- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
NSW skipper Dominic Thornely admits shattered ex-Test spinner Beau Casson may be tempted to walk away from the game after being ordered out of the NSW attack at the Gabba.
But the Blues captain is confident the left arm wrist spinner will bounce back after hitting rock bottom in the Sheffield Shield clash against Queensland.
Casson was told not to bowl again in Queensland’s first innings on Saturday after tossing up his second head high beam ball midway through his 11th over.
“He’s at the stage now where you could look at it two ways. It could be devastating and you walk away from the game and completely hate it all,” Thornely said.
“Or you can bleed a bit. Things get a bit tough but you can come out of it the other side a better person and better player, and he’s the kind of guy that will do that.”
On one of the rare occasions he had been thrown the ball by the Blues this season, Casson was sensationally ordered to toss it back by umpire Brian Jerling on Saturday.
In bizarre scenes, Bulls tailender Chris Swan tried to hit the second beamer from Casson, only to nick it to a diving Greg Mail at first slip.
However, a no ball was called by Jerling who promptly asked Casson to walk away with the uninspiring figures of 1-54 off 10.3 overs.
Casson threw down the first beamer – caught by keeper Daniel Smith above his head – several overs earlier.
“It’s funny how you see it in under 12s but you also see it in first class cricket, that’s the beauty of the game,” Thornely said of the incident.
“He had a very, very wet hand – the ball was flying all over the place.
“Umpires are umpires, they’ve got to do what they’ve got to do.”
In June 2008, Casson capped a stunning summer by making his Test debut at the West Indies.
Barely eight months later Casson is struggling to make the NSW team.
Casson only got a nod for the Gabba clash when paceman Aaron Bird was suspended for an illegal bowling action.
Sadly it could have been all so different for the likeable 26-year-old.
His fairytale 2007-08 featured a Shield win, a Cricket Australia contract and a Test debut.
Suddenly he was Australia’s No.1 spinner.
But it was a title he lost just as quickly.
Despite taking 3-86 in an innings on Test debut, Casson was leapfrogged first by Jason Krejza and Bryce McGain and then Cameron White for the next tour without bowling another ball.
The sensitive Casson understandably couldn’t handle the rejection and his confidence was shot.
It doesn’t look like improving any time soon judging by his Gabba debacle.
“I don’t want to embarrass him by ripping him out of the attack completely and not bowling him – you’ve got to give the guy an opportunity to bowl,” Thornely said of Casson.
“I can imagine any kind of wrist spin bowling is a real rhythm thing, it’s a real art – it’s very difficult to perfect.
“But it’s just not happening for him at the moment.
“He’s had a pretty ordinary year really.”
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.