Cariah’s journey from videos of Warne and Lara to the World Cup

Yannic Cariah looked like he belonged. Thirty years old, on T20I debut, bowling to Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell in Australia for the first time. Picked ahead of Akeal Hosein. Selected ahead of Fabian Allen and Hayden Walsh.

He bowled like a veteran with impeccable control, forcing a mistake from Maxwell who can maul inexperienced leg-spinners in his sleep.

In just his fifth career T20 game, Cariah took 1-15 from four overs, bowled 13 dot balls and conceded one boundary against the reigning world champions on their home patch.

Was he surprised?

“The funny thing about this, when you work your entire life for something, the work you put in, confidence goes within yourself,” Cariah said. “I’m very confident in my ability and what I can do. What I believe in. Nobody can take that away from me.”

Yannic Cariah has spent his entire career hiding in plain sight. It’s all been there for anyone to see yet few have seemed to notice.