He walked away from a promising cricket career to start his own sporting journey and Luke Behrendorff is hoping his Australian handball duties help him claim family bragging rights.
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Behrendorff will leave Canberra next month with the Australian under-21 team to play in the Intercontinental Cup in Mexico.
Jason Behrendorff, Luke's older brother, is establishing himself as one of Australia's most promising fast bowlers and has a state contract with Western Australia.
Luke started to follow in Jason's footsteps and was building a career as a tall fast bowler.
But he made the switch to handball and is drawing inspiration from his brother's rise to chase his sporting goals.
''Seeing Jason go on definitely made me think about different things,''
Luke said. ''I went back to a [cricket] camp in the United States a couple of years ago and then came back with the revelation that following my brother's footsteps wasn't right for me.
''I noticed I wasn't getting as much enjoyment out of cricket. I like the fast-paced game more than the patient game. If the enjoyment's not there it's not the same.''
Jason Behrendorff is part of a rising group of Canberra juniors making their name around Australia with state contracts.
He claimed the biggest scalp of his career last month when he got the wicket of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar at the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in India.
Luke, a former ACT under-19 player, was on the same path and could fire down thunderbolts as a teenager.
But after starting handball at Alfred Deakin High School, Behrendorff was keen to try something different.
''I haven't thought too deeply about a career in handball, but if an opportunity did arise that would be pretty cool,'' he said.
''I just really have fun playing and that's a big one. I asked Jason about cricket and he gets the same feeling - he loves what he does.''
Behrendorff was part of the Australian under-21 team that won a tournament in Samoa in October to qualify for the Intercontinental Cup.
If Australia wins in Mexico, it can rise up the rankings and edge closer to a spot in division one. Handball is an Olympic sport and the Australian men's team is in division one at the world championships, but the juniors haven't been able to reach the same level.
''It would be cool to play in the Australian team. I've got a lot of skill-building and developing to do,'' Behrendorff said.
''Australia still has to qualify for the Olympics, but that would be awesome as well and maybe some family bragging rights.
''Jase said I never had to be in his shadow.
''People always ask if I'm his brother and think about cricket when I say my name, but I'm really enjoying handball,'' Luke said.