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Oz cricket team sees Krejza as their last hope against India in Nagpur

By Staff


Nagpur, Nov.3 : Australia is seriously considering picking off-spinner Jason Krejza for the final Test against India to be played in Nagpur from November 6 to November 10.

The visitors seem to be desperate about retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which they won during the last series Down Under.

Unable to gain a regular game with Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield and slogged by an India second XI in a pre-series tour match, Krejza has now emerged as Australia's last hope against a powerful Indian batting line-up.

Australia has never looked like claiming the 20 wickets necessary for victory in any of the first three Tests and there is nothing to suggest that Krejza will be able to change that situation, reports Fox Sports.

Australia goes to Nagpur 1-0 down and must win the fourth Test, which starts on Thursday, to draw the series and retain the trophy.

Despite claiming Tendulkar's wicket twice in the series so far, White, the Victoria captain and reluctant leg-spinner, has series figures of five wickets at 60.6 from three Tests, highlighting his lack of impact.

It was difficult to expect anything else from a player who considered himself a batting all-rounder and bowled himself for just 84 overs in nine Sheffield Shield matches last season.

Krejza has always been considered a talented off-spinner but, like many spinners from the past, he is a different and sometimes errant character, forcing him to leave New South Wales and head to Tasmania.

He was 20th on the list of Sheffield Shield wicket-takers last season with just 18 wickets in seven games at an average of 47.11, hardly the figures which should have earned him a spot on this tour.

However, the selectors have continued their obsession with taking off-spinners on Test tours of India.

Krejza was on course to play the first Test ahead of White, a late replacement for McGain, until the off-spinner returned the ugly match figures of 0-199 from 31 overs, at more than a run a ball, against an Indian second XI in a four-day match at Hyderabad.

The Australians certainly need to take wickets more regularly to reduce some of the frustration they continue to display with unnecessary and unseemly outbursts.

Lee has been the biggest disappointment of this series, having just seven wickets at 57.

ANI
Story first published: Tuesday, August 22, 2017, 12:32 [IST]
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