Andrew McDonald says that Jon Holland’s inclusion in the Australian Test squad to tour South Africa is a reward for great effort in recent years.
The 30-year-old Victorian finger spinner was today named in the 15-man squad to play the Proteas across four Tests in March, joining Nathan Lyon as the only spin bowlers in the squad ahead of the expected fast bowling-friendly conditions in South Africa.
The Bushrangers coach says that Holland potentially playing in his first Test since 2016 would cap off a consistent run of form in domestic cricket.
“It’s a great reward for persistence over the past three seasons,” McDonald told SEN Afternoons.
“He had a bit of an injury concern at the start of this season. He got back to his full form over the last two rounds of Shield cricket, so he timed his run pretty well.
“Physically he’s in the best shape he’s been in for a while, he’s bowling beautifully. It’s a great selection.”
The bulk of the Australian side that reclaimed the Ashes this summer have been retained for the South African tour, with Holland and Western Australian quick Jhye Richardson the only additions to the squad.
While fellow Victorian Glenn Maxwell remains out of the Test side, the big-hitting batsman has kept his place in the Twenty20 International team to take on New Zealand and England in a tri-series next month.
McDonald believes that Maxwell’s currency back in to the Test side is simply scoring as many runs as possible, no matter the form of the game being played.
“He’s got a little bit of an opportunity with this T20 squad,” he said.
“He just needs to make the most of it. He’s a fantastic player and we know what he can do.
“The next opportunity he gets, if he makes the most of it all of a sudden his career is up and going again, it’s as simple as that.”
The First Test against the Proteas gets underway in Durban on March 1.
Listen to Andrew McDonald chatting with Andy Maher on SEN Afternoons in the player below: