit more circumspect.

“I would absolutely love to (play in India),” Murphy told AAP. “But that sort of stuff will take care of itself.

“I’m still only young in my first-class career so if that opportunity arose I’d be stoked but if it doesn’t it’s not going to worry me either.”

The Sixers are blessed with a formidable spin roster this season, with Murphy set to line up alongside veteran O’Keefe, exciting Afghan legspinner Izharulhaq Naveed and Lyon when he returns from Test duties.

Murphy says he can’t wait to have his mentor Lyon back in the squad.

“The week or two I had with him last year at the Sixers just to be able to compare things and just chat about spin bowling was awesome,” he said. “We stay in touch and he’s been really good to me and always said that if you need anything he’s willing to help out.”

Both Murphy and Sangha will be familiar with Indian conditions having spent 10 days on a coaching tour of Chennai in August.

Sangha says the experience has left him in good stead if he is given the opportunity to play cricket in India for Australia.

“If I do go over there, I know I have some sort of basic knowledge, a few tips and tricks I can use on slower wickets,” Sangha said.

Source: ESPN Crickinfo

Leave a Reply Cancel reply