Owen looking to bring T20 skills in to the ODI game with middle-order role in ODIs after called into Australia’s squad.
‘Not much will change’ – Owen plans to bring his T20 approach to ODI cricket.
As he gets ready to make his ODI debut for Australia later this month after an incredible debut T20I series in the Caribbean, Mitchell Owen believes he won’t alter anything about his batting strategy.
For the three home ODI matches against South Africa that will begin on August 19 in the northern Queensland towns of Cairns and Mackay, Owen, 23, was a striking addition to Australia’s new-look ODI squad. After a successful debut series against the West Indies, in which he scored 50, 36 not out, 2, and 37 while striking at an incredible 192.30 batting at No. 6, Owen is still in the squad for the ODI series, which comes after a three-match T20I series against the same opponents in Darwin and Cairns beginning next week.
Following the retirements of Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis after the Champions Trophy, Australia started building towards the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, and Owen was added to the ODI squad despite his BBL success opening the batting because of his power and poise in the middle and death overs in the Caribbean, as well as his ability to contribute with some medium pace.
Owen said his strategy won’t be different from what he demonstrated in the Caribbean, but he had not been given any indication of where he would bat in the ODI team if given the opportunity.
“If I am opening the batting or if I’m batting down the order, not much will change,” Owen said in Hobart on Monday. “Not much really changes in any form of my cricket. I just try and hit the ball and I feel like if I sort of think ‘defend’, I go into my shell a little bit and it just doesn’t work. So yeah, I’ll be keeping that same mindset.”
Despite his success at the top domestically, Owen is quite likely to get his ODI opportunity in the middle order. Australia loses finishing strength when Maxwell leaves, especially if Alex Carey and Marnus Labuschagne will continue to play in the middle. Mitchell Marsh, Australia’s acting ODI captain, and Cameron Green, who missed the Champions Trophy due to injury, will need to rearrange their top four.
After a few rare days in his own bed, Owen will join the team in Darwin on Wednesday. In the PSL, IPL, MLC, and his debut for his country, Owen has participated in 26 Twenty20 matches in five different nations since the beginning of April.