Ben Oakley, who has been signed to the Strikers, on Adelaide Oval. Picture: Calum Robertson Source: News Limited
THE last time Ben Oakley played on a stage like this, Chris Gayle was in the middle of blasting the Prime Minister's XI for 146 off 89 balls.
"But it was 0/109 off about nine overs when I came on to bowl, so I just tried to contain him as best I could," Oakley shrugs.
"I got Dwayne Smith and finished up with 1/50-odd off nine overs, but when Gayle's in that sort of form, no bowler's going to be able to do too much about him.''
Oakley is the 31-year-old Wagga boy and Canberra grade cricket bolter who has stormed into contention for a Big Bash League call-up in the Adelaide Strikers' Twenty20 campaign.
More anonymous than a police line-up, the left-arm paceman has signed as a full member of coach Darren Berry's squad this summer after spending the past two years on the team's supplementary list.
ACT Cricket's Wests-University of Canberra captain was called on to replace injured Gary Putland two years ago - but quickly suffered his own side strain.
"Chuck (Berry) said to me that I might get a call soon. But then I went home and did my own injury on the Saturday, so I had to make an awkward phone call back," Oakley said.
"When I did that, I thought that was it. I was 29 then, and when you hit 30 as a fast bowler - especially when you haven't been in any programs - you think it's passed you by.
"But I've played well enough to get this opportunity and now take it as it comes."
Oakley, an IT guru leading the Department of Human Service's data protection, said he was eager to make the most of his chance.
"It's just good to be in this environment, to get an insight into what a professional cricketer's life is like," he said.
"I'm just going to take the experience for what it is. If I get a game, all well and good. If I don't, I'll still take something out of it."
Oakley joins fellow ACT Comets batsman Jono Dean on Berry's 2013/14 BBL list.
The pair's selection follows Berry's unearthing of former Manuka Oval and Adelaide Oval groundsman Nathan Lyon three years ago.
Oakley first caught the eye of Berry during a Futures League carnival two summers ago.
Early this season, during the Sydney-based Ryobi Cup one-day competition, Berry asked if the Redbacks could fly Oakley from Canberra to train with the squad.
Instead, Oakley immediately jumped in his car and made the three-hour drive to Sydney, trained, and drove home.
The Strikers begin their season on December 22, against the Hobart Hurricanes at Blundstone Arena. Their first home game is on New Year's Eve, against the Perth Scorchers.
STRIKERS' DREAM TEAM
Johan Botha (c) (Off-spin all-rounder)
Jono Dean (All-rounder)
Callum Ferguson (Right-hand batsman)
Alex Hales (Right-hand batsman)
Travis Head (Left-hand batsman)
Jon Holland (Left-arm orthodox bowler)
Phil Hughes (Left-hand batsman)
Michael Klinger (Right-hand batsman)
Trent Lawford (All-rounder)
Tim Ludeman (Wicketkeeper/right-hand batsman)
Andrew McDonald (All-rounder)
Michael Neser (All-rounder)
Ben Oakley (Left-arm medium bowler)
Gary Putland (Left-arm medium bowler)
Nathan Reardon (Left-hand batsman)
Kane Richardson (Right-arm fast bowler)
Shaun Tait (Right-arm fast bowler)
Adam Zampa (Leg-spin bowler)
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