Tim David, Australia’s Batsman, expressed that he had some conversations with his personal mentors about the next phase of career, just before leaving for the Caribbean before few weeks.
After playing 280 T20 matches just at the age of 29, it was a risk that he would be seen as a T20 finisher always, just like a cameo actor typecast in the same role, never given an opportunity to show his complete talent.
On Friday night, in Basseterre, the results of those discussions appeared. When Tim David was given chance to bat in power-play early in the innings, he’s only getting this chance for the third in his Australian T20I career. His previous two were just a short-term role in the rain affected games.
“I’ve spent a lot of time practicing my power-hitting, and to be honest, now I’m trying to focus on shot selection,” David said in the post-match presentation after his breath-taking knock. “Because that power game is always there, and it’s what I built my game around, it’s important to make the right decisions at the right time and obviously, if you bat for a length of balls without getting out, then you get a chance to make big scores.”
During the Australia Vs West Indies, third T20, David started the innings with a beautiful boundary, destroying all the fall beliefs regarding his batting style and techniques. While Australia was under great pressure at 65 for 3, he played carefully by taking five singles off his next six balls.
“A lot of the practice I’ve been doing recently over the past six months has helped a lot.” “It’s about shot selection and not actually trying to hit it too hard. And it felt tonight like I wasn’t trying to hit it too hard, and it probably ended up with some good percentage of being able to hit the ball over the ropes.” David shared in post-match press conference.
David successfully completed his century in just 37 balls, making 102 runs, also making the record of fastest century by an Australian. He made this century for Australia after 2021.
He admitted that making centuries for your country and team is like a dream coming true.
“I don’t play for records, but certainly I didn’t think I’d get the opportunity to score hundred and it is your childhood dream to score hundred for Australia,” David said. “That was definitely in the back of my mind, and the position I’ve been playing, I probably played a lot of T20 matches now and obviously I’ve never scored a hundred, so it was a little bit of foreign territory for me for a little bit.”
“But I’m just really thankful I had Mitch Owen out there who’s scored a couple recently, and my younger team-mate, but he’s certainly had the experience and helped me through.”
His recent performances including breath-taking innings, proved that he’s more than just a power hitter. His efforts and abilities could help Australia for preparing T20 World Cup.
