Billy Stanlake is an Australian cricketer who plays limited overs international cricket for his country. He was born in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia, on November 4, 1994. He is a left-handed batsman with a right-arm medium bowling style. He is the second tallest cricketer to ever represent Australia in international cricket, standing at six foot and eight inches.
Career
Domestic Career
In his younger years, Stanlake used to play Australian rules football. In the year 2013, he turned to cricket and began playing for the Queensland Under-19 side. In three matches during that competition, he took fourteen wickets, including two five-wicket hauls. Stanlake was selected to Australia’s Under-19 World Cup team in 2012, but he was unable to compete due to a foot injury. After that, he was chosen for the 2014 Under-19 World Cup, where he had the highest bowling average and economy rate among Australian bowlers. With an economy rate of 3.34 runs per over, he took five wickets at an average of 19.40.In the 2015-16 season, he began his domestic career with the Queensland state cricket team. Stanlake was a key member of the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League before joining the Melbourne Stars. Stanlake, who stands 204 cm tall, has played 39 BBL games and taken 34 wickets so far.
IPL Career
The Royal Challengers Bangalore purchased the lanky pace bowler in the tenth edition of the Indian Premier League. He was selected by the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise to play in the IPL 2018, where he appeared in four games. He didn’t make the cut for the 2019 version, so he’ll have another opportunity in 2020.
International Career
On January 13, 2017, Stanlake made his ODI debut for Australia against Pakistan. He only bowled three overs in that match before leaving due to sickness. He has only featured in seven One-Day Internationals so far, taking seven wickets.
On February 17, 2017, Stanlake was given his first T20 International cap. He had a poor bowling effort against Sri Lanka, going wicketless and conceding 41 runs. Until the start of 2018, Stanlake had a poor T20 international record. His excellent performance in the 2017-18 Big Bash League secured him a place in Australia’s T20 tri-series against England and New Zealand in 2018. In four matches, he took seven wickets at an average of 18.43. In the 19 T20Is he’s played so far, Stanlake has 27 wickets.
Background
Billy is the second tallest Australian cricketer, after former cricketer ‘Phil Alley,’ who stands at 6’10”. Prior to cricket, he played ‘Australian rules football’ (Rugby) with his father, who was a founder of the ‘Footscray Football Club’ in the ‘Victorian Football League’ (VFL).