SYDNEY: Hong Kong’s Ming Li on Monday became the first Chinese cricketer to join Australia’s Twenty20 Big Bash League, after honing his bowling by watching YouTube videos of Shane Warne.

The Sydney Sixers hired the 24-year-old for the southern summer season under the Cricket Australia rookie programme.

Li has played cricket since 2004 and made his debut for Hong Kong in 2010, followed by selection for the 2010 Guangzhou and 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

A right-arm leg-spinner, his fascination with cricket came from watching his idol Warne on YouTube, modelling his action on the leg-spin legend.

“I’d like to thank the Hong Kong Cricket Association, the Sydney Sixers and Cricket Australia for offering me this fantastic opportunity with one of the leading Big Bash League clubs,” Li said. “Playing in this competition and being involved with such a professional outfit will really help improve my cricketing skills, knowledge and experience It will go a long way in helping me achieve my cricketing goals.”

Li became the first ethnic Chinese to take part in an official T20 match when Hong Kong played Afghanistan in Sharjah during the 2012 ICC World Cup qualifiers.

The Big Bash League gets underway from Dec 17.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2015