Big Bash League is the number one T20 league of Australia. Over the years, the league has produced many talented players. One of the rising stars of the tournament is Perth Scorchers’ 23-year-old right-arm leg-spin bowler Peter Hatzoglou. Peter is currently playing for the Scorchers in the 11th edition of the Big Bash League.
During the previous season, Peter was a member of the Melbourne Renegades. He performed exceptionally well, and former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne predicted that he would earn his maiden IPL contract in 2021. Hatzoglou has got what it takes to succeed in the shortest format of the game. He is yet to make his IPL debut, but the cricket universe should not be surprised if he shines in the IPL and at the international level soon.
Peter Hatzoglou recently caught up with Swagcricket.com in an exclusive interview where he spoke about many things related to his career and personal life.
Here are the excerpts from Interview with Peter Hatzoglou:
Q. Hey Peter Hatzoglou! How have you been doing? How was the year 2021 for you?
Peter Hatzoglou: Although challenging for many, 2021 was probably a life changing year for me. I completed my first season in the Big Bash and I signed with the Scorchers in my second season.
Q. You are playing for Perth Scorchers in the BBL and taking wickets regularly for the team. Share some details about your experience of playing in the BBL this year.
Peter Hatzoglou: I’m so fortunate to be playing at the Scorchers with a number of players that’ve played international cricket. Of everything that’s great with the Scorchers, bowling spin alongside Ashton Agar is the major highlight.
Q. You have played List-A and T20 cricket regularly. As a spin bowler, which is the toughest format for you and why?
Peter Hatzoglou: It’s difficult to say which format is tougher because they’re both so different. In T20 cricket I’m often trying to limit boundaries and force the run rate up but in one-day cricket the balance is more skewed towards forcing wickets rather than economic bowling.
Q. You played against Glenn Maxwell recently and rattled his stumps in the BBL. Tell us something about that.
Peter Hatzoglou: Glenn Maxwell is obviously such a well respected player and that was a very proud moment for me. I’ve always embraced bowling to guys like Maxi because I see it as an opportunity to test my skills against the best. I’ve taken a lot of confidence from that wicket.
Q. How was your experience of playing in The Marsh Cup for South Australia with the likes of Travis Head, Alex Carey and Callum Ferguson?
Peter Hatzoglou: I’ve been really fortunate to play with a lot of brilliant players but any opportunity to play with international cricketers is cherished. What I found most interesting is that each of those guys had different paths to international cricket. Where Travis and Ferg specialized in cricket from a really young age, Alex played Australian Rules Football and specialized in cricket later.
Q. You have played with some very experienced players in your career so far. Tell us the best advice you have received from a player.
Peter Hatzoglou: Some of the best advice I’ve received is to be brave. As a leg spinner it’s so important to continually use variations even though you might be unsure of your ability to execute them. If you’re brave, you’ll often find that your confidence and conviction will help you land variations much more consistently.
Q. Shane Warne heaped praise on you for your performance in BBL 2020/21 while you were with the Renegades. He even said you could earn an IPL contract soon. If given a chance to play in the IPL, which team would you like to play for?
Peter Hatzoglou: Hearing those words from Shane Warne was obviously another proud moment for me. I don’t get much spin on Australian wickets so playing in conditions that favor spin is something I’ve always wanted to do. Many people have compared me to Anil Kumble and I’ve spent a lot of time watching his highlights, so Punjab is a team I’ve been drawn towards.
Q. Who is your favorite cricketer outside Australia and why?
Peter Hatzoglou: I spoke about Anil Kumble earlier and he would have to be one of my all-time favourites. Our bowling styles are so similar and I’ve always loved his gentle demeanour and class on the field.
Q. What is your new year resolution for 2022?
Peter Hatzoglou: I don’t have a specific resolution but I’m still so young and my journey in cricket has only just begun. I want to remain open to learning and continue improving.
