Follow UsOver the last decade or so, no player has been ‘in and around’ the Australian white-ball set-up without being an automatic pick more than Sean Abbott, to the extent that he’s almost become a forever ‘backup bowler’. However, he’s still managed to play 54 white-ball games for the Kangaroos, and was also a part of the 2023 ODI World Cup triumph in India, where he even played one game.
But Abbott has not had the same luck in red-ball cricket, as he’s yet to debut for Australia in Test cricket despite being part of the squad for many tours. The 33-year-old has, so many times, been ‘one injury away’ from a Test cap but that has somehow never materialised.
With question marks over the fitness of skipper Pat Cummins, who is struggling with inflammation of the back, it goes without saying that the Aussies will need solid pace reinforcements for the home Ashes later this year. And should the need arise, Abbott believes he is ‘ready’ to don the whites.
“I’ll be 34 next February, but I feel like I’ve got a number of years now to still keep pushing for a Test cap, to keep getting better at international level,” Abbott said, reported Fox Sports.
“I feel like I’m ready to go. I’m just not wanting to get too ahead of myself. There’s a bit of cricket to be played before then.”
The 33-year-old admitted that playing The Ashes is his ultimate ‘dream’, and hoped to be part of the squad for the Tests against England.
“It’s a dream to play any cricket for Australia, but obviously the one we all think about as kids is playing against England. That’s a pinnacle of Test cricket for Australian cricketers,” Abbott said.
“I’m really looking forward to playing some Shield cricket, and hopefully being part of that Ashes squad. But there’s a bit of water to go under the bridge until then.
“We’re craving a bit of success here in New South Wales. I’m really confident with the way the boys are going and training that some success is around the corner, and I really want to be a part of that.
“Then hopefully (national) selection and things like that look after themselves.”
Schedules are getting unrelenting by the day, and the volume of matches Australia play is something Abbott believes will eventually end up working in his favour.
“There is a hell of a lot of cricket coming up,” Abbott said.
“The schedules are getting a bit ridiculous; there are 21 Tests in a year next season.
“I feel like my job is to keep putting my hand up, and then when the chance comes, just to go with both hands, and then stay there for as long as I can, because I’m playing for Australia. It’s everything that you train for and want to be a part of.”
Abbott has taken 267 first-class wickets and has scored 2,857 FC runs on top of that.