Luke Feldman has been one of the rare bright points for the Sydney Sixers. Source: Getty Images
IN his own words Sydney Sixers bowler Luke Feldman was "picking splinters out of my arse", doing nothing but warming the bench in the first relaunched Big Bash.
Now the fast bowler from Brisbane, the Sixers' only Australian player not from NSW, has become the unlikely success story in a season of misery for the defending champions.
While high-profile imports for the Sixers and Sydney Thunder have been noticeable flops, Feldman has been the Sixers' shock weapon in guiding their attack through the middle overs, conceding just 6.27 runs per over while being the team's top wicket taker with five scalps.
He has had the chance only through the absence of Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
It is the same at the Thunder with master blaster Chris Gayle being outshone by unheralded 22-year-old Ryan Carters who also didn't play a game in the first Big Bash while signed with the Melbourne Renegades.
Carters, raised in Canberra before being scouted by Victoria, is Thunder's top run scorer at an average of more than 30, almost double the impact Gayle has had on the scoresheet with an average of 15.25.
As an opener for Victoria, Carters has been putting pressure on Thunder coach Shane Duff to be promoted to the top of the order at the expense of the underperforming Mark Cosgrove and Chris Rogers.
Feldman and Carters will go head to head in today's second Sydney derby at ANZ Stadium with the Sixers still a slight chance of making the finals. Feldman believes the Sixers remain confident of turning their season around, beginning today, because of the strong camaraderie in the group.
He said the support of teammates and captain Brad Haddin were major reasons for his breakthrough T20 season.
Both Feldman and Carters are hopeful their performances this season will earn them contracts in the next Big Bash League, but would gladly sacrifice their own performances for team success.
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