Make no mistake, George Bailey is aware of the buzz his outstanding one-day form in India is generating back home.
He’s in one of the rarest patches of form seen in the ODI game, with Wednesday’s imperious 156 smashing yet more records in his all-conquering series.
But the 31-year-old, who is a firm favourite to secure the No.6 spot in Australia’s opening Ashes Test at the Gabba, is philosophical about the attention.
“I take it all with a grain of salt, really,” the interim ODI skipper told AAP.
“Most of the people saying I’m in the Test team are the same ones who have been bringing up I averaged 18 (in the Shield) last year,” he adds.
“Cricket … it’s quite a fickle game.
“I don’t really take any notice of anyone outside of the team.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinions. But I have no interest in them.
“I’ll be interested if one of those opinions comes from (Chairman of selectors) John Inverarity or (selectors) Andy Bichel or Rod Marsh.”
What hasn’t changed for Bailey is his insatiable thirst for runs, which have led to his accumulating 474 runs at 118.5 on the tour of India.
It continues a record-breaking start to Bailey’s international career, which first saw him become the equal-fastest Australian to 1000 ODI runs alongside the great Greg Chappell.
In Nagpur, he became the outright fastest Australian to 1500 ODI runs, second fastest of all-time behind Pakistan’s Hashim Amla.
He also has the second-best all-time ODI average; his 56.85 behind only the 67 of Ryan ten Doeschate of the Netherlands.
“I think scoring runs is addictive,” he said.
“But it’s a fickle game. It feels like a long time ago since you played your last game.
“Anytime you have a good run with the bat, you just want to keep it going.”
Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said Bailey’s exceptional form streak was better than any he’d encountered in his international career – and said it was special to play alongside him.
“I’ve seen some extraordinary innings in one-day competition,” Haddin told AAP.
“But what George has done in this period and how consistent he’s been is something I’ve never witnessed before.
“That’s very exciting and pretty special to be witness to that at the moment.
“He’s doing everything right, now we’ve just got to get a win.”
