Tim David was batting during a practice match for the Mumbai Indians under the watchful eye of coach Mahela Jayawardene when he was offered a tempting opportunity.
In his typically destructive way, he had taken the Spinner and hit the first five balls of the Over for six
One delivery stayed and there was no doubt in David’s mind; after all, six sixes in an Over is a rare feat.
He was back in strike, but the sixth time he was unlucky and he was out, caught and tried to cross the line.
This led to a rare disagreement between the bat and the coach.
“I knew he was going to come out because I knew the Spinner was smart,” said Jayawardene, who also coached David at Southern Brave in the Hundred. “He wanted to throw something wild and he came out.
“I mean, I get it, nobody’s done the six six times, but I said we need a smarter guy to be there and come back the next three Overs and do the damage.
“We only had a little action. I tried to make him understand how valuable the wicket is at this stage. But it was a practice game, so it wasn’t that bad.”
“He wasn’t happy,” David laughs. “He’s like, what an foolish you are! You hit five sixes and you GOT CAUGHT!
“I said, ‘Come on, coach, every time I get to five sixes, I’m going to the sixth.”Then we have such a joke.
“But I think it’s also important to realize that you have to respect your opinion, and he has gained so much experience during his playing and coaching career, so it’s good that you can joke, but there are also times when you have to take yourself seriously and do the work to make it happen.
“So I was lucky that it turned out well and that I liked it. I hope it stays that way.”
Some may deny that luck has taken David all the way to the Australian team for the T20 World Championship, despite him not having a state contract or a single first-class appearance to his name.
The selection of the 26-year-old was limited to an exceptional period of two years. A crucial season for the Hobart Hurricanes during the 2020-21 season resulted in a series of contracts with franchises around the world.
A sensational Pakistani Super League tournament this year with Multan Sultans was followed by an IPL auction where he was bought by Mumbai for 1.5 million Australian dollars, confirming David’s status as one of the most sought-after finishers in the world.
“I think I had the opportunity to find out where I really wanted to go with my white ball stick,” David told Sporting News Australia. “So I saw it as an opportunity and I worked really hard on my skills, maybe through recent times and figured out what I could try, then I think I only had a few options to play, which was great.
“And then I think I performed well and it was nice to keep that momentum going, so it gave me a lot of confidence to compete in all these tournaments and try to keep the same intention, but I also think maybe a perspective in which I try to always be positive.
