Chairman’s XI batsman Alex Doolan has the perfect chance to force his way into Australia’s Test team this week, but the talented Tasmanian says he would pick both Phil Hughes and Rob Quiney before his own call-up.
Doolan is in imperious form this summer, scoring 570 first-class runs at an average of 81.43 including an unbeaten 161 against South Africa for Australia A, and could capitalise on another opportunity in the three-day game against Sri Lanka starting Thursday in Canberra.
His name is amongst the contenders to replace retiring champion Ricky Ponting, who leaves enormous shoes to fill in the middle of the Australian batting lineup.
But despite his own impressive numbers, the affable Doolan says if he was a selector he would find it hard to ignore Hughes – and he’d also like to see Quiney, who scored nine runs in three Test innings against South Africa, given another crack.
Hughes has put forward a compelling case for a recall, leading the Sheffield Shield run-scorers with 518, while sitting second in the domestic one-day competition with 323 runs.
“If I was picking the team I’d probably put Phil Hughes in there just simply through weight of runs,” Doolan told AAP.
“It seems every time he steps onto the crease he’s hitting runs and hitting them at good pace and in a consistent way.”
Quiney is a popular member of the Australian cricketing family and made a good impression on selectors despite his lack of runs, which included a pair in the drawn Adelaide Test, prompting Doolan to say he has more to offer Test cricket.
“I’m not saying that I’d be happy to have someone picked ahead of me but I think Bobby (Quiney) deserves it as much as anyone,” Doolan said.
“I really hope he gets another crack at it.
“He deserved his call-up to the national team and obviously results didn’t go his way but that just shows what the game is.
“It’s a fickle game and sometimes results don’t go your way but I’ve no doubt he’s Test quality and I’m sure he’d show it if he got another go.”
However, being a specialist No.3 could give Doolan the inside running to replace Ponting, with Australian coach Mickey Arthur saying on Tuesday the incoming batsman would be asked to bat first drop.
The modest Doolan insists he is pleased simply to be in the discussion with the likes of Hughes, Quiney and Usman Khawaja.
“If I keep putting runs on the board then hopefully I can continue to have my name spoken amongst those guys,” the 27-year-old said.
“This last two months has been really exciting to get to where I am with my cricket.
“I’m not holding out for a Test cap as such. I’d be over the moon if that came along but there’s plenty of cricket to go.”