‘We can win from every position’ – Zak Evans

Strange as it is to say of a Super League Semi-Finalist, Australia are yet to truly hit their best form, especially with the bat. Against India and England, Australia were dismissed for 228 and 127, making just two half-centuries across both games, and while they made 370/8 and 135/3 against Papua New Guinea and Zimbabwe, little can be gleaned from performances against two teams who can only finish as high as 15th and 11th respectively.

But Zak Evans, 17-year-old fast bowler from Victoria, is backing his team to come good with the bat when it matters, and even if they don’t, thinks they have what it takes to succeed regardless. “We’ve definitely got the batting outfit to put big scores on the board,” he told Cricket Australia. “And even if we don’t, we can win from every position, we saw that against England.”

The game he is talking about has already found a place in cricket history, thanks to leg-spinner Lloyd Pope’s astonishing spell of 8/35 which helped Australia bowl England out for 96, securing victory by 31 runs. Evans says Pope – who’s innings drew lofty praise – is adjusting well to his new found fame, no matter what the man himself claims.

“Well believe it or not, he says he doesn’t like the attention, but everyone thinks he does,” joked Evans. “It was a pretty special performance by him. It was pretty special watching it on the field and being a part of it.”

Evans’ own tournament has however been less than special so far – he has taken just one wicket across two games against PNG and England, although on both occasions someone else on his team claimed figures which were, at the time, the best by a bowler in the ICC U19 CWC, Jason Ralston having claimed 7/15 against PNG before Pope’s stunning spell.

But he is unfazed by that, hoping instead to just put in consistent performances, and take what he can from the experience. “I guess [my aim is] just to be a consistent performer,” he said. “Do my bit for the team, stay economical and taking a few scalps here and there, taking early wickets.

“I’ve been working real hard with him [Ryan Harris, former Australia fast bowler and Australia U19s head coach]. There are a few things I am trying to work into my game now and I’m just trying to work off and bounce off him as much as I possibly can.”

Despite the magnitude of the fixture which awaits them – Australia will face Afghanistan in the Super League Semi-Final following the latter’s demolition of New Zealand – Evans says the camp is relaxed, with their incredible comeback over England the catalyst.

“It’s pretty calm surprisingly,” he said. “There’s belief now in ourselves that we can win from any position, which is really good, and going forward it’s going to help us.

“We’ve got a really good group of boys as our fast bowling unit. We’re really tight. And we can always work off and bounce off each other, so it’s really good. I think it’s most important for us to stay in the present and focus on going forward and looking at possible opposition and possible outcomes.”