Catch 22 for Aussie Test reserves

THE only problem being next cab off the rank is you don’t get many chances to keep the meter ticking over.

Cameron Bancroft and Michael Neser will be released from the Australian camp tomorrow to play for Western Australia and Queensland respectively in the one-day Marsh Cup final in Brisbane.

It’s precious match practice for two men otherwise stuck in the twilight zone of Australian Test selection.

As part of the Australian squad, Bancroft and Neser are on standby to play, but the Catch-22 is that it’s difficult to stay in form while carrying drinks.

In recent years, spare batsmen and bowlers would usually be released to play Sheffield Shield cricket if not selected in the Test XI.

But in the new age of concussion substitutes, the fresh reserves are bound to stay with the Australian team for the duration of Test matches in case a mishap occurs and they’re thrust into the action.

It means Bancroft will miss the Sheffield Shield round starting on Friday, while others like Usman Khawaja and Marcus Harris get a chance to put runs and wickets on the board. Neser is likely to also miss the Shield game starting Friday, although James Pattinson is coming back into the squad for Adelaide, so one of those two men – if not selected – may get the chance to get some bowling for their state, like other rivals Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith.

Peter Siddle discovered the perils of no-man’s land last summer when he was 12th man for every match, only for Richardson — who had been playing — to get the nod ahead of him once a vacancy opened up.

But at least there is a game for Bancroft and Neser this week.