A coach can instil many skills and tricks in aspiring athletes but he cannot make them taller.

While coaches can drill footwork, sharpen timing, build fitness and scheme tactics, not even the most creative mentor can stretch a player taller. Height is a genetic lottery and in cricket, the winning ticket buys things no drill can purchase.

Marcus Bean, the Australian fast bowler, is towering over his fellow Bermuda Smash Invitational players at a shade under 7f tall. Every time he lopes onto the lush grass at North Field for the Hamilton Parish Hurricanes, Bean turns heads like a moving skyscraper.

The 22-year-old is no stranger to double-takes and the inevitable question of “do you play basketball?”, a question that follows him everywhere, especially in Bermuda where the average male height is a full 15 inches shorter.

“Obviously from a cricketing perspective it helps a lot,” said Bean, while lounging on the bleachers and enjoying a drink in the company of groundstaff and spectators on Wednesday afternoon.

“I was always a tall kid growing up, so I've gotten quite used to it. Back home, a lot of people ask if I play basketball, but here on the island everyone knows that I’m here for cricket, so it’s actually refreshing in that sense.

“Being very tall when I was a kid, it seemed that everything I ate made me grow tall instead of wide. There was a period where I didn’t have too much muscle to me and that's where I got the nickname String Bean. But now I’ve put on a little bit of muscle, so it's more beneficial.”

Every extra inch of height attached to Bean’s frame contributes to him having an extra release point, allowing him to let go of the ball closer to batters and from a steeper angle than shorter bowlers at the same speed.

The result means more bounce, more awkwardness,  more balls that hit the splice even when bowled short and four wickets in the two matches he has played in the Smash this year.

As a left-arm pacer, Bean naturally invites comparisons to his childhood idols Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson, Australia’s legendary merchants of steep bounce and mayhem.

“Growing up I idolised those two left-armers out of Australia,” he said. “Obviously, Mitchell Starc is an unbelievable bowler. He was the one who really inspired me to pursue cricket but also Mitchell Johnson is just an amazing all-round talent.”

After playing for Sandys Spartans a year ago, Bean has a new allegiance this time around as a member of defending champions Hurricanes, a name he is familiar with given he has played for Hobart Hurricanes in Australia's domestic Big Bash League.

“It's a bit of a shame about the weather,” He said. “We lost out on a game, which didn't happen last year, but in terms of the environment and the standard that the Smash is bringing, it's definitely on the rise every single season.

“It's a fantastic tournament and once I knew I had the opportunity to come back for another go at it, I jumped on the idea.

“I had an amazing time playing with the Spartans last year, when we just missed out after losing in the final. Now I’m playing for the Hurricanes and I’m very happy to be back here. It's a lovely place, it’s a competitive environment and the cricket’s great.”

Ironically, Bean is the product of another Hurricanes franchise, namely the