James Bazley, a cheerful and a keen learner, but apart from that he is a fast-bowling all-rounder who has taken amazing leaps of late. His success has been directly proportional to Brisbane Heat’s success in BBL|10. 

Bazley contributed highly during the Heat’s late surge in 2020-21, where they won five games in seven outings. Those were just some wins, those wins showcased that Bazley is a big match-player, not a mediocre cricketer. 

Standing tall at 200cm, the all-rounder is a pedigree of the Redlands. During the 2014 U-19 World Cup, he played all six matches for Australia, taking nine wickets and had a decent average of 25 with the bat. 

Those performances at the pinnacle tournament helped Bazley earn a rookie contract with Queensland Bulls for 2014-15. He was released uncapped by the state but got a taste of international cricket that summer, representing a Cricket Australia XI in a T20 practice match against South Africa and West Indies in a tour match.

Getting released by Queensland wasn’t the worst thing that happened to a 22-year old Bazley, as the youngster got hit by a groin injury. While many might have stopped, Bazley ploughed on. He worked on himself, his lifestyle and his training style; only to make a major comeback. 

The all-rounder played grade cricket for his first club, the Redlands and also showed a willingness to be a net bowler for Queensland. These struggles translated, and translated good for Bazley, as he contracted by Brisbane Heat ahead of BBL|10. 

Benched for the opening trio of fixtures which all ended in defeat, Bazley made an instant impact when he helped the Heat get back on winning ways, during his maiden Big Bash stint. At the Brisbane-based club, the youngster absorbed how Test veteran Morne Morkel used to operate, and learned the insights from the legend himself.

After one successful BBL season, Bazley re-earned a contract with Queensland. A couple more such seasons and the all-rounder could be standing up there with the best in the country. 

(As of November 2021)