Ed Cowan had the unique distinction of fielding for Australia in a Test match before he’d played a first-class match.
A spectator at the Sydney Test against the West Indies in January 2005, the young Sydney University left-hand batsman was called urgently to the Australian dressing-room on day four for 13th man duties to cover for Jason Gillespie.
“I was about to have my first beer for the day when the dressing-room attendant called me on my mobile,” recalls Cowan. “I hurried down to be kitted out and before I knew it I was out in the middle with Ricky Ponting’s men”.
Afterwards, Cowan declined to accept the Australian training gear offered to him, a repeat of his action when he returned his NSW cap after being 12th man against Tasmania in a 2004 Pura Cup match.
“Those caps and uniforms are sacred in Australian cricket,” explained Cowan.“For someone with aspirations to play at these levels you want to know you’ve earned the right to wear them”.
Eventually Cowan got to keep his Baggy Blue cap after making his debut against South Australia in the 2004-2005 season. A few weeks later he also won selection in NSW’s one-day team, hitting the winning runs with a six in his one-day debut against Western Australia in Perth and backing up with 57 against Queensland.
For the next few seasons, Cowan’s representative goals were consistently interrupted with injuries, significantly reducing his appearances.
In order to kick-start his career, he took up an offer from Tasmania in 2009 and within the space of a few months the early promise he showed as a youngster returned with a flourish.
Cowan was the second-highest rungetter in Sheffield Shield cricket in 2009-2010, his 957 runs - including a double century and two centuries - giving him an average of 53.16.
Cowan balances his cricket with studies: he has a commerce degree, has worked as an analyst for an investment bank and studied his masters in applied finance.