In tribute to poor old Callum Ferguson and Joe Mennie we can reflect on some of the other quickly discarded Australians they may wish to catch up with for a commiserative drink.

These men are players who rode the roller-coaster of Australian selection and dumping in the space of a handful of Test matches (or a single Test for that matter).

Here is a look at Australian Test debutants (in order) since 2000 who were discarded after ten or fewer Tests, with their baggy greens in mint condition.

Martin Love
Class top order batsman for Queensland and Durham. Over 16,000 first class runs at 49.85 with a top score of 300*. Two double centuries in 2002-03 against the touring English team. Played five Tests averaging 46.60 including 100* in his final Test against Bangladesh. Then discarded.

Would be an absolute lock for our Test team if he played in the current era.

Harshness rating 9/10

Brad Williams
Fiery fast bowler from WA with a first class bowling average of 32. Earned Test selection in 2003 on the back of performances for the ODI team including five wicket hauls against New Zealand and Zimbabwe. In four Tests he only had one stand out bowling performance taking 4/53 in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test in 2003 against India. The wicket of one Sachin Tendulkar the highlight. Unfortunately he went wicketless in his next Test versus Sri Lanka ending up with nine Test wickets at 45.11.

Showed promise but didn’t quite make the most of his opportunities.

Harshness rating 3/10

Nathan Bracken
Left arm quick from NSW ranked the number one ODI bowler in the world for an extended period. One of Australia’s best ever ODI bowler with 174 wickets at 24.36 and economy rate of 4.41. Test match debut in 2003. Discarded after five Tests which netted 12 wickets at 42.08 for not being quite incisive enough.

Scalps included some handy players – Lara, Chanderpaul, Ganguly, Sehwag twice, Graeme Smith twice – gave an insight of his potential at Test level. A first class bowling average of 26.06 including a best of 7/4, Bracken was lethal in swinging conditions.

Perhaps deserved a few more opportunities to make his claim?

Harshness rating 7/10

Shaun Tait
Lightning fast paceman from South Australia. An excellent record for Australia in the short forms averaging 23 with the ball in ODIs and 21 in T20, not to mention the intimidation factor he brought to the party. Made his Test debut in the 2005 Ashes starting with a three wicket haul including a searing in-swinging yorker to knock over Trescothick.

Unfortunately he wasn’t as lethal in the Test arena as he was in the short forms and after two more less fruitful Tests was discarded, with five wickets at 60.40. His body didn’t agree with the longer form – a shame.

Harshness rating 3/10

Brad Hodge
Could easily be the pin up boy for this article. (Editor’s note, he is!)

A prolific top order batsman for Victoria and in county cricket. 17,000 first class runs at 48.81 with a high of 302*. Debuted in 2005 and in just his third Test he scored a magnificent 203* against the mighty South Africans – an attack including Pollock and Ntini. However with six tests under his belt and averaging 55.88, Hodge was discarded and no doubt frustrated as others were selected ahead of him.

He continued to make a compelling case for reselection with mountains of Shield runs but it was not to be. Could easily have been one of our greats at Test level.

Harshness rating 10/10

Dan Cullen
Off spin bowler from South Australia won many admirers early in his career. Test debut in 2006 in Bangladesh alongside Warne and MacGill. Cullen picked up what would be his only Test wicket dismissing Mortaza in the first innings. Unfortunately with Warne picking up eight wickets and MacGill seven, Cullen’s one at 54 didn’t compare well. His one wicket cost 54 and he didn’t provide enough issues for the batsmen to be retained. His first class bowling average of 44 didn’t scream selection and he was more suited to the shorter forms.

Possibly fortunate to receive a baggy green and his career quickly went downhill thereafter.

Harshness factor 2/10

Beau Casson
Another man picked in the post Warne era as Australia desperately searched for a replacement. Casson bowled left arm chinaman for WA then NSW. His first class bowling average of 43.04 wasn’t anything special but an outstanding Shield season in 2007/08 netting 29 wickets at 35.13 and 485 runs at 60.62 caught the attention of selectors. His debut in the WI in 2008 brought three wickets at an average of 43 and 10 runs in his only innings. His form died off horribly thereafter and he wasn’t selected for the next tour of India.

Fair to say Casson was mostly a one season wonder and a Test match debut the icing on the cake of his prolific season.

Harshness rating 1/10

Cameron White
Began as the next Shane Warne and becam a very handy middle order batsman. White made his name in international cricket as a hard hitting ODI batsman averaging 34 for Australia at the impressive strike rate of 80. Debuted in Test cricket in 2008 in India as a No.8 batsman and leg spinner. He made some handy knocks and even dismissed Tendulkar twice but didn’t set the world on fire. White played four Tests in the series averaging 29 with the bat and 68 with the ball.

He was then discarded, and hasn’t been picked since. A first class batting average around 41 would suggest he is unlucky not to have had another chance in more recent times.

Harshness rating 5/10

Jason Krejza
It was a bizarre Test career for the NSW then Tasmania off spinner. Another who benefited from post-Warne era panic Krejza debuted in India in 2008 off the back of not a great deal really – a first class bowling average of almost 50 and a tour match effort of 0-199.

Extraordinarily Krejza took 12 wickets on debut but conceded 358 runs. The scalps of Sehwag, Dravid, Laxman, Ganguly and Dhoni, gives Krejza plenty of stories to tell. He came back down to earth with match figures of 1-204 against South Africa in Perth and was dropped.

Two Tests, 13 wickets at 43.23 and that was that. No doubt Krejza would feel hard done by, but his Test average and economy rate along with his first class average don’t scream selection either.

Harshness rating 4/10

Andrew McDonald
A seam bowling Victorian all rounder with very tidy first class stats – averaging 40 with the bat and 29 with the ball. McDonald made his debut as the selectors sought an all rounder. Perhaps unfortunate he played all of his four Tests against an attack of Steyn, Ntini, Morkel and Kallis, McDonald appeared out of his depth in the batting department averaging 21.40 – although a final dig of 68 showed promise. His bowling appeared unthreatening but he kept things tight- he returned nine wickets at 33 including the wickets of Amla, Kallis twice and de Villiers.

He was promptly discarded but perhaps he was growing into Test cricket and had a lot more to offer?

Harshness rating 6/10

Bryce McGain
A Victorian leggie who debuted against South Africa in 2009 at the age of 36. His first class bowling average of 35 indicated he was worth a shot but in hindsight the selectors were very wrong. Against a rampaging Prince, Kallis and de Villiers, McGain was treated with disdain, returning 0-149 off just 18 overs (8.27 rpo).

No real chances created and plenty of long hops and it was a debut to forget- or more appropriately a Test career to forget. I’m sure not even Bryce would have problems with not being selected again.

Harshness rating 0/10

Graham Manou
South Australia wicketkeeper who filled in for Brad Haddin for a single Test in the 2009 Ashes. Manou did ok – 8 and 13* plus three catches – but was replaced when Haddin returned. Manou’s first class batting average of 25 meant that once Haddin was back he wasn’t getting another Test. Manou retired from cricket before Haddin so one Test was all he managed.

Would be pleased to be able to call himself a Test cricketer although a couple more Tests deputising would have been a decent reward for the reliable gloveman’s first class career and not doing much wrong in his only Test.

Harshness rating 2/10

Clint McKay

Victorian seam bowler who performed very well for Australian over a five year ODI career averaging 24 with the ball and reaching No.4 in the world. His Test debut was in 2009 versus the West Indies in which McKay returned 1-101 match figures. The selectors considered him too slow and he was more suited to short form cricket.

A first class bowling average of 26.94 suggests McKay may have warranted a few more chances at Test level.

Harshness rating 4/10

Tim Paine

Another who deputised for Brad Haddin, Paine was the wicketkeeper for Tasmania when he debuted in 2010. Paine didn’t do much wrong with 16 catches and a stumping in his four Tests plus 287 runs at 35.87. This included a 92 and a 59 in India showing considerable promise. Unfortunately injury reared its head and Paine hasn’t quite got back to his kind of form. His first class average of 28 and being out of the Tasmanian team suggest his Test career is over.

Harshness rating 5/10

Peter George
Then South Australian seamer debuted in 2010 in India, based on a stellar first class season and his towering height. A first Test wicket of Tendulkar was a pretty good start. George ended his debut with two wickets at 38.50 – not bad in India’s batting friendly conditions. Injuries prevented more Test action but a first class average of 31 suggests it could have been more, and still could be.

Harshness rating 5/10

Xavier Doherty
A serviceable left arm orthodox spinner from Tasmania, Doherty was a reliable limited overs bowler for Australia with 55 wickets at 40. Picked for Test debut with a first class average of 43, the selectors hoped his ODI experience would help him in the Test arena. Doherty received two chances, versus England in 2010 and in India in 2013. Unfortunately seven wickets at 78.28 didn’t cut it and after four Tests his career was over.

Harshness rating 1/10

Michael Beer
Another in the spin bowling merry go round. Then Victorian left arm tweaker Beer debuted in 2011. Two matches and three wickets at 59 didn’t demand continued selection nor did a first class average of 40. Beer was much more suited to short form cricket and will be pleased to have a baggy green.

Harshness rating 2/10

Trent Copeland

With a first class bowling average of 25.60 and scrooge like economy rate for NSW, Copeland deserved his selection for the Sri Lankan tour in 2011. In bat friendly conditions, six wickets at 37.83 (including Dilshan three times and Jayawardene twice) at an economy rate of 2.10 was a decent return.

A handy lower order batsman, Copeland’s record probably deserves another chance at Test level, although his medium pace may not be quick enough for selectors’ liking.

Harshness rating 6/10

Pat Cummins

A Test debut effort as an 18-year-old in South Africa in 2011 returned seven wickets at 16.71 including Amla, Kallis and de Villiers and show he belongs there. However injuries have drastically hampered Cummins’ aspirations. Hopefully his body comes good and he can play more than one Test.

Harshness rating N/A

Rob Quiney
The Victorian top order batsman was selected for the South Africa home series in 2012 most thought as a way to shield Phil Hughes from the gun South Africa attack. Although he made apparently the best ever debut 9, the second Test brought about a pair. Two tests, 9 runs at 3 and the Rob Quiney experiment was done. A solid first class cricketer averaging 37, Quiney arguably deserved a chance, but was found wanting at Test level. Another who was unlucky to debut against a roaring South Africa attack.

Harshness rating 2/10

John Hastings
The big Victoria fast bowler averages 27 with the ball and 22 with the bat in first class cricket and being a reliable ODI bowler for Australia deserved his chance. It came in 2012 versus South Africa. Unfortunately the Proteas enjoyed his bowling and match stats of 1-153 weren’t his desired outcome. Probably more suited to ODIs and T20s although first class statistics do indicate potential is there.

Harshness rating 3/10

Jackson Bird
A stellar first class record for the tall Tasmania fast bowler currently reads 233 wickets @ 24.63. Bird who debuted in 2012 has so far played five Test matches and returned 21 wickets @ 25.28 including scalps of Jayawardene, Dilshan, Cook and Williamson. Clearly based on his early career he belongs at Test level. The selectors have been often hesitant to select him. Deserves more opportunities.

Harshness rating 8/10

Moises Henriques
The NSW allrounder has always had potential and despite expectations may never reach them. A first batting and bowling average of 31 are solid but far from spectactular. His four Tests on the sub continent in 2013 then 2016 have yielded a batting average of 23.42 and bowling average of 82. Opportunities have been granted but not accepted.

Harshness rating 3/10

Glenn Maxwell
The Victorian all rounder has had three Tests in Asia after a debut in 2013. His returns are ordinary – a batting average of 13.33 and bowling average of 38.71. His ODI record and first class record (batting average of 40) confirm the talent is there. Possibly deserves a run in Australian conditions although hasn’t taken his opportunities at Test level yet.

Harshness rating 5/10

Ashton Agar
The young Western Australia allrounder made his Test debut in 2013 in England. Despite an incredible 98 on debut his bowling wasn’t quite good enough (although he did get Cook) snaring two wickets at 124. His first class stats of batting average 27 and bowling 39, don’t yet command selection. Not yet unlucky to add to his two caps, hopefully this changes soon.

Harshness rating 3/10

James Faulkner
The Tassie allrounder has done a very good job for Australia in ODI and T20 cricket confirming he belongs on the world stage. A debut in England in 2013 was impressive too, batting average of 22.50 and six wickets at 16.33, however he is yet to add to this one cap. First class averages of 31.71 (batting) and 24.61 (bowling) are very impressive and if he can improve one of his two disciplines slightly he will be selection material for the Test side.

Harshness rating 7/10

George Bailey

The Tasmanian batsman has been a fantastic ODI player for Australia averaging 41, and possesses a first class average of around 40. He was given a whole Ashes series in 2013/14 to prove himself as a Test player however struggling not snicking behind. An average of 26 was not deemed good enough and he was dropped. His ODI record and solid first class record suggest he may have been persisted with a little longer perhaps.

Harshness rating 5/10

Alex Doolan
Debuting in South Africa in 2014 the Tasmanian batsman got four Tests to show his worth. Despite 89 against a strong SA attack his performances waned and his batting deemed too slow. A Test average of 23.87 and first class average of 34.86 mean he may struggle to get back.
Harshness rating 3/10

Steve O’Keefe
Debuted in 2014 yet has only played three Tests. The NSW left arm spinner has been behind Nathan Lyon in the pecking order throughout despite continually outperforming him in Shield games. O’Keefe’s first class records are stellar, batting average of 29.12 and bowling average of 23.64, both far superior to Lyon. In Test cricket he has ten wickets @ 35.60, outperforming Lyon in two and the other a split points decision. Deserves more chances.
Harshness rating 8/10

John Holland
Debut in 2016 in SL the Victoria left arm spinner wasn’t too threatening and ended with two matches, 5 wickets @ 54.80. First class average of 36.26 is reasonable for a spinner in Australia. Stuck behind Lyon and O’Keefe and fortunate to get a run following O’Keefe’s indiscretion.

Harshness rating 1/10

Joe Mennie
Earned his debut by leading the 2015-16 Shield wicket takers list with 51 wickets @ 21.21 and an overall first class average of 27.24. His return on debut of 1-85 versus SA wasn’t too flattering and he didn’t look all that threatening. Cast aside after just the one bowling innings, which no doubt was impacting by a degree of debut nerves. Arguments both ways.

Harshness rating 5/10

Callum Ferguson
A first class average of 39.36 is bogged down by a slow start to his career in which Ferguson has averaged over fifty for each season from 2013-14 onwards. Can perform on the international stage too, as proved by his ODI average of 41.43. Finally a Test debut in 2016 versus SA, it turned into a horror match for Ferguson. Run out for three and dismissed for one in the second innings. Considering his ODI record and form over the past few seasons Ferguson has good reason to feel aggrieved about getting just one Test to show his wares.

Harshness rating 7/10

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So how sorry should we feel for Callum Ferguson and Joe Mennie? From the rankings, both are top 10 most harshly treated Test players.

No doubt they are feeling very sorry for themselves right now and rightly so in their treatment by the selectors but let’s spare a thought for the players who come in higher on the list. Poor old Brad Hodge and Martin Love in particular. At least Bird and O’Keefe have a chance to reignite their Test career.

And that’s not to mention those who never got a chance to don the baggy green – plenty who had greater claims than Ferguson and Mennie – but that’s one for another time.