NSW all-rounder Moises Henriques has revealed his shock at being snubbed by selectors for the Ashes and Australia A squads, declaring he has “a different view” and labelling his omission “a huge fall”.
Henriques, who’s played every one of his four Tests in India and Sri Lanka, went tantalisingly close to pulling on the baggy green on Australian soil last summer.
But while Henriques was selected in Australia’s squad for last summer’s four-Test series against India, and again for the three-Test tour of South Africa, which was abandoned due to COVID-19, the middle-order batter is suddenly on the outer.
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Of the 19-player group picked to tour South Africa in February and March, Henriques, James Pattinson (retired) and Will Pucovski (concussion) were the only members not selected for the Ashes and Australia A squads.
“I have a different view to what the selectors do,” Henriques said.
“To be picked on one Test tour and be told that I was there and thereabouts to be playing on that tour, then the next Test tour rolls around and you’re not in the best 25 …
“It’s a huge fall, considering I hadn’t played any other four-day games or (Sheffield) Shield games in that break.
“I didn’t agree with the process of it all. I didn’t really understand the logic (of being omitted).
“But it’s not my job to understand the logic, either; it’s just my job to go out and keep playing as well as I can.”
Henriques’ selection case was hindered by Indian Premier League commitments with the Punjab Kings.
Matthew Wade batted at five in Australia’s most recent Test, against India at the Gabba in January, but was booted for the slated tour of South Africa and again overlooked for this summer’s fixtures.
Travis Head and Usman Khawaja appear to be in a two-man fight for Australia’s No.5 spot, while middle-order batters Nic Maddinson and Matthew Renshaw earned selection in the Australia A squad.
National selection chair George Bailey said Henriques’ omission didn’t necessarily mean his Test career was done.
“Unfortunate for him, that we haven’t been able to see him play any cricket up until this point,” Bailey said.
“I’ve been in good contact with Mo and he knows that not being here, certainly as part of the A squad, is not necessarily the end for him.
“We know he’s a quality player and he’s been particularly consistent, but I guess it’s a slight difference of our Ashes focus of trying to win the here and now versus the balance of the Australia A game.”
Henriques played three Tests on Australia’s 2013 tour of India and made one more appearance in Sri Lanka in 2016.
“I still believe if I score enough runs, keep banging the door down and keep doing what I know I can do well, then I’ll still play another Test match for Australia,” Henriques said.
The Brisbane Test, the first match of the Ashes, will start on December 8.
Henriques will again captain the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League this summer, beginning with a tournament-opening game against the Melbourne Stars at the SCG on Saturday.
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