The speculation on who will and won’t be chosen to play for Australia on Boxing Day has been fascinating. Dan Christian and Ed Cowan are next in line to inherit a Baggy Green.
But let’s be honest here; there would not be a state player who hasn’t been considered for Australian selection in recent years.
The Sheffield Shield sides are littered with players who have Baggy Greens in their bags and probably wonder how they got there in the first place.
I have compiled my own ‘Forgotten XI’ of Australian Test cricket. Players who have been to the top, but have been either unfairly cast aside or did not warrant Australian selection in the first place.
1. Simon Katich (C):
Can’t help but feel for the man. Australia could use someone with his stamina and experience right now. Though perhaps it is good that Kat and Pup do not have to share a dressing room at the moment.
2. Chris Rogers:
The Western Australian stalwart has scored over 16 000 first class runs. Unlucky to play in the ‘Hayden-Langer’ era, Rogers’ sole Test came against India in 2008 where he failed to impress in both innings.
3. Phil Jacques:
What is it with NSW and left handed opening batsman? Jacques could be on par with Brad Hodge as the unluckiest Australian cricketers of the past decade. It’s hard to believe now that Phil Hughes was chosen over Jacques to open the batting on the tour of South Africa in 2009.
4. Marcus North:
North enjoyed a dream introduction to Test cricket, but his demise was both prolonged and painful viewing.
5. Cameron White:
White just isn’t a Test cricketer. For whatever reason he was picked to bowl spin on a tour of India. The prized scalp of Tendulkar is the only real highlight of White’s short-lived Test career.
6. Andrew McDonald:
A solid performer at state level for Victoria, but ‘Ronald’ was not the all-rounder that Australia was seeking.
7. Graham Manou (WK):
Having retired from the Sheffield Shield, Manou is testing himself in the Big Bash League. A tidy gloveman, but was only ever going to be a replacement for Brad Haddin through injury.
8. Mitchell Johnson:
Statistically our most successful left arm quick to date. However, Johnson will be remembered as the one who couldn’t deliver. At age 30, and with the current depth of the Australian pace stocks, I cannot see Johnson playing again at Test level.
9. Trent Copeland:
After a promising tour of Sri Lanka the NSW medium pacer has seemingly fallen out of contention. It is hard to see him getting a game on the bouncy Australian wickets that favour the express bowlers.
10. Clint Mackay:
A Test debut against the West Indies at the WACA would be a dream come true for any young fast bowler. However, Mackay could only manage one wicket for the match and has not had a look in since.
11. Nathan Hauritz:
You could compile an entire list of discarded spin bowlers, but I could not overlook Nathan Hauritz. He is still plugging away in the Shield after being left out of the Ashes last year. Another Test recall seems unlikely.
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