Tasmanian Krejza still hopeful about playing Test cricket for Australia
By ANIMonday, January 17, 2011
Hobart (Tasmania, Australia), - Discarded Australian off-spinner Jason Krejza, who now turns out for Tasmania in the domestic Sheffield Shield championship, stills nurtures hopes of playing for the country again.
Just over two years after taking 12 wickets on Test debut, Krejza’s career has reached one of its lowest points since he was forced to leave New South Wales in 2006 due to a lack of opportunities.
The 28-year-old has struggled to crack Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield side during the 2010-2011 Summer, and he seems to be towards the bottom of Australia’s long list of potential spin options.
Yet the two-Test veteran remains hopeful his days in the baggy green are not over.
“I do think I’ve still got a lot to offer and I think I’m good enough to play Test cricket so it’s just for me to fight my way back again,” Krejza told Fox Sports.
He added: “I’ve done that before so it’s up to me to do that again.”
Krejza’s determined and optimistic outlook is a credit to him after a frustrating summer, which has seen Tasmania persist with fellow Test discard Xavier Doherty as their No.1 spin option.
While Krejza is a regular for the Tigers in the Ryobi One-Day Cup and KFC Twenty20 Big Bash, he has played only two first-class matches this summer and admits he is at long odds of a Test recall if he can’t make his way back into Tasmania’s first XI.
“On a personal note, the opportunities for the spinners at the higher level obviously are coming, and, I don’t think I would be considered if I’m not playing first-class cricket,” he said.
Krejza’s axing from the Test XI in the summer of 2008-2009 came just six weeks after he made history by claiming debut match figures of 12-358 against India in Nagpur.
His exploits made him just the second Australian to take 12 or more wickets on Test debut and also earned him the unenviable record of conceding the most runs in his first Test match.
And after he returned figures of 1-204 against South Africa in Perth, Nathan Hauritz replaced Krejza for the Boxing Day Test, and he hasn’t been a part of the national setup since. (ANI)
