Jason Sangha is quickly proving the ultimate Big Bash cheapie by pocketing a mere $40,000 with the Sydney Thunder this summer.
As the likes of Thunder teammates Joe Root, Jos Buttler and Shane Watson pull in north of $1 million a year, little-known Sangha already looks set to give the western Sydney franchise some serious bang for their buck.
Bargain: Jason Sangha adds to his tally during his unbeaten 63 off 36 balls on debut against the Melbourne Stars.Credit:AAP
The jury was out on how Sangha would adjust to the shortest form of the game, despite showing wonderful ability against the red ball, including his maiden Sheffield Shield century for the Blues last month.
But he looked a natural as he scored an unbeaten 63 off 36 balls on debut on Friday night against the Melbourne Stars.
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This season's cap for BBL franchises sits around $1.77 million, and Sangha's deal is understood to include the chance to activate bonuses.
Kerry O'Keeffe recently went as far as labelling Sangha the best technical talent since Ricky Ponting.
Rising star: Sangha bats for the Blues against the Redbacks in the Sheffield Shield at the SCG.Credit:AAP
Thunder teammate Daniel Sams, who got a front-row seat to the Sangha show at Manuka Oval – and was no slouch himself with a brilliant 34 off 20 – likened his mate to Indian master VVS Laxman.
"He's an unbelievable player who can access parts of the ground with power a lot of batters can't,'' Sams said.
"The way he can slice the ball with power is amazing. The way 'Jase' uses his hands and manipulates the field, he's like a subcontinent player, maybe even a Laxman. I don't usually give him a rap.''
Sangha laughed when he heard Sams' Laxman praise and said it was a case of his mate ''trying to stitch me up''.
But Sangha, who also tonked a century against England in a tour game 12 months ago, said he would not let the growing praise go to his head.
"You take the good with the bad, and there are a lot worse things that could be said about me,'' Sangha said.
"The best thing is the guys here are very good with that stuff and make sure my feet are on the ground.
"My parents also make sure I don't get too much of a big head, and my cousin Dale is always taking the mickey out of me.
"It's nice people say good things. At the end of day, I need to back it up with performances.''
Sangha will be no stranger to the Sydney Sixers on Monday night at Spotless Stadium, and happened to launch a six that sailed into the top tier during a scrimmage game against their rivals seven days ago.
He arrived at the crease with the Thunder 4-99 against the Melbourne Stars, and praised Joe Root, one of his idols, for keeping him calm in the early stages, as well as Sams for being the aggressor and taking further pressure off him later in the night.
Born in Randwick and growing up in Newcastle, Sangha, 19, played with Wallsend and singled out Brett Jackson and Matthew Wicks for developing his fantastic batting skills. He still laughs about the day he rolled up for his first-grade game as a 13-year-old dressed in his whites long before the start of play.
Christian covers rugby league for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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