Congratulations to Adam Voges, who is finally playing Test cricket at the ripe young age of 35.
It’s been a long haul, which looked likely to never eventuate for the likeable West Australian, who took over the captaincy of his state in a time of crisis, and both he and the Warriors have blossomed.
He showed at times he had the credentials to be a good player at international level in one-day cricket, but his first-class performances have been frustratingly inconsistent over the years.
FULL AUSTRALIA vs WEST INDIES DAY 2 SCORECARD
However, in the 2014-15 domestic season, virtually every time he went out to bat for Western Australia he scored runs – and big runs at that.
In the Sheffield Shield final, played on a flat track in Hobart against Victoria, he was the standout batsman. He made a sublime century on the first day, shading the heroics of teammate Marcus Harris and former teammate Chris Rogers, the latter whom he has replaced in the Test team in the West Indies.
At the press conference to announce the Test squads for the West Indian and English tours, Head selector Rod Marsh said of Voges, “Every time I saw him bat, he didn’t look like getting out.”
Spot on.
In the end, despite being at an age where many athletes have either retired or are considering it, Voges had to be picked. He made so many runs that the selectors couldn’t ignore him any more.
Joe Burns, who was solid in his first two Tests against India, was unlucky not to be chosen and if he had have been on this tour he would have replaced the injured Rogers for the first Test.
Shaun Marsh though, who has also opened for many years for the Warriors, was moved up to that role. This allowed Voges to pip Mitch Marsh for the last batting position in the top six.
He has obviously not been chosen for the future, but for the present, with all the experience he brings.
Maybe he wasn’t ready for Test until now.
All players mature differently. With Rogers seen as a specialist in English conditions, even though Voges himself has also played plenty of county cricket, he might have to bide his time in England and even in the second Test in the West Indies, but he has his opportunity here, after waiting forever.
When Voges was told a year ago by coach Darren Lehmann that he wouldn’t be in the 2015 World Cup squad, it seemed his short international career was over. But this stylish player just put his head down and kept scoring runs for his beloved Western Australia, and now becomes one of the best cricket stories of the year.
Like Paul Keating said when he won the unwinnable election to remain Prime Minister in 1993, “This victory is one for the true believers.”
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