I think there are players that you need to take a punt on. Who have raw ability that selectors think will translate to a higher level. At the same time there are other players who need to build up a body of work over time to prove themselves.
Looking at O'Keefe and Cartwright's differing paths to test cricket is interesting.
I don't really rate O'Keefe as a bowler but you look at his first class record and it's hard to go past. It's a bit like Chadd Sayers - whatever your perceptions are of him as a bowler eventually you just cannot ignore the sheer number of wickets he has taken.
O'Keefe doesn't have anything that leaps out at you. Doesn't spin it much, not that tall so not heaps of bounce. Nothing that screams 'get him in the test team asap'
RB wrote:Cartwright has 15 first class wickets - for his career. 15 wickets. 15 more wickets than me and he's playing for Australia as an all-rounder!
Has anyone seen him bowl?
I haven't. Haven't seen him bat either.
I don't mind selectors taking a punt on players they feel have got it rather than waiting patiently for them to churn out a few seasons of good Shield performances. Certainly wouldn't have had Warne, McGrath or Healy in the test team so early if the selectors had waited.