Out of reckoning Australia batsman Cameron White was in headlines recently, as he openly questioned Australia’s selection policies. White, who has played four Tests, 88 ODIs and 47 T20Is, was critical about the way players are selected in Australia. The destructive batsman was of the view that the selectors ignore the Sheffield Shield performances and rather focus on fringe and unknown players.
White himself was overlooked for the three-match ODI series across the Trans Tasman despite being the best batsman in the domestic ODI tournament. White was of the view such a policy could adversely impact the future of cricket in Australia.
“Right now, it seems that the Australian team at some stages is a development team,” White was quoted saying to a radio source. “For me, playing for Australia isn’t about getting a chance to develop. Domestic cricket is where that happens.” “You can get picked to play for Australia in any format out of Big Bash, really,” he added.
“It doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
Selector Trevor Hohns hit back at White for his remarks and said the latter’s career was by no means “earth-shattering” for him to be back in the reckoning for Australia.
“I’m a little bit surprised by those comments, to be quite honest,” Hohns said on Wednesday.
“The Sheffield Shield has been well-documented as being very important to us in Australian cricket – selectors, everybody.”And then younger players – I think he just needs to remember that he was a very young man when he was given his first opportunity in one-day cricket.”
“I don’t think there is any disparity there at all, to be honest.”Cameron has had plenty of opportunities. He has had plenty of opportunities in the past and it’s probably fair to say performed okay without being earth shattering,” Hohns concluded.