The Australian one day side has just been selected and the array of talent within the squad is evident. It is a very young side, with the only player over 30 being George Bailey, who has excelled in the KFC BBL05 tournament that has run throughout December and January.
Bailey has scored 240 runs at an average of 60 and a strike rate of 150. These are formidable statistics and it is no surprise that this superb form has resulted in a call-up to represent the national side.
Michael Klinger, however, has scored 241 runs at an average of 40.17 and a strike rate of 128.2. While these figures are not quite as impressive as Bailey’s, some perspective can be gained by considering Klinger’s contributions to cricket internationally over the past five years.
Klinger has played for Gloucestershire for three years, joining as their captain in 2013. In that season, he scored over 1000 runs in the County Championship, including six centuries, as well as a further 1000 runs in limited overs matches.
This form has led to Gloucestershire re-signing him twice; he is currently committed to playing for them in 2016 as a mark of his ability and dedication. Earlier in his career, he won the State Cricket Player of the Year award in both 2009 and 2010. This award is considered one of the most prestigious individual prizes in Australian cricket and for it to be won consecutively shows a man at the top of his game.
It seems strange then that Klinger, who has proven himself consistently over a number of years, has not been given a call-up to the Australian national side. Indeed every other winner of the State Player of the Year award has gone on to play for the Australian national side either as a test player or a one day player.
The only other player to win the award more than once was Darren Lehmann, who won it three times from 2000-2002 and his career for Australia is well documented.
Chris Rogers had a similar treatment from the Australia selectors: he was selected once in 2008 for the test side, then not again until 2013, at which point he enjoyed a two-year run in the side averaging 42.87 with only one duck in that time. Rogers’ extended run in the side began when he was 35. Currently at that age, Klinger might not have lost hope, yet there doesn’t seem to be much more he can do in terms of performance to break into the Australian team.
Klinger’s Perth Scorchers take on the Melbourne Stars in the second semi-final of BBL05 on Friday. The Scorchers three top-scorers are Klinger with 241, Shaun Marsh with 218 runs and Cameron Bancroft with 124. With Marsh called up into the Australian team, the Scorchers will be all the more reliant on Klinger for runs in the semi-final.
On paper, the Stars are the stronger team, though they have lost key players Maxwell, Faulkner, Hastings and Boland to national selection. Their one key player, however, is Kevin Pietersen, the man who needs attention as much as Ant needs Dec. Even I was impressed, though, as Pietersen talked the commentators through a shot over fine leg before expertly executing it seconds later.
On his day, Pietersen has the ability to win a game single-handedly, though his average of 31.17 in this tournament demonstrates that he has not quite lived up to his own high standards.
The tournament has been a thrilling watch and the remaining games showcase some of the finest talent in international T20 cricket.
The competition is so much more enjoyable than the IPL or the RamSlam for multiple reasons, but a key one is the mixture of experience and youth, of domestic and foreign talent.
Klinger’s runs have propelled the Scorchers to their fifth consecutive semi-final, and he will be hoping to spur his team to victory come Sunday.
Has he been overlooked for Australia? Probably. Is this indicative of the Australian selection process? Highly likely. Does he continue to produce inspiring performances to entertain and delight crowds? Absolutely.
Jonny Gould is a third-year student at Bristol University
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