With just a few List A matches under his belt before he came in South Africa, Tanveer Sangha made an impressive four-wicket debut for Australia on Wednesday, catapulting the young leg-spinner into the Cricket World Cup selection mix.
In Australia’s inaugural Twenty20 encounter in Durban, the 21-year-old’s haul contributed to a 111-run victory against the Proteas as Mitchell Marsh made his captaincy debut with an unbeaten 92 from 49 balls.
As a 19-year-old prodigy in the 2020–21 Big Bash League, Sangha—the son of Indian immigrants—was being eagerly studied by Australia’s selectors. He claimed 21 wickets for Sydney Thunder.
Due to a back stress injury that caused his 2022–2023 season to be lost, he had to wait longer than anticipated to make his international debut for the T20 team for the New Zealand trip in 2021.
Finally getting his opportunity in Durban, he seized it with both hands.
Tanveer’s appearance was wonderful. He’s a tough young man, Marsh told the press. He had arrived by aircraft yesterday, but he didn’t start playing until this morning.
He was quite composed. It was the same as what we saw him do during the Big Bash tonight.
Therefore, it’s wonderful to see someone with his outlook and who isn’t maybe afraid to come out here.
He was undoubtedly anxious, but you couldn’t tell.
He bowled quite well, and everyone else made a contribution.
Aiden Markram, the South Africa captain, chopped a short, wide ball straight to Marcus Stoinis at backward point in the seventh over, giving Sangha his first ever international wicket.
next Dewald Brevis’s five-run dismissal for slogging to long-off two more overs later, wicketkeeper Tristan Stubbs was stumped for a duck on the next ball by Sangha.
After bowling Marco Jansen for 20, he ended with 4-31 and went off the field with his ecstatic team members patting him on the head.
Australian selectors named Sangha to their preliminary squad for the 50-over World Cup, which will begin in October. Sangha may find it difficult to beat off Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar for a spot in the final 15, but he may still be chosen if they decide to play a third spinner on India’s dry wickets.
In Mitchell Starc’s absence, left-arm fast bowler Spencer Johnson also had a successful Australian debut. He sealed the victory by quickly removing both the tail-ender Tabraiz Shamsi (0) and the opener Reeza Hendricks for 56.