India is a country of many cricket lovers, but since only 11 play in a team at one time, there are a lot of deserving names that don’t get a chance as the competition for each spot is very tough.
Sheldon Jackson is one such name that is quite famous in the domestic circuit but never made it to the Indian team.
The Saurashtra-born batsman has over 800 runs to his name in the last two Ranji seasons and in overall 76 First-Class matches, he has amassed 5634 runs at an average of 49.42 which includes 19 centuries and 25 half-centuries.
Jackson who has been unable to make it to the Indian team despite churning out runs in the domestic circuit asked selectors why he is not eligible for the India call-up.
“I’m 34. If I’m performing well, better than a 22–23-year-old, where is it written in the laws of the game that you’re not eligible to get picked for the national team? Who are those people judging you, and on ability are they judging you? By Ranji score? Fitness,” he said.
“If you’re scoring 800-900 runs consistently for two-three seasons, it means you have to be fit. Or you won’t be able to sustain it. So how can you be judged? Many a times I hear that ‘he’s above 30’. Where is it written that you can’t be picked? And who are these people who are taking away your right from you,” the 34-year-old added.
Even though the wicket-keeper batsman was only one of the four players to score more than 750 runs in a single Ranji season four times, he was overlooked by the national selectors and was not even considered for India A team.
(With Cricketnext Inputs)
