Peter Nevill wants form to do the talking in bid to regain Australia Test wicketkeeper job
PETER Nevill isn’t generally known as an angry person but the NSW wicketkeeper’s recent dumping from the Australian Test team cut deep.
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PETER Nevill isn’t an angry person but his recent dumping from the Australian Test team cut deep.
Nevill broke his silence on Friday after being axed for the third Test, the wicketkeeper saying his demotion had been difficult to swallow but took full responsibility for his form.
“I certainly can’t say that I deserve to be in the Australian team,” he said.
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“I think my performances haven’t been good enough to stay there and that’s pretty evident.
“But absolutely, it’s disappointing not to be there. Anyone who has been lucky enough to play for Australia is obviously disappointed when that is taken away from them.
“But if I had have made more runs playing for Australia, then I may not have been dropped.
“I can’t change any of that and it’s about going and doing the best I can for NSW. Now I have a lot of motivation to go back and perform well for NSW.”
If Nevill is frustrated by his Test snubbing, he certainly didn’t show it in the Blues’ recent Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania in Hobart, compiling an unbeaten 179 to begin what could be a long process of getting back into national selection panel’s good books.
“I don’t think it’s about proving a point,” he said.
“More so, I was back playing for NSW and I want to perform and win games. I think that has got to be my focus now.
“It was a disappointing day four not being able to bowl Tasmania out, but personally I was pleased with the way I batted.”
Plenty has been said about why Nevill was replaced in the Test side by Victorian gloveman Matthew Wade.
This speculation largely centred on a lack of talk and presence behind the stumps but Nevill believes there is only one reason he wasn’t selected.
“I think it’s pretty simple, I got dropped because I wasn’t making enough runs,” he said.
“I don’t really think there is too much more to it than that.
“If you are playing well and winning cricket games, I don’t think things like that come into it.
“So I’m not going to make a change in that aspect. I’ll let my bat do the talking.”
Nevill will get a chance to continue his impressive form when NSW travel to Adelaide on Monday for a day-night Shield clash with South Australia.
The third-placed Blues have lost some momentum following a loss and a draw in their past two matches.
“It’s very important (to get a win) and I think it sets up your back half of the season if you are positioned well going into Christmas and the Big Bash break,” he said.
Originally published as Peter Nevill wants form to do the talking in bid to regain Australia Test wicketkeeper job
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