How Did Zanden Jeh, Inspired by Ravindra Jadeja, Earn His Maiden Australia ‘A’ Call-Up?

Brisbane, July 3 (NationPress) – With renowned all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja serving as his initial bowling influence, left-arm spinner Zanden Jeh has been selected for his first Australia ‘A’ team call-up for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, the land of his heritage.

At just 21 years old, Jeh will be competing in Darwin as Australia 'A' engages in three 50-over matches and two four-day games against the Sri Lanka A squad. He also mentioned Rangana Herath, the legendary spinner from Sri Lanka, alongside current bowlers Mitchell Santner and Matt Kuhnemann, as further sources of inspiration.

“Jadeja was a significant figure during my formative years; it was fantastic to watch them perform. I also admired Mike Hussey for his batting prowess. In terms of bowling, I looked up to Rangana Herath, Mitch Santner, and Australia’s own Matt Kuhnemann,” Jeh remarked.

“I've had the privilege of playing against Kuhnemann and observing his approach. It's truly remarkable, and I strive to learn as much as possible,” Jeh stated in a release from Cricket Australia (CA).

Interestingly, despite being right-handed in most aspects of life, Jeh plays cricket left-handed. “As a child, I was right-handed in everything... The only activities I perform left-handed are batting and bowling,” he shared.

When he received the news about his selection for the Australia ‘A’ team, it came with a twist of fate as he initially missed the call from the selectors. He had to return the call to learn about his selection and then share the exciting news with his father, Michael.

“I was at school teaching when I got the call. I missed it initially and had to call Tony Dodemaide (National Selector) back after hearing his voicemail to get the news,” he explained.

“The first person I told was actually my Dad. I called him right away; he was in Hobart at work. It was a wonderful moment to share with him—unexpected yet exciting, and I'm ready to dive in,” he added.

Michael, originally from Sri Lanka, played first-class cricket in England before moving to Australia. Jeh attributes a significant part of his passion for cricket to his father. “Dad was instrumental in nurturing my love for cricket, from playing as children in our hallway to having extensive family support who are all cricket enthusiasts,” he noted.

Reflecting on how he managed to dismiss Glenn Maxwell during a match at Junction Oval, an enthusiastic Jeh stated, “Maxwell's credentials speak volumes. The opportunity to compete against someone of his caliber in second-level cricket was fantastic.”

“I think everyone, especially myself, was thrilled to have that chance. It felt more like luck than anything else that he was caught at deep square. There are no images on the scorecard, but it’s nice to have that achievement in my pocket—he is an exceptional player,” he concluded.