Henriques ready to heed call if needed

AS AUSTRALIA prepares to go to battle in sweltering conditions in Perth, one man on the other side of the continent believes he could be their missing link.

Selectors have left the door open to add a second spinner and an all-rounder at the end of what shapes as an arduous series against New Zealand, and Moises Henriques says he feels more ready than he’s ever been for international cricket if a call did come for the final Test in Sydney.

Henriques has had a barnstorming start to the Sheffield Shield season for NSW scoring two hundreds, a 90 and averaging over 60 with the bat.

The last of Henriques four Test matches was back in 2016, but the 32-year-old doesn’t believe the Test arena has passed him by and would love another crack in the baggy green, with rival all-round options Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green both injured.

One of the most powerful advocates for mental health in Australia and a deceptively high achiever on many fronts, Henriques’ greatest asset is a balanced perspective on life that means while selection could cap his career, omission wouldn’t destroy it.

“I wouldn’t be playing if I didn’t want to challenge myself at the highest level and didn’t want to keep improving myself. That’s the only reason I’m still playing because I still feel I have so much to offer and I still feel like I can keep getting better,” Henriques said.

“Every experience I’m still learning from so I definitely don’t think I’m past it. If anything, I think I’m more ready to play international cricket than I’ve ever been before.

“I’d love the opportunity. But I’m probably not as desperate to play, understanding that if I play or I don’t, I still know everything is going to be OK. If it happens, great.”