James Bazley: A success story in keeping faith

SAM DALLING: Brisbane Heat are benefitting from the impact of the allrounder, who has gone from the fringes to one of the team's most important players. But the route to the top was not always an easy one

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Two words are all it takes for an unbridled smile to spread across James Bazley’s face. He has plenty to grin about of late, having gone from Big Bash debutant to a key reason for Brisbane Heat’s revival, in a matter of weeks.

But it isn’t five wins in seven causing the allrounder - diligently clad in a franchise tracksuit, curtains drawn to prevent webcam glare - to melt as if a lover had unexpectedly entered his hotel room.  

Instead, it is the mention of Morne Morkel; a teammate and 86-Test veteran who shook off an ankle injury to feature in the win over Melbourne Renegades.

"It was awesome to see him go about his work," a goosy-eyed Bazley told The Cricketer. "His third ball went through to the keeper's chest-high off a length on a dead wicket. I was at third man thinking ‘oh sweet here we go’. Imagine him at The Gabba ten years ago?! 

"Even when he was doing his rehab he was still really vocal in team meetings and helpful to our young bowlers - me included - who are learning, trying to grow and get our heads around the next level. 

"He has been wonderful. I am hanging around him a lot and probably annoying him too much! He is lovely to all the young guys, so willing to help. I have picked his brain over coffee and dinner - I am a cricket snuff and so love hearing his stories about The Proteas. I am just hanging off his right hip. It’s awesome!"

In a world obsessed with instant gratification, 25-year-old Bazley is a beacon for patience, perseverance and old-fashioned graft. He had a Queensland contract a while back, a rookie deal coming after a stellar 2014 Under-19 World Cup but was released uncapped.

^{Success in the BBL comes after a humble cricketing upbringing}

He then featured for the Cricket Australia XI - alongside Marcus Harris and Mitchell Swepson - in the domestic one-day competition in 2015 and 2016, before a brief stint with Hobart Hurricanes in BBL 06. A troublesome groin injury cut that short and, while many might have stopped, Bazley ploughed on. 

"I really, really wanted it and really believed that I could do it," he explained. "I stayed patient and based my whole life around trying to get back in the system. I had to go away and learn what worked for me and who I was as a cricketer. I was 22 when I lost my contract and I felt like I was a young, immature cricketer. The last few years have really shaped me – my work ethic and my training habits – and helped me grow up a lot outside of cricket as well.

"I said to myself ‘have a good crack for two or three more years. It is ok if it doesn’t work out but at least you will know you had a proper go’. I was basically a full-time professional without getting paid. I knew it was only for a short period of my life so I wanted to give it my all while I still could."

His first move was to switch first Grade clubs, joining Redlands Tigers. In four seasons he has racked up 1,831 runs at 29.53 and taken 109 wickets at 30. He also showed willing as a net bowler for Queensland and last year grabbed 15 red-ball wickets at 18.27 for the State’s 2nd XI. Finally, the Heat called.

Benched for the opening trio of fixtures which all ended in defeat, he made an instant impact, helping the side secure back-to-back wins against the Hurricanes: an unbeaten 31 from 19 balls on debut was followed by 49 not days later. He has since retained his spot, bowling handy middle-order overs in recent weeks.

"There were some really tough times and times when I doubted myself, but I just kept going," Baxley, a devout Christian, admitted. "And along the way, I learned that cricket is what I do, but is not who I am as a person. That was an important lesson for me: if I get out for a duck it doesn’t mean I am a bad person or not a good enough person. 

"I found it hard to learn though. I always wanted to be in the nets - today and then again tomorrow - because I had to get better. But if you try and force it too much…well you need some balance in your life and for me, faith was a big part of that. It is the most important thing in my life. It has been able to slow me down at times and I’ve been able to separate my identity from cricket."

^{Bazley is now targeting the playoffs with Heat}

Bazley also has a strong network of friends and family providing support. His best mate is Marnus Labuschagne, the pair sharing both an agent Dean Kino, and a batting coach Neil D’Costa. They lived together as teenagers, and Bazley returned to live with the Test star and his wife Rebekah during the lockdown. 

"He had a gym set up in his house and I said ‘mate I want to keep training’.  He wanted a training partner and his wife Rebekah, who is amazing, agreed. She and my fiancé Jess have both been like ‘we want to support James because he wants to be a professional cricketer’. They’ve been wonderful for many years, but particularly during the lockdown."

With lockdown rules varying between states, BBL fixtures remain subject to last-minute switches. The Heat started in Canberra, moved to Brisbane for two weeks, headed up the Gold Coast for a fortnight, while over the next few days has to fly to Adelaide for a game sandwiched between two Melbourne fixtures.

"To be fair we’ve had a pretty good run of it so it is our turn to do the runaround," he admitted. "But I am just loving it. This is my first time, and it is the ‘Covid Big Bash’. Everyone keeps saying ‘it’s not even the Big Bash’ and I am like ‘hang on a minute, it is pretty cool’. I am learning lots and trying to soak it all up. It is great to play in front of big crowds and be part of the spectacle."

The Heat have only qualified for the Big Bash playoffs once since winning BBL 02 but are hopeful of making this year’s knock-out stages. Defending champions Sydney Sixers lead the way and with only the Renegades cut adrift at the bottom, the other six sides are enmeshed in a scramble to secure spots. 

"We are playing well and it is the right end of the season to have a bit of momentum," he added. "We have given ourselves the best chance to qualify and you know when you do anything can happen in the finals. That’s T20 cricket. For us, we have to just get ourselves in there and it can all happen pretty quick: you win three games and you are champions. One game at a time though."