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Krejza stuns India, along with the rest of us

Roar Guru
8th November, 2008
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Australian bowler Jason Krejza, center, is congratulated by teammates Ricky Ponting, right, and Mike Hussey for dismissing Indian batsman Ishant Sharma, unseen, on the second day of the fourth and final cricket test match between India and Australia in Nagpur, India, Friday, Nov. 7, 2008. AP Photo/Gautam Singh

Who could have imagined that Jason Krejza would be the one that eased Australia’s spin bowling predicament. Late last year his career was hanging in the balance after being caught out drink driving and in excess of the legal speed limit.

Krejza copped a seven month driving suspension, along with Tasmania enforcing a prolonged stint on the sideline.

It wasn’t only the off-field affairs barricading his career. More so, it was a level of inconsistency that he continued to struggle with.

A New South Wales team comprising a number of quality spinners, including MacGill, limited his progression through the early cricketing years. When the opportunity did arise, he struggled to stamp any authority, failing to assure himself of a permanent position.

With New South Wales announcing the intake of spinners Beau Casson and Nathan Hauritz at the start of the 2006/2007 season, Krejza was relieved of his services, a massive dent in his career.

The move to Tasmania ended an inadequate few years with the Blues and allowed a chance for him to stake a claim for the position, with only Xavier Doherty as the other recognised spin bowler.

After returning from his spell on the sideline, Krejza played an impressive role in the Tigers Pura Cup success, capturing eighteen wickets at an average of 47, which was enough to see him an Australia A call up.

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Twelve months later and Jason Krejza claims figures of 8/215 on debut against India in the fourth and final test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, bowling against arguably the best players of spin the game has seen.

There’s a fairytale no one saw coming.

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