Tara Murray
It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks for Footscray Cricket Club’s Dylan Brasher.
Brasher, who has a rookie contract with Victoria, was selected in a Victorian side to face the travelling Pakistan team, looking for more field time ahead of the second test against Australia.
He was then called up to be one of the substitutes for the Australian’s for the last three days of the test match.
Brasher said both were money can’t buy experiences.
“It is pretty awesome to be honest,” he said. “It was a little bit unexpected [the test call up], I got a call on Christmas Eve.
“They asked if I was available and they said they would love to have me, it was pretty awesome being there and experiencing it.”
Brasher in the end was only involved in the Australian set up for two days, with the Aussies wrapping up the match with a day to spare.
He was able to stick around when the side sung the team song having wrapped up the series, 2-0.
“I was hoping that someone came off for an over and I could have got out there,” he said. “They sent Cam Green out there before me.
“I ran drinks out a couple of times.”
Brasher said having the opportunity to learn and watch from some of the best players in the world had been incredible.
He said watching how they prepared and how they went about things would be things he brings back to his own game.
“Learning how they see different things and how they tick,” he said.
“I spent a bit of time with Cam Green and he isn’t that much older than me. It was good talking to him, as it all happened so quickly.
“Seeing what sort of stuff he has done to be at the level I want to be at.”
The Boxing Day experience came after a successful hit out against Pakistan. Brasher, coming in at number four, made 79 not out in his only hit.
“It was a cool experience,” he said. “Same sort of thing, I got there and didn’t know what to expect, with the match set up for them [Pakistan].
“Facing some of their A-grade bowlers and international bowlers was pretty cool. I batted with Marcus Harris and Pete Handscombe and I got to see what they do and a chance to try and mirror some of their behaviours as much as possible.
“I got to bat with Marcus for quite a few overs in the end. It was a money can’t buy experience.”
Now Brasher’s focus returns to Footscray and the Victorian Premier Cricket season.
He’s hoping to continue making runs and see what happens from there.
“There’s a lot of cricket left after Christmas,” he said. ”I’m just trying to do as well as I can for Footscray.
“There’s a few Victorian second XI games interstate. If an opportunity comes, I’ll keep playing the same way I have been.”
