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October 31 will mark three years to the day since Moises Henriques made his debut for Australia. It was a one-day match against India in Delhi and he faced 17 balls before being bowled by Ravindra Jadeja for 12.
Well before that day he had picked up the unenviable tag of ‘the next big thing’ in Australian cricket.
Expectations on ‘the next big thing’ often exceed the reality of the player’s situation, and few live up to the hype straight away.
In the intervening period they’re hit with insults ranging from ‘not good enough’ to ‘uncommitted’.
Henriques is now 25, and although he’s no longer ‘the next big thing’, he could finally be the right thing.
The all-rounder has played two Sheffield Shield matches for New South Wales so far this season and is averaging 289.
He has also sent down 33 overs, taking seven wickets for 107 runs.
In his only one-day cup appearance for the Blues this season he scored 78.
Combine that with his heroics for the Sydney Sixers in the Twenty20 Champions League, where he has scored 49 not out and taken combined figures of 4 for 33, and you have a player who should be front and centre in the selectors’ minds ahead of the first test against South Africa at the GABBA on November nine.
It would take an injury to one of Australia’s middle order batsmen for him to get a start though, with Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey showing no signs of slowing down.
He could also be the perfect back-up for an overworked Shane Watson.
The selectors are desperate to nurse Watson through a hectic program ahead of the Ashes next year, but know that resting him leaves them short of a bowler.
Henriques is more than capable with the ball in hand, and if he hasn’t added to his three international appearances by the end of the summer then something has gone seriously wrong.
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