‘Pedestrian’ Hauritz should not be picked for Australia again: John Benaud

SYDNEY - Former Australian selector John Benaud has launched a stinging attack on Nathan Hauritz, saying that the off-spinner no longer has a Test future.

Hauritz is part of the provisional 17-man Ashes squad announced by Cricket Australia for the first Test to be played at the Gabba in Brisbane from November 25.

Benaud, who was part of the selection panel that blooded Shane Warne against India in 1992, said: “Hauritz is just pedestrian. I just don’t see that Nathan has anything going for him at all, really.”

“He’s had a few successes here and there, but he won’t run through the English batting line-up. You need confidence as a spin bowler and I don’t quite see Hauritz oozing confidence,” Fox Sports quoted Benaud, as saying.

“There are other spinners who should be ahead of Nathan in the Test side,” he added.

The 29-year-old was ineffective in the recent Test series against India, averaging 65 for his six wickets in the two-match series. He also went wicketless in Australia’s five-wicket defeat in the second ODI in Visakhapatnam.

Benaud was also of the opinion that the Australian selectors should opt for Tasmanian off-spinner Jason Krejza, who had made a successful debut against India in 2008.

“Ideally, I’d like to see Krejza back in the squad. It was silly what they did with him. He got all those wickets in India and just because he leaked a few runs against South Africa he gets forgotten,” the 66-year-old said.

“He is the best off-spinner in Australia, no question. The other spin option is Steve Smith. I quite like him as an all-rounder,” he added.

Krejza had played in the 2008 Nagpur Test against India, where he claimed eight wickets for 215 runs in the first innings and four wickets for 143 runs in the second innings- leaving him with figures of 12 wickets for 358 runs. (ANI)