West Australian bowler Bryce Jackson had to test his memory while listing off his injury setbacks over the last couple of years.
The Albany product was handed a rookie contract with Western Australia ahead of the 2021/22 season but didn’t make his state debut until earlier this year due to his fragile body.
“I’ve had multiple injuries, stress fractures in the lower back,” Jackson recalled.
“Two years ago I had an L5 go. Then pre-season the next year I was still going through rehab and then my L5 on the right side started to go as well.
“I actually had a conversation with (West Australian) bowling coach Tim Macdonald. We looked at each other and kind of didn’t know what to do.”
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After spending nearly two years in the casualty ward, Jackson received a state contract ahead of the 2023/24 season, taking 3-76 on List A debut for Western Australia in a 52-run victory over Tasmania in February.
However, the tall 24-year-old remained a relatively unknown entity until he decimated South Australia’s top order at Cricket Central on Tuesday morning.
Playing just his second List A game, Jackson toppled the West Australian record for best bowling performance in a one-day match, taking 6-31 from nine overs to help roll South Australia for 166 in less than 38 overs.
The moustached seamer had tinkered with his bowling action during the pre-season, adjusting his technique to help swing the new ball while maintaining accuracy. The changes paid dividends on Tuesday when he produced an outswinger that found Henry Hunt’s outside edge, with the dismissal prompting a brief collapse of 4-6 in 27 deliveries.
The following over, he knocked over opener Mackenzie Harvey and captain Nathan McSweeney, later returning to clean up the South Australian tail.
“I’m super stoked to even get a game to be honest with the star-studded line-up we’ve got,” Jackson said after the match.
“I’ve been working hard in the pre-season, and everything’s coming up alright. It was good to put it on show.”
Jackson’s haul was overshadowed by a dramatic collapse during the run chase, with Western Australia losing 7-31 to fall two runs short of the 167-run target. But despite the outcome, Jackson had plenty to celebrate after the match.
“Being able to get through (the injury setbacks) and come out here and take a six-fa at Cricket Central, it’s a lot of emotions,” he continued.
“I would have liked to get the win on the board as well, but it’s been an unreal journey for me.
“I almost teared up out there a little bit when I got that six-fa. It’s been awesome.”
The previous best bowling figures by a West Australian was held by teammate AJ Tye, who claimed 6-46 against Queensland in 2018.
“(Tye) told me that out there,” Jackson laughed.
“He said, ‘Welcome to the six-fa club.’”
Best one-day bowling figures for Western Australia
6-31 – Bryce Jackson vs SA, 2024
6-46 – AJ Tye vs QLD, 2018
5-15 – David Boyd vs VIC, 1983
5-16 – Jo Angel vs VIC, 2002
5-26 – Nathan Coulter-Nile vs VIC, 2014
Despite the promising start to his List A career, Jackson confessed he doesn’t expect to make his Sheffield Shield debut this summer due to his workloads.
“At the moment, no. Not anytime soon,” Jackson said.
“I would love to say yes, but I think this year’s more of a white-ball focus.”
Western Australia’s roster is stacked with talented quicks, including national representatives Jhye Richardson, Joel Paris, Morris and teenage prodigy Mahli Beardman, while Jason Behrendorff and Tye remain available for selection despite rejecting state contracts.
Jackson acknowledged it would take more than one good performance for him to slide up the pecking order.
“At the end of the day, they’ve got more runs on the board, while I’ve got two games under my belt,” he explained.
“I’d like to be (higher up the pecking order), but if not, I’m going to be too disheartened.
“We’re very much a family-orientated group at the moment. Anyone’s success is good for the whole team.”
The main focus for Jackson this season is continuity, not only with his performances, but also his fitness; he’s desperate to string together consecutive summers injury-free for the first time in his career.
“With my continuity, it’s never been there, so being able to string years back-to-back is probably my main focus more than anything,” Jackson continued.
“Being able to put performances out there as well, getting my name out there. I’m not just in the back pocket anymore, I’d like to be up the front playing every game.
“More games means more opportunities.”
Western Australia, hunting an unprecedented fourth-straight one-day cup title, has started its 2024/25 campaign with two narrow losses, including an agonising eight-run loss to New South Wales on Sunday.
“We talked about it on Sunday, winning those key moments,” Jackson said.
“We were good enough to get ourselves (into a winning position), it’s just being able to win those little moments to tip us over the edge.
“It just makes us even hungrier to get that win on the board. Looking forward to it.”
Western Australia will next face Queensland at the WACA on October 13.