Krejza hits career low

Former Test spinner Jason Krejza’s career has taken another hit after he was left out of Tasmania’s team to play Queensland in the Sheffield Shield match starting on Monday.

With his contract with the Tigers nearing an end, Krejza is now seemingly at a crossroads with skipper George Bailey and coach Tim Coyle both backing the decision to drop the off-spinner due to poor form.

Krejza is understood to be seething about the call, spearheaded by chairman of selectors Michael Farrell.

The 27-year-old, whose two-year contract ends this summer, was unavailable for comment after failing to train with the team on Sunday.

Bailey described Krejza’s spinning replacement Xavier Doherty as a team player at the height of his form.

“He’s a very popular member of the team and just that ability to always do what whatever the team requires is something that will hold him in good stead,” Bailey said.

Bailey said Krejza was “pretty disappointed” about being dropped.

Coyle said he’d had no indication from Krejza about him wanting to extend his contract and would not predict his return to the side before the end of this summer.

“We’ve picked the right team for Bellerive Oval for this game, it’s as simple as that,” Coyle said.

Coyle said Krejza has been told what he has to do to get back into the team.

“He’s got to work hard on his batting – he’s averaging five with the bat – and he needs to do more work on his bowling,” Coyle said.

Farrell, who said Krejza disagrees with his decision, points to the bowler’s return of 3-306 in the past three matches played at Bellerive Oval.

However Farrell declined to expand on the decision and Krejza’s reaction.

“To be honest, I understand the public’s interest in Jason but I’ve got no further comment about his omission,” Farrell said.

Krejza has been wicket-less in the past two matches in Hobart, returning 0-80 off 21 overs against Victoria and 0-143 from 38 overs against Western Australia.

He took 3-85 off 27.2 overs at the first Bellerive Oval game this season, against South Australia, taking his four-match total to that point to 13-471 at 36.

Tasmania will now be without their top three wicket takers for the Bulls clash after losing Brett Geeves and Luke Butterworth to injury.

Opener Jonathan Wells has also been dropped while teenage all-rounder James Faulkner is being rested as precaution against injury.

Fast bowler Adam Griffith returns to the team and NSW pace recruit Adam Maher and rookie batsman John Rogers come into the squad.

For Queensland, big hitting batsman Nathan Reardon has been recalled to the Bulls’ side replacing Australia one-day player James Hopes.

The Bulls sit second on the Shield ladder with 20 points, two behind Victoria and 12 ahead of bottom-placed Tasmania on eight.

This is the Bulls’ last away game of the season before they finish with three home matches.

Tasmania: George Bailey (capt), Ed Cowan, Alex Doolan, Brendan Drew, Xavier Doherty, Adam Griffith, Rhett Lockyear, Tim Macdonald, Adam Maher, Dan Marsh, Tim Paine, John Rogers (12th man to be named).

Queensland: Chris Simpson (capt), Glen Batticciotto, Cameron Boyce, Ryan Broad, Lee Carseldine, Ben Cutting, Luke Feldman, Chris Hartley, Nick Kruger, Nathan Reardon, Chris Swan, Wade Townsend, (12th man to be named).

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