KEY POINTS:
There's an old story in cricketing circles that commentator Brian Waddle once got the call to head out and field for the New Zealand cricket team during a tour match on the subcontinent.
Apparently a rampant case of 'Delhi belly' was spiralling unabated through the ranks of the touring party, to the extent that they simply ran out of available fieldsmen.
Being a kiwi, and on hand, 'Wads' was the last resort for NZ captain Jeremy Coney to turn to, so the rotund comments man swapped his microphone for his tight-fitting flannels "one more time".
Yesterday at Perth, the home side found themselves in a similar quandary.
And as international debuts go, they don't come much more bizarre than Luke Pomersbach's for Australia in last night's Twenty20 cricket match against New Zealand.
He arrived at the ground as just another spectator and an hour later was Australia's newest international.
Pomersbach skipped club training to watch yesterday's game and was about to walk into the ground with a female friend when he got the call asking him to play.
Australian batsman Brad Hodge had hurt his back just an hour before the game in an equally bizarre turn of events.
The talented but wayward Pomersbach, who is one of the hardest hitters in Australian first-class cricket, hadn't even been playing for Western Australia in recent weeks because he was suspended for disciplinary reasons after a heavy night of drinking.
Speaking after last night's game, Pomersbach had barely come to terms with his good fortune, which started with a call from Australian team manager Steve Bernard.
"I got into the carpark and parked the car and got the phone call," he said.
"I thought it was one of my mates playing a joke on me and I nearly hung up and he said 'no, it's not a joke'.
"From that moment on I was shaking and I didn't know what to say on the phone.
"I walked up to the rooms and he said if Hodgey's back's not going to get any better, you are going to be on.
"I was just speechless. It is an unbelievable experience for me and just a dream come true."
Pomersbach didn't have his gear with him so his brother, Gavin, had to rush it to the ground.
Unfortunately for Gavin, the match was a sell-out and Pomersbach said his brother would be "spewing" he couldn't get in to watch.
The 23-year-old has played just seven first-class games and created an immediate impression with his powerful strokeplay.
He was rumoured to be in line for a Twenty20 promotion before his indiscretion.
Pomersbach dispatched the third ball he faced yesterday for a six over long-on on his way to making 15 from seven balls before being bowled by Mark Gillespie, and admitted he was very anxious in front of a packed home crowd.
"I was just so nervous," he said.
"My hands were shaking on the bat."
- NZHERALD STAFF, additional reporting from AFP
