Australia star Glenn Maxwell is backing his team-mate Sandeep Lamichhane to make a big impact for the Melbourne Stars as the Nepal leg-spin sensation gets ready to make his Big Bash League (BBL) debut on Friday.

The teenage spinner’s stock has been on the rise in international cricket ever since he became the first Nepalese player to earn an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract at the start of the year.

Lamichhane was Maxwell’s team-mate at Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the 2018 edition of the IPL and the Australian batsman is impressed by what he saw of the Nepal man in that tournament.

Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan continues to rip it up in the BBL for the Adelaide Strikers and Maxwell believes Lamichhane can have a similar impact for the Melbourne Stars.

“He’s (Lamichhane) probably not as strong and well developed but the way he has deception with his fast arm action,” Maxwell told cricket.com.au.

“For such a young player, he’s a very smart bowler. Training with him at Delhi, it took me about two weeks to work it out. Before that I was just hitting every ball straight up in the air or getting bowled.

Since making his debut in the IPL this year, Lamichhane has gone on to undergo stints in the Global T20 Canada and Caribbean Premier League while also representing a select ICC Rest of the World XI in a charity T20 clash against the Windies at Lord’s.

The 18-year-old will also undertake a maiden stint in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) next year with the Lahore Qalandars while he also has a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) contract with Sylhet Sixers.

Lamichhane’s Melbourne Stars will open their latest BBL campaign on Friday with an away clash against the Sydney Thunder.