This is the innings Max Bryant may look back on as the moment he announced himself as a bona fide star of Australian cricket.
Since his 2018 debut, the 25-year-old had been guilty of making promising starts with the bat, only to give his wicket away and risk wasting his slumbering talent.
But his latest Brisbane Heat heroics may be what thrusts his name onto the international radar.
Max Bryant celebrates his half-century for the Brisbane Heat.Credit: Getty Images
Bryant joined Matt Renshaw on Monday night, with his side struggling. The Sydney Thunder were in control, with Dan Christian and Tom Andrews suffocating their runs.
But with Renshaw rotating the strike while capitalising on the balls in his zone, Bryant entered a realm of his own en route to a clinical 72 off just 35 balls.
“Max batted beautifully, he was so good – I didn’t face a ball for about five overs because of how he was smacking them, and I was very happy with that.”
Matt Renshaw on Max Bryant
Needing 131 runs from 11.4 overs, the pair went a tear to keep their Big Bash campaign alive with a 108-run partnership in just 49 balls.
There was nothing brazen about Bryant’s strokeplay, instead resorting to traditional shots and brute force to heap pressure on his rivals – particularly Wes Agar, whose 1/61 was the equal-fourth most expensive figure in BBL history.
What was more pleasing was that it came after another defining knock – 77 not out against the Melbourne Stars – having produced other timely cameos of 35 and 36 not out this season.
Ageing Australia middle-order stars Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis will not be around forever, and this newfound consistency could be what reveals Bryant as the pugilist capable of inspiring the national set-up’s future.
Heat skipper Colin Munro told Channel 7 post-game he spoke with Bryant before the campaign, emphasising he was a “big-game player” who needed to believe that.
“He’s trained incredibly hard and found a position at No.5. Whether I’m captain or not, having conversations with the guys and trying to get the best out of them [is important],” Munro said.
“Max is such an incredible player, and I think he’s one of those guys you need a hand around him a couple of times and talk him up a little bit.
“I just don’t think he’s had the love the last couple of years because … he doubts himself. He’s in the form of his life.”
Matt Renshaw has transformed his game.Credit: AAP
While Bryant fell, Renshaw saw Brisbane home – unbeaten on 48 off 33 deliveries.
Just as Bryant was pinned as a top-order slogger, Renshaw appeared to have been pigeonholed as a long-format specialist after making 14 Test appearances.
But he has re-established himself as a dangerous middle-order batsman capable of both anchoring an innings and going full throttle from No.4, as demonstrated with his damaging 54 from just 27 balls against Adelaide.
His one-day average has also lifted to 41 for Queensland, throwing his name in the ring for Australia honours ahead of this year’s Champions Trophy.
“I think he’s always had that ability to hit the ball from ball one, but he just sort of held himself back a little bit and tried to get himself into the game,” Munro said.
“He’s just coming in with a free licence now. It’s a tricky position to bat, I think stats wise, it’s the hardest place to bat, but to have someone like him who can come in and play the spin and the seam really well bodes well for us.”
