For every cricketer, it is a dream to play for his national side very early during their career, but the right-handed batsman Michael Klinger had to wait for 19 seasons in the first-class cricket to get named into the 13-member Australian squad to represent the Men in Baggy Green in the three-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka, later this month.
“I called my wife first. I held back the tears, to be honest, until I spoke to her. JL gave me a big hug, and it was hard to keep the tears away after I spoke to her. Then I called my brother and my dad and my sister,” Klinger was quoted as saying by Perth Scorchers BBL website.
The batting mainstay in Australia’s first-class cricket and all-time leading scorer in the KFC Big Bash League, Klinger, who lost her mother while battling a cancer in 2005, was rewarded for his consistent performances in the domestic leg, followed by splendid show for the Perth Scorchers in the recently concluded Twenty20 Big Bash League.
“It’s a moment, I wasn’t sure if it was going to come. That half an hour when I got to speak to my family, I’ll treasure forever. It’s certainly exciting times. It was great for JL to come and tell me at the start of training, and then speaking to Trevor [national selector Trevor Hohns],” Klinger was quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
The 36-year-old Klinger amassed 334 runs in 10 matches at an average of 37.11 before Scorchers’ coach Justin Langer pushed selectors to pick Klinger in the T20 squad.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more. It’s been 15, 16 years of hard work and it’s great to get some reward now. Exciting is probably the best word,” Klinger revealed.
Earlier, former Australia batsman Justin Langer was announced as the coach for the three-match T20 series at home against Sri Lanka as Aussie head coach Darren Lehmann will be touring India for a four-match Test series, scheduled from February 23.
The Victoria-born Klinger was the third highest run-getter overall this season in the BBL after Melbourne Renegades skipper Aaron Finch and Sydney Sixers batsman Ben Dunk, who led the run charts with 364 runs.
Klinger smashed three fifties before scoring an unbeaten 71 in the final to see Scorchers lift the coveted Trophy for the third time.
“Maybe the last 12 months in terms of Test cricket-wise, they’ve looked to go in a new direction, and that’s fine. But Twenty20 cricket you generally pick the guys who are in form,” Klinger remarked.
Klinger will be the oldest debutant for Australia in T20Is at the age of 36 after former veteran fast bowler Glenn McGrath and spinner Brad Hogg made their debut in the 20-over format at the age of 35 in 2005-06.
“I think my consistency in T20 cricket in the last six years in the Big Bash and maybe overseas. The timing is right, it probably hasn’t been in other years. I’m thrilled it went my way this time,” Klinger concluded.
In 2009-10, Klinger was named as the Domestic Cricketer of the Year in Australia following his prolific run.
“It’s a completely different format to the other two. I’m pretty pumped to be honest. There’s a few guys not around to be selected (due to Test duty) which helped a little bit,” Klinger concluded.
In 473 innings across all formats at domestic level, Klinger has racked up 22,093 runs with 51 centuries and 126 half-centuries.