Oz selectors wrong to overlook Hopes in World Cup squad: Bracken

SYDNEY - Australian fast bowler Nathan Bracken believes that all-rounder James Hopes should not have has been left out of the 15-man squad for the upcoming World Cup.

With Australian selectors choosing an all-out pace attack to go to the Indian sub-continent, Bracken believes that Hopes’ consistent and controlled bowling would have provided the variety that they might crave if the likes of Shaun Tait or Mitchell Johnson struggle.

“I always liked playing cricket with James - you just knew what you were going to get. He gave everything he had with bat, ball and in the field, and the thing is, with the role I played, he made my role a little bit easier some times,” Fox Sports quoted Bracken, as saying.

“I would’ve had him in the mix, because he can take the pace off the ball, bowl cutters - and in those conditions, where if you get a dusty wicket or one that is worn a bit, they get really hard to score off.”

“He bowls stump to stump. You know he’s always in the game and always fights for you,” he added.

Hopes was a regular in Australia’s squad as recently as the one-day tour to India in October, but the 32-year-old has fallen behind in the pecking-order following Shane Watson’s emergence as the undisputed first-choice all-rounder. (ANI)