Cricket World Cup: Jason Behrendorff misses selection in Australia squad despite strong form

UNFORTUNATELY for Jason Behrendorff, the closest he’ll get to the Cricket World Cup is a romantic hot-air balloon ride above Canberra with the trophy.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 29: Jason Behrendorff of the Scorchers celebrates taking the wicket of Doug Bollinger of the Sixers during the Big Bash League match between the Sydney Sixers and the Perth Scorchers at Sydney Cricket Ground on December 29, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)

UNFORTUNATELY for Jason Behrendorff, the closest he’ll get to the Cricket World Cup is a romantic hot-air balloon ride above Canberra with the trophy.

But if circumstances had been a bit different, the giant left-armer could well have been one of the 15 names listed in Cricket Australia’s official press release announcing the Aussie World Cup squad.

THE UNLUCKY ONES: WHO MISSED WORLD CUP SELECTION

Behrendorff has had an outstanding summer across all three formats but it’s in the shorter versions of the game that he’s really made a striking impression.

He was one of the standout bowlers of the Matador One-Day Cup, helping Western Australia to the title, and is currently the leading wicket-taker in the Big Bash League.

Jason Behrendorff is currently the leading BBL04 wicket taker.

And yet, despite being arguably the best bowler in domestic cricket over the past few months he remains conspicuously absent from national selection discussions.

Ironically, the main reason behind this could well be his biggest strength.

Behrendorff is a tall, lanky left-armer who extracts steeping bounce from pacy Australian wickets, and is especially good at swinging the white ball.

So is Mitchell Starc. James Faulkner is also quite similar.

Remove the word ‘lanky’ and place less emphasis on swing and more on pace, and you’ve got yourself a description of Mitchell Johnson.

Jason Behrendorff and Adam Voges celebrate a wicket in the 2014 Matador Cup final. Picture Gregg Porteous

A look at those three names provides all the explanation you need for why Behrendorff never really got a look-in when it came to the World Cup squad.

There’s no way any of Johnson, Faulkner or Starc were going to be left out of the squad, and to select a fourth left-arm paceman in a group of just 15 players would have been a risk Australia simply couldn’t afford to take.

But the fact remains Behrendorff appears to be ready and waiting to ply his trade on a bigger level than he’s ever bowled at before.

Here, we look at five reasons why Jason Behrendorff is ready for international cricket.

HE’S IN THE FORM OF HIS LIFE

Behrendorff is currently the leading wicket taker in BBL04, claiming 13 scalps at strike rate of 12.92. He took 5-27 in the Matador Cup win over NSW, taking his wicket tally for the tournament to 11 from six games at an average of just 16.36 and economy of 4.20. He’s also taken the fourth most Sheffield Shield wickets (14) so far this season, despite playing one game less than leader Andrew Fekete (22). Behrendorff showed his ability to trouble an international batting order with 4-79 for the PM’s XI against England on Wednesday afternoon.

Jason Behrendorff prepares to bowl during a day-night Shield match for Western Australia.

HE’S THE TOTAL PACKAGE

“He’s one of the best fielders in Australia now, he throws like a New York Yankee pitcher,” To get a game for Australia you have to be a double threat and according to WA and Scorchers coach Justin Langer, Behrendorff’s bowling is backed by outstanding fielding ability.

Most of all Langer — who knows what it takes to get the job done at the top level — believes Behrendorff has the tools to thrive.

“He’s got a bit more pace, he swings the ball and he’s a left-armer, it’s a great combination.”

HE’S GOT THE CONSISTENCY NEEDED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL

Behrendorff has played 20 first class matches since his debut in 2011-12 and already amassed 77 wickets, with best figures of 7-70. In the 2013-14 Shield season he claimed the second most wickets (40), behind Steve O’Keefe. Underlining his consistency is that he has taken a wicket in every BBL04 match so far.

HE’S A WINNER

Big tournaments need big tournament players and having played in titles with the Perth and Western Australia in the past 12 months, Behrendorff knows how to win.

Jason Behrendorff celebrates one of his four wickets for the Prime Minister’s XI against England. Photo by Mark Nolan.

THE EXPERTS THINK HE’S READY

World Cup winner Andy Bichel thinks Behrendorff is next in line to snare international opportunities and believes the lefty could even be an injury replacement in the World Cup.

“He’s improving all the time ... he’s building the base up to take the next step and he’s not far off,” Bichel said.

Ricky Ponting agrees, listing Behrendorff as one of his World Cup smokies.

“Jason Behrendorff from the Perth Scorchers has been a standout for me so far in the Big Bash and his domestic record is also good,” Ponting said.

Brett Lee went one step further by picking Behrendorff in his World Cup squad, endorsing his ability with the old ball.

“With his changes of pace and being a left-armer, he can add a lot of experience through the bottom end of the innings and bowling at the death with his yorkers and changes of pace,” Lee said.

Originally published as Cricket World Cup: Jason Behrendorff misses selection in Australia squad despite strong form