Australian cricketer Alex Ross, renowned for his hard-hitting prowess in the middle order, has swiftly transitioned from the Big Bash League to the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Having shared the field with cricket giants David Warner and Alex Hales on January 14, Ross found himself in Bangladesh for the first time, embracing the demands of franchise cricket and adapting to new conditions while integrating with his Durdanto Dhaka teammates.
Expressing his enthusiasm about joining the BPL, Ross remarked:
It all happened really quickly for me, but I’m genuinely excited to be a part of it. I’ve watched it a bit on TV, and the boys played really well the other night, so I’m eager to contribute to the team now.
The BPL pitches, known for their tricky nature due to weather conditions, present a challenge for Ross. Drawing parallels, he highlighted the challenging batting conditions in Australia during a recent Big Bash League game.
We’ve had some poor wickets for batting in the Big Bash this year. We gained a bit of experience with the ball spinning and at a slower pace. It’s not as different as it appears on TV sometimes,
he explained.
While notable Australian players like Warner, Steve Smith, and Shane Watson have previously participated in the BPL, the influx of top-tier Australian cricketers into Bangladesh’s franchise cricket remains limited. Ross sheds light on the reasons behind this trend, stating:
The guys play state cricket for New South Wales and Victoria, and they aren’t allowed to travel as much due to commitments in four-day or one-day cricket outside of the Big Bash League. They won’t receive NOCs, so if I had played state cricket, I would stick to Big Bash cricket.
In the same league, fellow Australian cricketer Ben Cutting is representing the Sylhet Strikers. When asked if Ross had received any advice from Cutting, he humorously responded,
No tips on cricket yet. He mentioned a couple of nice restaurants here and enjoyed a good steak at the Crowne Plaza last night. Perhaps he’s saving the cricket tips for later; who knows?
