Melbourne Renegades bowler Peter Hatzoglou has been named this year’s BBL MEGT Australia Rookie of the Year.
The 22-year-old took his opportunities for the Renegades this year, taking the spot of the injured Cameron Boyce.
Hatzoglou took 17 wickets for the tournament, ranked 10th in the BBL, and led the way for the Renegades.
He believes coming in as a relative unknown allowed him to catch batsmen off guard.
“When you’re playing against international superstars, it’s always going to be a step up,” Hatzoglou told SEN SA Breakfast.
“All I had in my mind was ‘once you step over the line it’s just a regular game of cricket’.
“What worked in favour for me was because I’m a little bit different with my bowling style I sort of bowl faster leggies which is different to the conventional Shane Warne big turners.
“I always felt I had the element of surprise in my favour.”
Hatzoglou made the stratospheric leap to the BBL this season after stepping up from Premier Cricket side Melbourne University's Fourth XI to the First XI in 2019/20.
As the BBL MEGT Australia Rookie of the year, Hatzoglou takes home the $2000 prize.