Voges concedes Test career is over

Next month’s Prime Minister’s XI match looks set to be former Australia batsman Adam Voges’ final act at international level after he conceded his Test career is over.

Voges lost his spot in Test side in November after suffering a concussion while batting for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield, but his grip on the No.5 spot in Australia’s middle-order appeared shaky following a lean run with the bat.

The 37-year-old was yesterday named captain of the PM’s XI side for their one-off T20 against Sri Lanka next month and admitted he’s all but given up hope of a national recall. 

Quick Single: Voges named captain of PM's XI

"I'm done in terms of international cricket. I can probably acknowledge the fact I'm not getting back in the side," Voges told Fairfax.

"I'm realistic enough to understand my performances weren't up to scratch in my last few Tests and we lost those games which means there is always going to be change.

"It's always disappointing to get dropped or left out of the side, but there was only one person to blame and that was me."

If he doesn’t add to his 20 Tests, Voges will finish his Test career with the astonishing batting average of 61.87, a mark only topped by the legendary Sir Donald Bradman (for batsman with a minimum of 20 innings).

Using the same qualification, only six players in Test history hold averages in excess of 60, with Australia skipper Steve Smith (whose average currently sits at 60.15) recently joining the club.

Having toiled in Shield cricket for over 13 years before getting a chance in the Baggy Green, Voges made a century on Test debut against the West Indies in June 2015 with Australia in trouble on a tricky Dominica pitch.

The right-hander had a golden summer in 2015-16, plundering double-centuries at home against the Windies and then against New Zealand across the Tasman Sea.

But his struggles began on Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka, starting a lean patch where he failed to pass 50 in 10 consecutive Test innings.

Peter Handscomb replaced him in the Test line-up in the wake of Australia’s innings-defeat to South Africa in Hobart and the Victorian sealed his position with two tons in the ensuing three-Test series against Pakistan.

But Voges, who has also represented Australia 38 times in limited-overs formats, says he’s pleased with how his career has panned out and played 20 more Tests than he thought he would a couple of years ago.

Quick Single: Voges named in ICC Test team of 2016

"Being such a late starter it was good to get an opportunity at all, because two years ago I probably thought I was never going to play Test cricket," he said.

"So to be able to play 20 Test matches and get that Baggy Green I worked so hard for over a long period of time is something I'll look back on very fondly when it all finishes up."