Willowmoore park
Australia's New T20I Addition Connolly 'couldn't Believe' His Call-up
The vibrant cheers of over 50,000 fans at Optus Stadium during the Big Bash League (BBL) final 2023 is a memory etched in the minds of cricket enthusiasts. However, for Connolly, his belief and journey to that moment began three years earlier, in the quieter and less glamorous setting of Willowmoore Park in Benoni, South Africa. This venue, situated about 20 kilometers east of Johannesburg, witnessed a pivotal moment in the career of the young left-hander from Perth.
The crowd barely reached three figures that day, a stark contrast to the massive audience at the BBL final. Yet, for the then 16-year-old Connolly, the stakes were just as high. Thrust onto the world stage due to Jake Fraser-McGurk's unfortunate exit from the tournament after a monkey scratch incident, Connolly seized his opportunity.
