As Australia’s Sri Lankan cricket tour looms, a recovering Nathan Hauritz admits he has no idea what the national selectors are thinking.
Looking at those invited to “Spin Week” at Brisbane’s Centre of Excellence, it is easy to see why.
Tasmania’s Xavier Doherty surprisingly replaced Hauritz ahead of the Ashes series and leapfrogged World Cup spinner Jason Krejza on the recent one-day Bangladesh tour.
Yet Doherty was not one of the 15 spinners invited to attend the week-long Brisbane camp alongside the likes of Hauritz, Krejza and Test incumbent Michael Beer.
Doherty even missed out on this month’s Australia A tour of Zimbabwe, where Beer and Krejza could lay a strong case for a ticket on the Sri Lankan trip.
Adding to the mix, Doherty’s spot in the Australia A limited overs squad was taken by Nathan Lyon, who made the unorthodox transition from Adelaide Oval ground staff to the South Australian XI last summer.
Even Lyon received a “Spin Week” invite.
No wonder Hauritz did not know whether he would be considered for the Sri Lankan tour (five one-dayers, two Twenty20 matches and three Tests) starting in August, despite being confident of overcoming a dislocated shoulder.
Asked where he stood in the spinner pecking order, Hauritz said: “To be honest, I don’t know.
“(But) I don’t read too much into it. I am just focusing on getting my shoulder right.
“Hopefully, I will be available for selection for Sri Lanka and, if I am not right for that, I will look to the NSW season.”
A total of 10 spinners had been used since Shane Warne’s retirement – but only Hauritz received an extended run from selectors.
Recalled in November 2008, Hauritz took 58 wickets at 36.22 before Australia’s spin cycle resumed.
But Hauritz was keeping his fingers crossed for another chance.
“Whatever happened last summer happened. I feel it is a clean slate and we will see what happens going forward,” Hauritz said.
“It was disappointing not being involved (last summer for Australia) but it’s a new day, week and year really.
“I have just got to keep doing what I have been doing during the Shield season and keep playing well.”
Hauritz is ramping up his recovery but is still up to a month away from bowling “at full pace”.
“Rehab is a very frustrating period, the monotony of doing the same thing every day, but it has got to be done,” Hauritz said.
“I am hoping to get fit again and move forward.
“I can only control what comes out of my hand, but I was happy with the way I finished last year with the ball.”
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