Xavier Doherty becomes ninth spinner selected for Australia's Test team in last 46 months

Ashes bolter Xavier Doherty admits he is the latest spinner to enter the firing line after becoming the ninth spinner in 46 months to be catapulted into the Australia Test side.

Australian cricket's spinning merry-go-round continued when Doherty was named in a 13-man squad for the first Test against England at the expense of incumbent tweaker Nathan Hauritz, whose 17-Test career lies in tatters.

Since leg-spin legend Shane Warne's retirement in January 2007, Australia have used Stuart MacGill, Brad Hogg, Beau Casson, Cameron White, Jason Krejza, Bryce McGain, Steve Smith and Hauritz.

"But now I'm the one being hunted, there will be people after my spot. I do feel for him (Hauritz), but these things happen in the professional game."

The left-arm tweaker says he isn't daunted by Australia's search for the next Warne and is confident he can succeed against the Poms.

The national selectors are taking a fair gamble on Doherty. He was axed by Tasmania in favour of Krejza four years ago and his first-class average of 48.26 is vastly inferior to Hauritz's Test record, which has seen him net 63 scalps at 34.98.

But the left-arm tweaker appears on the rise, as evidenced by his four-wicket haul in his one-day debut against Sri Lanka 18 days ago, and is motivated by the memories of his domestic axing.

"Getting the axe from the Tassie Shield team (was a turning point)," Doherty said.

No comments:

Post a Comment