Ben Dunk smashed an Australian domestic one-day match record, found himself on the losing side, but then received an unexpected call up to Australia’s t20 squad.
Ben Dunk celebrates his century on his way to an Australian List A record 229 not out
His 229 for Tasmania against Queensland beat the previous best by David Warner whose 197 on the same ground in last year’s elimination final had fleetingly taken the mantle. Only Ali Brown (268 for Surrey against Glamorgan in 2002) and Shikhar Dhawan (248 for India against South Africa A in 2013) have scored more runs in a single List A innings..
The short boundaries at a sun-filled North Sydney Oval saw 800 runs scored for the loss of only four wickets. Peter George’s bowling analysis for Queensland of 1 for 101 was the most expensive on a fruitless day to be a bowler.
Dunk and Tim Paine added an Australian record opening stand of 277 as Tasmania raced to 398 for one in their 50 overs. Dunk’s tally came from 157 balls and included 15 fours and 13 sixes while Paine’s 125 in 127 balls saw him hit 10 fours and 4 sixes.
But Usman Khawaja and Chris Hartley opened Queensland’s reply with a fresh opening record stand of 280. Hartley was run out for 142 (13 fours and 4 sixes), whereas Khawaja looked set to beat Dunk’s 229, but was bowled by Evan Gulbis for 166 from 110 balls (18 fours and 7 sixes). Incredibly Queensland got home with 16 balls to spare. Queensland now just have New South Wales between them and the trophy.
A watching selector, Mark Waugh, was impressed enough to argue for Dunk’s selection to Australia’s 13-man T20 squad to face South Africa next month. He has beaten some impressive candidates to the gloves including Matthew Wade, Tim Paine, Peter Nevill, Sam Whiteman and Chris Hartley. More surprising given that it is Tim Paine that is currently keeping wicket for the Tigers and not Dunk.
Australian coach, Darren Lehmann, had delisted Dunk when he was coach of Queensland, but his double century and strong T20 performances for the Hobart Hurricanes in the CLT20 have raised his claims.
“It is a little bit ironic,” Dunk said. “Obviously every coach has to make their opinions on players and he had to form a squad that he thought was going to take Queensland forward.
“I wasn’t part of those plans and that is OK,” he continued. “That’s the way professional sport is. Coaches, I guess, they live and die by their success and they have to make decisions and unfortunately I was on the wrong end of that decision.
“I think I’m a much better player now than I was then so hopefully he can form a different opinion.”
Australia Twenty20 squad: Aaron Finch (capt), Sean Abbott, Doug Bollinger, Cameron Boyce, Patrick Cummins, Ben Cutting, Ben Dunk (wk), James Faulkner (chosen subject to Pakistan Test series selection), Nic Maddinson, Nathan Reardon, Kane Richardson, Shane Watson, Cameron White.
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
He is also the presenter of the Cricket Badger Radio Show on Radio Yorkshire every Tuesday evening between 7-9pm UK time.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author, a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications and a complete cricket badger!
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