It takes a man who has gone through an emotional wringer to strike the pose of a philosopher. Sean Abbott has endured a lot in life ever since that fatal bouncer to Phillip Hughes a decade ago. The seamer, who is part of the current Australian Test squad, was practical about his chances while speaking to the media at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here on Monday.
Asked about the absence of Tests in his resume, Abbott calmly replied: “If I am not getting any games, it’s a good thing for the team because it means we are at full strength. I am obviously here as cover for any of the bowlers, but I am enjoying it.” He then added: “While it is my dream to play Tests for Australia, I am pretty realistic that the guys that are playing are doing a pretty amazing job.”
ALSO READ: I like to take the game on, says Sam Konstas
Besides lauding the trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, Abbott praised other speedsters too: “I would probably throw Scotty (Boland) in there and make it four. Every time he comes in, he does well. A lot of batters around the country breathed a sigh of relief when he came into the Test team. These are great cricketers, and it includes even Jimmy (James) Pattinson, who was the other guy before Scotty came in.”
Whatever the circumstances, Abbott wants to be prepared: “Just be ready to go. I have done the white-ball stuff, and I put my best foot forward. It’s the same, no matter what format you play.” And as for a rival legend, the seamer declared: “Watching him (Jasprit Bumrah) as a fellow fast bowler, it seems that with every ball he could take a wicket. He swings it both ways [and] has accuracy and pace. He ticks all the boxes.”
