Sean Abbott on his bittersweet week that went by as he was picked in the test side but snubbed for the Champions Trophy.
Sean Abbott has had a bittersweet few days. He was included in the Test squad for the tour of Sri Lanka but omitted from the group heading to the Champions Trophy.
Perhaps this isn’t the worst outcome that could have happened, considering that the Test cap is one of the missing pieces from a great career. Abbott, who was a member of the winning ODI World Cup team in 2023 after failing to make an impression in his previous two series, was likewise realistic in his assessment of his lack of participation in the Champions Trophy.
He claimed one wicket at an economy rate of 7.36 in five appearances against Pakistan and England. Although Nathan Ellis has claimed his place as the fourth quick behind the big three, he will still be considered by the selectors should replacements be required (captain Pat Cummins’ status is still up in the air).
“I didn’t really take selection out of the selectors’ hands,” Abbott said ahead of Sydney Sixers’ trip to Adelaide for their next BBL clash. “I didn’t perform and bowl as well as I would have liked in my last five games for Australia over in the UK and back home here against Pakistan.
“My goal at all times when I play is to obviously contribute and do what I need to do for the team, but on top of that, it’s [to] take the decision to drop you out of the selectors’ hands, and I haven’t done that. So that’s fair. The guys who have been picked are in form and I think we’ve got a great squad to go over and compete for the Champions Trophy.”
But, along with Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, he is one of just three specialist quicks travelling to Sri Lanka for the two Test matches, so an elusive debut is possible. Although Starc, Cummins, and Boland managed to advance through the Melbourne and Sydney games, Abbott was formally included in the side for the remaining two matches against India.
Although there is still a chance that Australia will only select one frontline player, Galle, and augment it with Beau Webster’s medium pace, Abbott thinks he has a skill set that could be useful. Sean Abbott is a superb example of reverse swing, and George Bailey praised his “durability” while naming the squad.
“It would have been nice to debut out here the other day [against India] on what was a bowler-friendly wicket,” he said with a smile. “Sri Lanka typically is more spin-friendly than anything, but I feel like conditions might suit me perhaps more than others. But, again, we’ve got such depth with our bowling at the moment.
“It gets mentioned a lot, but every time Scotty comes in and bowls, no matter the conditions, he does well. And then Starcy is obviously bowling high 140s, and then reverse swing will play a role, or being able to tie up an end so the spinners can attack, whatever that looks like. Being one of only three quicks going over, I suppose I feel a little bit closer. But I certainly feel like conditions might suit the way I go about my bowling.”