Aussie cricket legend Ricky Ponting admitted he had a hand in helping shift Mitch Owen to opener for the 2024/25 BBL season with the 23-year-old shattering records in the Hurricanes’ title run. Owen finished the season in emphatic fashion having blasted the equal fastest century in the competitions history in just 39 balls to help the Hobart Hurricanes lift their maiden BBL trophy.

The knock has been described as tournaments greatest ever century with Owen launching 11 sixes around Bellerive Oval as the Hurricanes chased down the Sydney Thunder’s total of 182 in 14.1 overs. Owen is currently not signed for an IPL franchise having only catapulted himself to superstardom this season and the story behind his ascension is incredible.

This was because the 23-year-old had struggled to find a place in the Hurricanes’ batting line-up until Ponting and the coaching staff made a call. Before this season, Owen had only played 12 games across four seasons for the Hurricanes.

While undoubtedly a clean-hitter of the white-ball, Owen wasn’t finding joy down the order alongside some other big hitters. And Owen admitted his career-changing call happened “probably one day, to be honest” out from their tournament opener.

And Aussie cricket icon, also Hurricanes’ head of strategy, Ponting admitted he was “amongst that” decision to catapult Owen to the top of the order. With an opening role available, the Hurricanes’ staff and coach Jeff Vaughan felt Owen could take the opportunity considering he was introduced to the position during Tasmania’s one-day format.

Before this, Owen had never batted higher than No.5 in the order. Nine of his last 10 innings were at No.7 or 8. And this move has changed Owen’s career. The power-hitter finished as the leading run-scorer of the competition after his 108 runs in the BBL final.

Tim David praises Mitch Owen move to opener

Fellow power-hitter and Aussie star Tim David admitted Owen’s abilities may have not been recognised in the middle order for a number of years and the coaching staff’s gamble had paid off. “It’s a bit of a gamble; he was unheralded definitely at the start of the season,” David said after the game.

“But standing here at the end it looks like an absolute masterstroke, and it was because he’s been a player of the tournament and there’s a bright future for him.” The player himself admitted it had changed his fortune in cricket.

“I’ve loved it. There was an opportunity there for someone to put their hand up and take that position,” the 23-year-old said ahead of the BBL final. “It started in the white-ball competition, opening in the one-day stuff for Tasmania. My batting is very simple. I keep it quite simple.” The way Owen achieved this feat now has fans calling for IPL franchises to sign the relative newcomer, which would see his career earnings skyrocket.

Mitch Owen facing lucrative IPL contract

Owen admitted he does have one-eye on national T20 selection with his season proving he can perform on the big stage. However, Aussie great David Warner didn’t want to build Owen up just yet and claimed he will find it hard to get into the national side.

“No no. You’ve got the guys that are there at the moment,” he said. “You can earn your stripes, but he’s gonna keep churning him out … we can’t be just picking blokes and chopping and changing when the guys that are there have won World Cups and they’re doing as well as they are.”

Regardless, Owen could be facing a huge call-up for an IPL franchise if there is an injury to a big signing. The 23-year-old was not on the radar of any IPL franchise during the auction back in November. Hardly anyone in the cricket community had seen Owen open the batting.

But due to the Hurricanes’ coaching staff, Owen’s opportunity at the top of the order could change his career. The allrounder will now be on the radar for a number of IPL franchises with Ponting the newly appointed coach of the Punjab Kings.