Axed Krejza has no intention of falling off Oz spin cycle radar

HOBART - Dismissing a theory advanced by some in cricket circles that he has been axed from the Tasmania Sheffield Shield squad because he was found to be dropping his head at the time of delivery, off-spinner Jason Krejza has said that he has no intention of falling off the Australian spin cycle radar.

Insisting that there is nothing sinister behind his axing, The Age quoted Krejza as saying: “I think it’s come back to the numbers showing that my form at Bellerive Oval hasn’t been fantastic, and they have picked a team with four quicks showing that our bowling mix at Bellerive wasn’t working.”

I’m pretty sure it’s a short-term thing. I just have to look to the next game I’m going to be selected in, which hopefully is the next game away [in Perth from next Friday], and at Bellerive Oval they might continue doing the four quicks, who knows,” he added.

“I don’t think there is any link whatsoever,” said Krejza of his response to Hauritz’s emergence as a reliable, wicket-taking Test spinner this summer.

Spin bowling can be a brutal and confidence-shaking occupation in Australia; Beau Casson has disappeared from the NSW scene since playing a solitary Test in the West Indies in 2008 and the Victorian selectors appear to have moved on from Bryce McGain at first-class level, preferring to give youngster Jon Holland some exposure almost a year after McGain’s only Test in South Africa.

A few months ago, Krejza and Hauritz were competing for the same spot in the Australian squad, and Krejza was bowling with admirable control.

In his most recent games at Bellerive Oval, though, he returned figures of 0-80 and 0-143.

The national selectors have recently preferred NSW all-rounder Steve Smith as a spin understudy for Hauritz, but Krejza has not given up on another crack at Test cricket.

But first, he must find a way back for Tasmania, rather than vanish like previous spinners in the post-Shane Warne era.

“That can happen to a few people, but I am quite determined to get back there. The news of getting dropped was disappointing, but the selectors told me exactly why and we figured out a game plan of how to get back and that’s what I’ve got to do. There is no use crying about it,” he said. (ANI)