Cricket fans and teammates are sending condolences to Joel Paris after he was cruelly denied the chance to be a part of the Perth Scorchers’ grand final-winning BBL team on Sunday night. The Scorchers beat the Sydney Sixers convincingly to claim their sixth BBL title, but Paris was the heartbreak story of the triumph.
The 33-year-old had been one of the Scorchers’ best bowlers this season until he suffered a groin injury in early January. The left-armer, who previously played two one-day internationals for Australia, had taken taken 11 wickets in seven games this tournament at an average of 16.72.
Joel Paris (L) was consoled by teammates after the Perth Scorchers won the BBL title. Image: Getty
On Saturday, Scorchers captain Ashton Turner revealed Paris was in contention to return for the final. But ultimately it proved a bridge too far and Paris was ruled out of Sunday’s decider.
On Sunday night after the Scorchers clinched the title, Paris could be seen receiving hugs from teammates in heartbreaking scenes. Turner admitted it was “hard to watch” as Paris tried to prove his fitness before the game but fell short.
“This is one of the really difficult parts of professional sport – he bowled Wednesday (but) pulled up sore. He tried to bowl on Friday and it was tough to watch,” Turner said.
“He was trying his heart out. I think he knew deep down that he wasn’t going to be able to perform at the standards he sets for himself. He was so limited. For him to still come into the conversation for selection, we nearly took him in on one leg.”
Josh Inglis wrapped his arms around Joel Paris after the BBL final.
(Cricket Australia via Getty Imag)Cricket world heartbroken for Joel Paris
Turner said a BBL title was one of the only pieces of silverware that Paris hadn’t won in his domestic career. “Speaking to him (on Friday), this is probably the one bit of silverware that he hasn’t got in his trophy cabinet,” the skipper said on Saturday.
“We saw the impact that he had for us in the first half of this campaign, and he gives us the left arm variety. He’s so versatile that he can take the new ball, he can bowl through the middle, he can bowl the surge and can bowl the death, and there’s not many bowlers that tick those boxes.”
On social media, fans’ thoughts were with Paris as they expressed their sympathies. He was one of a number of hard-luck stories for the Scorchers, with Ashton Agar, Lance Morris, Matt Kelly and Joel Curtis all missing out due to injury. Turner also revealed that Nick Hobson was close to being picked for the decider, but was ultimately left out as well.