A little surf rat that loves fishing and off-road driving in a souped-up Land Cruiser.

That’s how Australian T20 captain Mitchell Marsh describes his newest teammate, 21-year-old whizkid Cooper Connolly, ahead of his maiden assignment with the national side.

Last month, Connolly was a surprise inclusion in Australia’s 14-player T20 squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of Scotland and England – chief selector George Bailey described the West Australian as a “bolter” while discussing his selection with reporters.

Connolly, who hails from Perth’s northern suburbs, has never scored a T20 fifty, striking at 145.80 in the game’s shortest format predominantly as a finisher. He has only made one first-class appearance to date.

Watch every ball of the England vs Sri Lanka Test series LIVE & exclusive to Fox Cricket, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

Yet the left-hander looks destined to make his international debut in the United Kingdom next month, playing alongside the likes of Australian superstars Travis Head and Adam Zampa.

Marsh has been a fan of Connolly since the 2022/23 summer, during which he spent time in the Perth Scorchers camp while sidelined with an ankle injury.

“He’s a great young kid,” Marsh told Fox Cricket ahead of the United Kingdom tour.

“He’s learning a lot at the moment, as a young player coming through the ranks.

“He’s highly-talented for a smallish guy. He’s got a lot of power.”

Connolly became a household name following last year’s BBL final when he steered the Scorchers towards a remarkable five-wicket victory over the Brisbane Heat at a heaving Perth Stadium.

Playing just his fourth BBL game, the youngster smacked an unbeaten 25 from 11 deliveries to help chase a 176-run target with four balls remaining. Chants of “Cooper, Cooper” echoed around the packed venue as he collected his premiership medal during the post-match ceremony.

Connolly, who had only faced 11 deliveries at professional level before that career-defining match, is already renowned for his calmness and composure in the middle, rarely daunted by the big stage.

“He’s very, very calm character,” Marsh continued.

“The one thing that stood out to me, and we saw it in Big Bash, is he loves the big moments.

“He’s going to fail at certain times in those moments, but I know that he doesn’t get overawed by that.

“He’s a confident, humble young man, and I think Australia will fall in love with him.”

Connolly has time and time again stepped up to the challenge while making his way through the ranks. Earlier this year, he made his first-class debut in the Sheffield Shield final against Tasmania, replacing injured opener Cameron Bancroft for the decider in Perth.

Walking out to bat at No. 7, Connolly cracked a swashbuckling 90 off 115 balls, including 12 fours and three sixes. It was the first half-century of his professional career, helping Western Australia achieve a rare three-peat of Sheffield Shield titles.

Despite his inexperience, Australia’s think tank had seen enough to warrant a maiden national call-up.

“I certainly think he’s good enough to play (for Australia), and that really excites us,” Marsh said.

“He’ll be up for the challenge, and he’s going to learn a lot being around some of our more experienced players.

“He’ll have a lot of fun.”

Connolly, who represents Scarborough Cricket Club at grade level, was the youngest member of Australia’s Under-19 World Cup squad in 2020, smashing a 47-ball half-century against a talented West Indies side that featured Test quick Jayden Seales.

Two years later, he was named captain of Australia’s squad for the 2022 Under-19 World Cup in the Caribbean but only managed 73 runs and five wickets in six matches.

Last year, Cricket Australia named Connolly in a men’s youth squad to visit Chennai’s MRF Academy, exposing him to the subcontinent’s unique conditions for the first time.

Speaking on Connolly’s future, Bailey flagged him as a potential multi-format player, suggesting the Scarborough product could get opportunities in second-tier national sides over the coming years.

“He hasn’t played a great many games yet, but we really like his versatility,” Bailey explained.

“His work through the middle order for the Scorchers has been really impressive.

“There’s a number of Australia A games and some CA XI games if we feel like we want to keep providing red-ball experience he might not be getting elsewhere.

“Who knows where he can get to, but (we’re) just looking forward to getting to know him better and seeing how he is around the group.”

Connolly, who recently signed a two-year contract extension with the Scorchers, is a genuine bowling option as well. During last summer’s Big Bash, he took six wickets at 12.66 including career-best figures of 3-25 against the Sydney Thunder.

Earlier this year, he produced a crucial spell of 1-41 from ten overs during the Marsh Cup final against New South Wales in Sydney, which Western Australia won by five wickets to secure a hat-trick of domestic one-day titles.

Connolly has the makings of a future Australian superstar – but Marsh still sees him as “a little surf rat”.

“Similar to me, he loves the ocean,” Marsh laughed.

“Loves fishing, loves boating, getting over to Rottnest Island. Loves four-wheel driving, camping. He’s got a hot rod Land Cruiser that he’s souped up with all the tricks and everything you have on there for camping.

“He’s an outdoors man, but a good, young kid.”

Australia’s T20 squad for United Kingdom Tour

Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Riley Meredith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

T20 fixtures for United Kingdom Tour

September 4 – First T20 vs Scotland, The Grange, Edinburgh

September 6 – Second T20 vs Scotland, The Grange, Edinburgh

September 7 – Third T20 vs Scotland, The Grange, Edinburgh

September 11 – First T20 vs England, Rose Bowl, Southampton

September 13 – Second T20 vs England, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

September 15 – Third T20 vs England, Old Trafford, Manchester