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A letter to John Hastings, an unlikely ODI hero

14th September, 2015
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Roar Guru
14th September, 2015
1

In the deciding ODI at Old Trafford, international cricket finally gave something back to you. It gave you a leading role in a decisive Australian victory.

Of course, no player has a leading role in every victory their team has ever enjoyed. You have made useful contributions in some of the international matches you have played.

Dismissing Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell in an Australian ODI victory at Brisbane in 2011 for instance.

But international cricket hadn’t given you much, in spite of your efforts. On day three of your Test debut, I was in France or England. Nobody could have blamed you had you wished you were also in either of those countries on that day of South African dominance.

At Old Trafford, the game gave you more than tidy figures or another memory of a day where you outsmarted multiple batsmen. It gave you the moments that make a bowler smile.

Reece Topley seemingly trying to play a shot while simultaneously trying to sneeze. A batsman refusing a single to third man. The spinner removing the defensively minded tailender.

Such is Australia’s fast bowling depth that it’s hard to predict who will be representing Australia throughout the rest of this year and beyond.

Unlike Brendon McCullum, the mere mention of your name doesn’t cause an audio bleed in the Sky Sports commentary box that leads to the Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s Messiah being broadcast.

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But no matter what does happen in the future, you have an international performance to hang your hat on. Well done.

On a final note the next time you, your cousin Arthur and Hercule Poirot relax the little grey cells in light conversation, can you tell Poirot I’m a huge fan?

Cheers!

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