Sydney, Jan 4 (ANI): Australia's number one ODI bowler Nathan Bracken has refused to comment on rumours that he will not play the longer version of the game to focus on the one-day and Twenty20 arenas, but his manager has blasted chief selector Andrew Hilditch for the "disgraceful" treatment of Bracken.
Bracken, ranked by the International Cricket Council as the world's best one-day bowler, refused to say whether he would turn his back on Cricket Australia to seek a long-term and exclusive deal with a cashed-up Indian franchise after being overlooked for a Test berth, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
"I have a contract with Cricket Australia and my priority is to play well for NSW and hopefully - provided I am picked for it because I take nothing for granted - Australia's one-day side," he said.
Bracken was acknowledged by the Guinness Book of Records as the most successful Twenty20 bowler in the world, but was overlooked for a place in the team to play triumphant South Africa in the third Test that started yesterday at the SCG.
The selectors instead favoured his NSW teammate Doug Bollinger and Tasmanian Ben Hilfenhaus.
According to his manager Rob Horton, the selectors have refused to reward Bracken for fulfilling the list of expectations they had demanded in order for him to regain his baggy green cap.
"It is disgraceful in the sense that I have sat in meetings with Cricket Australia where both Nathan and I have listened to what they demanded of him to regain his Test place," Horton said.
"He has ticked off everything they wanted. When they said he needed to be fitter he trained for months with [former world boxing contender] Troy Waters and that meant getting up at the crack of dawn and basically being smashed. It tested him, but he gained ultimate fitness.
"Nathan has again performed very well for NSW in domestic cricket this year and I feel gutted for him because the selectors are playing with his career," Horton added.
Horton was furious that Bracken learned of his non-selection while being interviewed for a sports program on a Melbourne radio station. (ANI)
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