Australian cricket team has indeed a lot of Pacers to boast off. Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood, Pattinson are among the favourites. but recent times have put light on another Aussie pacer, John Hastings.
The 31-year-old had a commendable 2016 with the ball. He was one of the most successful Aussie all-rounders and the second-highest ODI wicket-taker (29 wickets at 24.13). But, much to everyone’s surprise, the selectors didn’t pick him for the Newzealand series that followed. Even Hastings didn’t take that off well after suffering a further knee injury during the Sheffield Shield match.
But buried under the ashes of the star pace attack in the side, Hastings may shine brightly if called upon in the squad for Champions Trophy 2017.
“Missing out on that New Zealand series was tough to take, no doubt,” Hastings said after Australia’s washed-out practice match against Pakistan in Birmingham on Monday (May 29). “Then I got injured and missed the rest of the summer. So I was in a pretty flat spot at times during the Big Bash.”
His knee injury also was a concern for him and he fears of that might end his career.
“The early diagnosis for my injury was quite bad and I thought that could have been it, no doubt,” he said. “But once they got in there and had a look, it wasn’t so bad.
“Nine to 10 months came down to about four months so that Champions Trophy was well in my mind and I was glad to get through it,” he added.
“Sakes is brilliant. He’s the first to come and tell you what you are doing wrong but also when you are going well,” he said. “There’s also his knowledge of English conditions, and I keep harping on about conditions, but it is really important over here. “Some days it can be … swinging around, some days the sun can be out and it’s flat and it doesn’t do anything,” he added. “You have to know what to expect and he has been a big part of that.”