Sydney Sixers skipper Moises Henriques has praised the evolution of Sean Abbott, describing him as the side's go-to man and strike weapon.
Abbott was the Sixers' best on field in their six-wicket loss to Big Bash League title holders the Perth Scorchers on Saturday, standing out with both bat and ball.
While the Scorchers eventually chased down the Sixers' modest total of 132 in 18.1 overs, it would have been over a lot sooner if it wasn't for the 25-year-old.
His 23 off 13 balls and partnership with Stephen O'Keefe gave the Sixers' attack something to bowl at.
The right-armer also picked up the wickets of rookie openers Will Bosisto and Josh Philippe with back-to-back balls just when they looked like building a sold platform for the reigning champions.
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And when Henriques needed a wicket in the middle overs, he again threw the rock to Abbott and he picked up David Willey on the way to 3-28.
"He controls his length really well, he's got some good changes of pace, I think he's starting to develop his yorker as well, which is a great sign," Henriques said.
"He's quite a resilient guy, you love those guys who love having the ball in their hand when there's a challenge there.
"And he's one of those guys."
After representing Australia at T20 and ODI level in 2014, Abbott is doing his best to push his way back into the national side.
He was last year forced to fight back from a broken ankle suffered while playing for the National Performance Squad in August but went on to be the highest wicket-taker in the 2016-17 BBL.
He does at times go for more runs than he would like - Ashton Turner belted him for back-to-back sixes at the SCG on Saturday and his final over went for 15 runs in the Sixers' season-opening last-ball loss to the Sydney Thunder.
But Henriques says there's no reward without risk and Abbott's job is to keep the wickets ticking over.
"With those low totals, you know you've got to keep taking wickets. You can't really try to defend too much, we've got to ask the batters to take risks off the lengths we want to bowl," Henriques said.
"We took four wickets that same way.
"(Abbott) could have easily ended up with four or five for 15. Unfortunately he ended up with three for a little more than what he'd like.
"I thought when he got introduced he bowled really smart with this wicket as well, they never really got away from us early on with their run rate. We took those wickets and we got ourselves right in the game."
