ICC World Cup 2011: Nathan Hauritz relieved after being included in World Cup squad
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746’s Test spinner Nathan Hauritz said that he is relieved after learning that he was included in the final World Cup squad.
“It’s definitely a great deal of relief to be selected as part of the 15 to go over the subcontinent,” Hauritz said.
Hauritz was named in the squad on Tuesday morning when the chairman of the Australian selectors Andrew Hilditch announced the 15-man squad for February’s World Cup.
The ICC World Cup 2011 will be jointly hosted by India, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 and Hauritz was excited to play in sub-continent that is known to produce spin-friendly decks.
“I didn’t really know what to think,” the stunned spinner told the media. However, he admitted that there were thoughts in the back of his mind that he might not make the cut after being ignored by the selectors for the entire 2010-11 Ashes series.
Hauritz was included in the 15-member squad when the selectors decided to opt for only one specialist spinner despite the sub-continent’s spin-friendly conditions. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tasmania-c854’s left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty was overlooked in favour of Hauritz despite being included in the recent first One Day International against England.
However, the selectors opted for a more experienced spinner who has been in top form in the domestic first-class cricket 2010-11 season.
Hilditch stated that Hauritz was selected due to his “excellent” record in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 even though he picked up just four wickets from his seven ODIs at an average of 70.75. In his ODI career so far, he has taken 63 wickets at an average of 33.58 from 57 games.
Hauritz said that even though the selectors have been in touch with him, he still feared his exclusion, especially after being overlooked for the Ashes series.
The spin bowler has been vocal about his disappointment over his exclusion from the Ashes squad and even gave away his cricket gear in a yard sale that sparked rumours that the distressed bowler is giving up.
Hauritz bounced back into contention when he was recently awarded the Australian Cricket Association’s player of the month for December 2010 for his 13 wickets and 307 runs for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-South-Wales-c823.
He said that it would have been an honour to play in the Ashes series against England, however, he is ready to face new challenges ahead.
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