Abbott hoping to fill void in Australia’s ODI side
SEAN Abbott has set his focus on bowling heat this summer as the NSW enforcer gears up for a shot at the vacant “finisher” position in Australia’s World Cup squad.
Selectors have a number of holes to plug in Australia’s struggling one-day outfit less than a year out from the World Cup defence in England, but none more important than filling the enormous shoes vacated by the hero of the 2015 triumph, James “The Finisher” Faulkner.
Abbott will launch his campaign for NSW at the WACA today in the best condition and headspace of his young career after combining forces in the off-season with renowned conditioning expert and former NSW Waratah, Tom Carter.
John Hastings played the Faulkner role successfully for Australia for a couple of years after the last World Cup, and now believes his new Sydney Sixers teammate Abbott is capable of taking the baton and nailing the specialist ODI position, combining wicket-taking with late-order hitting.
Carter’s work with Abbott has centred on the 26-year-old finding an “identity” and in cricket terms that has meant reverting to his strengths of bowling fast and exploiting reverse swing.
Abbott hasn’t played for his country since 2014 but says the work he’s put in has him feeling poised for a breakout year.
“This has been the best I’ve prepared coming into a season,” Abbott said.
“Tommy works me hard but he’s also someone who has always been able to have honest conversations with me when I need it.”