Dan Christian lost in the system as national selectors look elsewhere for bowling all-rounders..
News Limited Network January 16, 2013 10:03AM
Dan Christian is lost in the system as national selectors look elsewhere - auditioning all-rounders in a rotation policy where winning is a bonus.
Christian, 29, will also be concerned that disciplinary action from South Australian Cricket Association for damaging some change-room lockers has affected his national chances despite assurances it would not.
Christian was in Australia's first-choice squad during the limited overs tour against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates last September but has missed out on the rotation merry-go-round and been ignored against Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Bank Series.
"I would like to think I haven't fallen that far off the perch in the last couple of months," said Christian, not the first batsman to belt a locker in frustration.
"I guess it will be about consistency. I am going to have to score some runs and get a bag of wickets a few times in a row."
National chairman of selectors John Inverarity insists his panel wants to find Australia's next bowling all-rounder in choosing Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and now Moises Henriques on Sunday against Sri Lanka in Brisbane.
Smith and Maxwell failed to fire in Australia's eight-wicket loss to Sri Lanka on Sunday in Adelaide.
There has been no mention of Christian who was 12th man in the Boxing Day Test against India last season and has fronted in 17 one-day and 10 Twenty20 games for Australia.
However Christian's explosive batting and 140km/h seamers remain an attractive option - snaring nine Big Bash League wickets at 23.11 for Brisbane Heat to go with 98 in 37 first-class matches and 17 at 31 - in one-day battle for Australia.
"I understand they are going in a different direction but I don't think I am going too bad," said Christian, who destroyed Sydney Thunder taking 5-26 on December 28.
"I have played that bowling allrounder role recently and believe I have a decent record to show for it with a good economy rate."