Nivethan Radhakrishnan, an ambidextrous bowler, showcased his exceptional skills during a domestic one-day match on Sunday, remaining relatively under the radar despite his rare talent. Playing at Adelaide Oval, he was part of a game in which Tasmania faced South Australia. Alongside him, Mackenzie Harvey of South Australia scored an impressive 129 runs from 118 balls, while Mitch Owen, who played a pivotal role in the recent BBL final, also made a century, bringing his team to victory by chasing down South Australia’s total of 329 with six balls to spare.
Despite losing that match, South Australia secured its spot in the tournament final against Victoria, scheduled for March 1 at Adelaide Oval. Radhakrishnan made his debut in this top domestic 50-over tournament, ending with figures of 2-61 off ten overs. He claimed his first wicket by bowling out Daniel Drew for 63 with a left-arm delivery that shattered the stumps, and later dismissed Ben Manenti for 2 with another left-arm ball.
Originally from India, Radhakrishnan moved to Sydney in 2013, gradually establishing himself with multiple clubs before joining Cricket Tasmania four years ago. He has since played four first-class matches for Tasmania and was part of the Cricket Australia XI that faced the England Lions earlier this year. Notably, he also served as a net bowler for the Delhi Capitals during Ricky Ponting’s tenure as coach.
In the 2022 Under-19 World Cup, Radhakrishnan was instrumental in Australia’s victory over Afghanistan in the third-place play-off, taking 3-31 and scoring 66 runs. In the recent match, Harvey’s aggressive innings included 14 fours and four sixes. Owen, who has been making waves in the cricket scene, achieved his second List A century, finishing the game with a remarkable 149 runs off just 69 balls, including 14 fours and 10 sixes, reaching his century in a swift 48 deliveries.
The combination of talent on display, particularly Radhakrishnan’s unique bowling style and Owen’s explosive batting, has captured the attention of cricket enthusiasts and highlights the growing abilities within Australian domestic cricket.