Sydney's COVID-19 outbreak stopped Oliver Davies's family from being at his Big Bash debut but the young gun hopes his hard hitting display lit up the locked down northern beaches.
Davies left his mark on his first top-tier senior game, smashing 36 from 21 balls in the Sydney Thunder's seven-wicket win over the Perth Scorchers.
The 20-year-old found out he would debut over the weekend but by then his parents Kevin and Simone were in lockdown on Sydney's virus-hit northern beaches.
"They were going to come down and watch with some of my good mates," Davies said.
"We saw it on the news on the first day when there was a big outbreak and it was 'fingers crossed it settles down'.
"It was disappointing. I guess I was hoping there was still a chance if some of the cases dropped, but they couldn't get down today unfortunately."
A Manly junior representative since age 10, Davies hoped he had at least provided some cheer for his nearest and dearest.
"I'm hoping they all watched it at home on TV, cheering me on," he said.
"I'm really close with both my parents, and my younger brother and older sisters, so they were over the moon.
"I'm not sure how Christmas and New Year is going to be looking back at home, so it was good (to give them something to cheer about)."
Davies has long been one of the most hyped youngsters in the country.
He first attracted attention when he hit six sixes in one over of an under-19s carnival, whacking 207 from 115 balls against the Northern Territory.
But Tuesday night's knock showed he has the potential to be more than just a junior star.
He hit three sixes - including two off Jason Behrendorff - and would likely be a chance to keep his spot even when the Thunder return to full strength.
The right-hander said a month of facing Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood at NSW training had laid the platform for his confidence to perform in the BBL.
"The biggest thing for me in preseason was just facing quicker bowlers," Davies said.
"That was the biggest challenge because you know in junior cricket you can just sit on the front foot and hit them wherever you want.
"I had a good opportunity to face Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for a good month I reckon. So that was real good exposure.
"I got through a couple of real quick sessions against Starc.
"And I was like, well, he's the quickest bowler in the world so anything from here on should be easier."
