Billy Stanlake wants to help Australia pip Pakistan in T20I series

Stanlake feels his consistent bowling will help him make an impact in the match.

In India, Billy Stanlake will be remembered for his exploits in the Indian Premier League this year where he claimed five wickets in four games for Sunrisers Hyderabad before a finger injury in April ruled him out of the tournament.

The 23-year-old lanky Australian pacer now can’t wait to make an impact in UAE when Australia will face Pakistan in three T20Is later this month.

Since the beginning of September, Stanlake has had a lot of game time under his belt. He played club cricket in Brisbane as well as three 50-over warm-up games and six JLT One-Day Cup games for the Bulls. He was also part of the Australia A team that toured India for three one-dayers where he picked two wickets in three games.

With the first T20I against Pakistan in Dubai beginning on October 24, Stanlake feels his consistent bowling will help him make an impact in the match. “It’s been a very good winter and start of the summer now,” Stanlake told cricket.com.au on Sunday.

“It’s probably the most cricket I’ve ever played. That’s been the biggest thing for me, actually getting that continuity for once, and I’ve found the more I’ve played the easier it’s getting. I feel like my consistency is getting better the more I play. Hopefully, I can continue that and the body keeps good.”

The last time Australia faced Pakistan in a T20 was during the triangular series final in July at Harare. Pakistan won that match by six wickets and were crowned No. 1 ranked T20 side.

“It would be nice to pip them this time,” Stanlake said.

“Obviously, they’re the number one ranked team and we’re striving to get to that point. Three big T20s and I think we’ve got a really strong squad and hopefully we can pip them.”