Jason Krejza could have saved the Ashes for Australia, the off-spinner’s coach at Tasmania Tim Coyle has declared.
“If Australia had had Krejza, and played him in that Oval Test match, I think the result would have been different,” Coyle told The Mercury.
Many believe the national selectors blundered by failing to select a spinner to play on The Oval dust bowl.
Krejza says he watched the fifth Test in anguish, “thinking I could have got that batsman out”.
“A spinner would have been good,” he said on Tuesday.
“I bring a lot of value with my spin and bounce and I think I could have been handy at The Oval to take a few poles.”
Nathan Hauritz perhaps could have done the same thing.
At any rate the duel between Hauritz and Krejza for Australian selection resumes this summer.
Krejza says he’s addressed the selectors’ criticism that he is too expensive by notching Tasmania’s best Twenty20 economy rate last summer.
“Wickets and runs have got to speak for themselves this summer, and Nathan has done a good job, but I think the spinner’s role is to take wickets,” he said.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Krejza has backed the embattled selectors who cast him out after his sensational start.
“My relationship with them is as good as anyone’s,” he said.
“They are there to do a job and they have got to hire and fire people like any other boss.
“I’ve got a good relationship with them and am in contact with them getting as much information as I can.
“And the good thing about this selection board is they are quite up-front and honest and give you the information you need about what you are doing right and wrong.”
Krejza is on course to land the first blow for his Australian recall with Tasmania up against South Australia in Adelaide on October 16 – roll on summer.
Justin
Guest
It will be an interesting start to the shield season to see which spinner steps up. Looking at the A series v Pakistan in July JK took 7 wickets @ 39 with a best of 4/54. The young kid Holland (who has big wraps on him) took 5 wickets @ 30 with a best of 2/14. He bolwed approximately half the overs JK did.
Colin N
Guest
I was looking up Krejza and his bowling average in first-class cricket was terrible. 47.98 is awful. His brief test record isn't much better. He did take 8 wickets in one innings, but then conceded 215 runs. Did he open the bowling or something?
Michael C
Guest
Krejza needs to do more than bowl a couple of okay 4 over spells in T20 for Tassie. He would've bled runs to the poms. Hauritz, for his limitations, is a relatively economical bowler who did an okay job. The reality is, that had Australia managed to grab that last wicket at Cardiff - then, no issues. But, again had Australia batted better in the first innings at Lords and the Oval, then, the focus wouldn't be so great on bowlers, had North not failed at 6 when it mattered, had the selectors not persisted with Hayden all summer when we all knew that a new opener would need to be broken in for England.... or, had Johnson not fallen apart on tour, had Siddle been a little more consistent.....
ozziejag
Guest
Jason Krejza was my pick to go on the tour of England because he is a wicket taker & he is also a handy bat. It's too late now but I hope he takes off this summer at home & gets a bagfull. Maybe he would have a better chance if he was more good looking ?{ for the telly } Best of luck.
Jameswm
Guest
Absolutely GB and look at how meekly and stupidly they got out when they had to dig in.
GB
Guest
All this talk of "if only we had picked a spinner" blah blah blah. We didn't. Time to move on. Take a look at the first innings at the Oval. All out for 160 odd after a solid start. Maybe we should question the batting more seriously...
Mushi
Guest
"Many believe the national selectors blundered by failing to select a spinner to play on The Oval dust bowl." Many also suggested the selectors were utter morons for even considering breaking up the 4 pronged pace attack which carried them to victory.