- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Victorian captain Cameron White has been urged to bowl himself more if he wants to secure a place in the Australian Test side as a legspinning allrounder.
White was today dropped from the Australian squad for next week’s first Test against New Zealand at the Gabba despite playing all four Tests in India, where he batted well at No.8 but took only five wickets at 68.40.
The success of offspinner Jason Krejza, who took 12 wickets on debut in the final Test in Nagpur, along with the competition of Beau Casson and Bryce McGain suggests White faces a battle to earn a recall to the Test side as a spinner.
But Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch denied playing White in India was an experiment that was now over.
“We were disappointed with losing Bryce McGain (to injury) at the start of the series,” Hilditch said.
“We really wanted to have a legspinner in India and that was our plan and we thought Cameron White did a really good job, particularly in the first two Tests.
“He will be disappointed to be omitted, but he’s already been told what the challenge is, he’s got to get back to Victorian cricket.
“He’s got to bowl as much as he can, he hasn’t bowled that much in recent times.”
White will not get the chance to bowl himself for his state this weekend, as Victoria will rest him from the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at the MCG, which starts Saturday.
White, who regards himself more as a batsman who bowls, often struggles to send down many overs, especially given his reluctance to bowl himself in long spells in interstate matches.
In nine Shield matches last season, White bowled a combined 84 overs, which yielded six wickets at 47.
In India, he bowled 31 overs in the first Test, 27 in the second, 23 in the third and just 12 in the last, including two in India’s second innings, when Australia needed quick wickets.
Hilditch said White, 25, showed enough signs in India that he could play a key role for Australia in the future, potentially as a batting allrounder.
“His more realistic role is probably batting in the top six and bowling useful overs for us, much like (Andrew) Symonds and (Shane) Watson do,” he said.
“So that’s the challenge that he has got, to force that position.”
Victoria today named paceman Shane Harwood to replace Darren Pattinson (groin) in the Shield match.
Harwood took 5-41 in yesterday’s one-day match against the Tigers and although he hobbled off the field after finishing his spell, he was cleared of any injury to his troublesome calf.
White will play for Australia in tomorrow’s Twenty20 exhibition match at the Gabba, along with Victorian teammates David Hussey and Peter Siddle.
Bushrangers Brad Hodge, Andrew McDonald and Robert Quiney will play for the All Stars.
The Victorian contingent will return to Melbourne on Saturday morning in time to play Tasmania.
Victoria (from): David Hussey (capt), Shane Harwood, Brad Hodge, Jon Holland, Nick Jewell, Andrew McDonald, Clint McKay, Dirk Nannes, Robert Quiney, Chris Rogers, Matthew Wade, Damien Wright.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.