By Justin Chadwick
He’ll go down in history as a BBL grand final hero but Perth Scorchers batter Nick Hobson isn’t sure he can quit his day job just yet.
Hobson struck an unbeaten 18 off seven balls to help lift the Scorchers to a pulsating five-wicket victory over the Brisbane Heat in Saturday’s BBL decider at Optus Stadium.
Nick Hobson hits the winning runs for the of the Scorchers in BBL final at Optus Stadium, Perth, on Saturday.Credit:Paul Kane/Getty Images
The 28-year-old struck a six and a four off Michael Neser’s final over to seal the win, sending the 53,886-strong crowd into pandemonium.
Hobson’s feats were even more remarkable considering he’s not a full-time cricketer.
The left-hand batter is an accountant by trade and had to request leave from his workplace just to be able to play in this season’s BBL.
Hobson notched three one-day games for Western Australia in 2021 but is unsure whether Saturday’s heroics will lead to more opportunities with the state side.
“We’ll wait and see,” Hobson said.
“I’m just really enjoying my T20 cricket at the moment. That’s where my opportunities have come.
“I’m slightly different to other guys who have a state contract; I don’t.
“So with limited prep I just focus on my T20 stuff more. If the other stuff eventuates, great, but I’m focusing on the thing that I’m picked in at the moment.”
Hobson’s holiday leave is meant to be over, but his workplace already knows he won’t be coming in on Monday.
“I’ll come back the week after. I’ll let it all decompress,” he said.
Hobson might not have even got a game this season if it wasn’t for the Scorchers’ horrible run of luck on the personnel front.
Mitch Marsh (ankle), Laurie Evans (doping matter), Cameron Green (international duties/broken finger) and Phil Salt (shoulder) didn’t play at all during the tournament, with other key squad members missing significant time through injury.
Even though Hobson only faced 95 balls this season due to the strength of the batting line-up, just being part of the XI was invaluable for him.
“I’m stoked. To play every game this season and win a final – I couldn’t have dreamt of it, really,” he said.
“There was a lot talked about the changes to our squad pre-tournament, with Mitch [Marsh] going down with an ankle and the overseas players pulling out.
“I was probably the beneficiary of that.
“I felt like I had the full support of the coaches and captain the whole tournament, and it came off.”
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