Mitchell Owen has received “no indication” of whether he’ll make his Australian debut in the Caribbean this week, but the Tasmanian all-rounder expects to play in the middle order if selected.
Following a whirlwind six months, the 23-year-old earned his maiden national call-up ahead of the five-match T20 series against the West Indies, which gets underway in Jamaica on Monday AEST. He is one of two potential debutants in Australia’s squad alongside spinner Matthew Kuhnemann.
Owen became one of T20 cricket’s most in-demand talents after smacking a 39-ball century during January’s Big Bash League final against the Sydney Thunder, helping the Hobart Hurricanes win their maiden title. The right-hander has since made cameos in South Africa’s SA20, the Pakistan Super League, the Indian Premier League and the United States’ Major League Cricket.
Earlier this month, Owen received the MLC’s most valuable player award for the 2025 season after cracking 313 runs at a strike rate of 194.40 and taking 14 wickets for the Washington Freedom.
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“All that experience has made me quite clear on my game plan, and that breeds a bit of confidence,” Owen told reporters in Kingston on Friday.
“If given the opportunity, I’m good to go and ready to go.”
Mitchell Owen’s T20 record in 2025
BBL – 452 runs at 45.20, SR 203.60 (11 innings)
SA20 – 14 runs at 4.66, SR 127.27 (3 innings)
PSL – 102 runs at 14.57, SR 192.45 (7 innings)
IPL – 0 runs at 0.00 (1 innings)
MLC – 313 runs at 28.45, SR 194.40 (11 innings)
Owen clobbered 452 runs at 45.20 as an opener during last summer’s Big Bash, but if he gets his first taste of international cricket at Sabina Park, it would most likely be in the middle order.
Australia’s squad is already stacked with quality openers, including captain Mitchell Marsha and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis along with Victorians Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk, while Travis Head has been rested for the T20 leg of the West Indies tour.
Owen may be tasked with batting down at No. 6 or No. 7 as a pinch-hitter alongside Hurricanes teammate Tim David, while with Marsh and Cameron Green not expected to be bowl during the white-ball series, his seamers may also be required in the Caribbean.
“Looking at the top order and the talent and the skill and the experience that we have there, if I’m given an opportunity, I don’t care where it is, I’m just happy to be playing for this team,” Owen continued.
“I had a little bit of experience at the PSL batting down at No. 6 or No. 7.
“Like I said, I’m just happy to be getting a game.”
Australia has 19 matches to fine-tune its starting XI ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup. Fringe players Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie and Xavier Bartlett will be looking to press their case for the marquee tournament, while superstars Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa also feature in the national squad.
The first T20 between the West Indies and Australia gets underway at Kingston’s Sabina Park on Monday at 10am AEST.
Australia’s T20 squad
Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshius, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa
Australia’s T20 tour of the West Indies
All times AEST
First T20 – July 21, 10am at Kingston, Jamaica
Second T20 – July 23, 10am at Kingston, Jamaica
Third T20 – July 26, 9am at Basseterre, St Kitts
Fourth T20 – July 27, 9am at Basseterre, St Kitts
Fifth T20 – July 29, 9am at Basseterre, St Kitts