By the time Jason Behrendorff had finished shredding India's top order, the internet was going mental over his supposed likeness to WWE wrestler John Cena. And after Australia strolled to an eight-wicket win in the second T20I, Behrendorff was told of the comparison.
He's "a fair bit bigger than I am," Behrendorff said as he burst out laughing, the mood set by his four-wicket haul that led to an Australian win in only his second international appearance.
"It's an unbelievable feeling to be honest," he said, having dismissed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Manish Pandey and Shikhar Dhawan as his first four international wickets. " to bowl four overs tonight and take four wickets, but mainly to get a win. To get the boys back up and about after a pretty tough time in the the one-dayers, it's very, very special."
Just like he had in his only over in the first T20I in Ranchi, Behrendorff began his spell in Guwahati by conceding a boundary. But while he was wicketless on Saturday, he snared two in his first over on Tuesday.
Behrendorff had Rohit lbw by bowling the quick inswinger, a method used by other left-arm quicks like Mohammad Amir against the batsman. The delivery also got Kohli two balls later, and Behrendorff said the plan was indeed to nip the ball into India's right-handers.
"I was really happy with that," he said of his comeback, after being hit for two fours by Rohit in the first over. "Few ones that I got hit to the boundary probably weren't where I needed to be bowling. But then to get the ball up there, swinging the ball, hit guys on the pads and nick blokes off: those are the things we talk about in our meetings. To get the balls in those areas especially up front."
While Australia's spearhead Mitchell Starc has been injured and out of international action since the Champions Trophy, Behrendorff looked forward to talking shop with his fellow left-arm quick. "I know Mitch reasonably well. I've spent a bit of time playing with him occasionally but mainly against him," he said. "He's someone that I feel I can talk to and get some advice off as well. He's a very, very good guy to have around."
A look at Behrendorff's Linkedin profile indicates that he is a man of varied interests. He has a degree in exercise and sports science from the Edith Cowan University, and has interned with the strength and conditioning coach of the Australia men's hockey team. He also wants to improve his "presentation and interviewing skills" in the the media. Early evidence is that he's on track.