Emerging Star Mitchell Owen Signs With Washington In Major League Cricket

Underlining his demand in T20 franchise cricket, emerging Australian allrounder Mitchell Owen will add Major League Cricket to his growing list after signing with defending champions Washington Freedom.

The 23-year-old Owen will provide a boost for Freedom, whose title defence won’t include South Africa star quick Marco Jansen and dynamic Australia batter Travis Head due to Test commitments.

“Mitch Owen was selected because of his versatility. He can play in pressure situations, making an unbelievable hundred in the BBL final,” Freedom general manager Michael Klinger told me.

“He provides a style of batting that is quite similar to Travis Head, a right-handed version. We felt he’s a real good replacement. He’s at the start of a career that’s about to flourish.

“He could potentially be a long-term player for Washington Freedom. Someone we look to have a great relationship with going forward.”

Veteran left-arm quick Jason Behrendorff, who has played 12 ODIs and 17 T20Is for Australia, has also signed with Freedom.

“When we lost Jansen, we were looking for a new-ball type bowler to replace him. We felt that he’s (Behrendorff) a real good replacement,” Klinger said.

“He comes in fresh, not playing in the IPL. It is a bonus having a few international players in your squad coming in fresh.”

An expanded 34-game third edition of MLC will run from June 12-July 13.

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Owen burst into prominence during the recent Big Bash League season in Australia, where he finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer capped by an extraordinary 108 from 42 balls to win the player-of-the-final award in Hobart Hurricanes’ triumph.

Owen has subsequently played in T20 leagues in South Africa and Pakistan before signing with Punjab Kings as an injury replacement for compatriot Glenn Maxwell.

It is his first stint in the Indian Premier League, cricket’s richest T20 league which has resumed after a weeklong suspension in the wake of India-Pakistan cross-border tensions.

Before his rapid rise, Owen’s only experience on the overseas franchise circuit was playing in last year’s T10 tournament in the Cayman Islands.

The 6 foot 5 Owen is an intimidator at the crease with his long levers and brute strength able to clear the boundary with ease. He is also a dangerous seam bowler capable of hitting speeds over 80 mph and his towering height conjures awkward bounce.

Owen’s progress has been closely monitored by Australian great Ricky Ponting, the Freedom head coach. Ponting is also currently coaching Owen in the IPL and is Hurricanes’ head of strategy in the BBL.

“Ricky is a big fan. As head coach (of Freedom), he was keen to get him (Owen) involved,” Klinger said.

Owen is a player of considerable interest for Australia’s hierarchy ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. He could be in the mix for white-ball series against West Indies and South Africa in the aftermath of MLC.

The Freedom open the MLC season against San Francisco Unicorns at the Oakland Coliseum on June 12 in a rematch of last year’s final.

The iconic Coliseum, the former home of the NFL’s Raiders and MLB’s Athletics, will host nine matches from June 12-18 before the tournament shifts to Dallas and Broward County in Florida.