KEY POINTS:
The dumping of Matthew Bell and Mathew Sinclair from the test squad to tour England highlights a troubling concern for our summer game. It says volume of runs at domestic level is not enough to earn test selection and certainly not enough to ease selectors' minds about whether
their selections are of test match quality.
In fairness, Sinclair was given every opportunity in test matches to regain his early international form but showed he is not the player he was in 1999. So the selectors were able to ignore his good return for Central Districts again and his quite outstanding domestic record.
Bell, on the other hand, would have stimulated more debate. In 1998, Bell was selected on potential then dropped. In 2000 he earned his place back on sheer volume of runs and was dropped again. At the start of this year, he again showed top domestic form and gained re-selection then ended the year being dropped. Not even a gutsy and determined 60 in his last test innings was enough to save him.
Bell's last effort speaks volumes about where our selectors want to go. They are looking for a certain type, not necessarily the player who scores the most first class runs.
It's a sad reflection on our domestic game that its standard is not high enough standard to ensure our top team selection is based on our best domestic performers. Take Grant Elliot, for example. After a poor debut test, he backs up with 196 not out against Auckland good enough only for an early tour IPL player replacement gig.
I say well done to our selection panel for taking this stance on our domestic game but I also ask: who would be a selector under these conditions? Sure, potential players need to score heavily at the lower level but that only now provides a guideline.
The selectors are reduced to taking a punt. Aaron Redmond is a punt. He's capable and has done well but there is still a high degree of hope over his selection. There would be hope that Gareth Hopkins has moved past being a wicketkeeper-batsman and is now a batsman who keeps a bit but they won't know till he's tried in the top six.
The biggest concern for a selector now, though, must be when a player struggles at test level. When that happens, the selectors don't have the luxury of simply saying, "go back to domestic cricket and find some form."
That is because they always do. Sinclair, Bell, and Craig Cumming, just to name a few, have all shown that regaining selection through volume of runs does not equate to being a better player.
So I hope the same can't be said for Peter Fulton and James Marshall this time round.
And to end on a thought to ponder. Are we good at one-day international cricket because our international players and Indian Cricket League players are available for the State Shield more than they are for the State Championship?