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Behrendorff aiming high after T20 call

Western Australia quick aiming to put his name forward for an Ashes call-up after being handed T20 chance

Fast bowler Jason Behrendorff hopes to use a potential Australian Twenty20 debut next month to create further opportunities at international level.

The uncapped Western Australian quick has been included in Australia’s T20 squad for the three-match series in India, with the 27-year-old desperate to make the most of the chance after a long string of injuries.



Behrendorff missed the entirety of BBL|06 last summer due to a stress fracture in his left fibula, but returned to Sheffield Shield cricket in style to finish the domestic summer on a promising note.

He took 14 wickets, including a remarkable 9-37, against Victoria in Perth upon his return from injury in February, finishing the season with 23 wickets from the final three matches. 

Now, with some injury concerns in Australia’s fast-bowling ranks, Behrendorff hopes to push his case for an opportunity at Test level - both in India and in the opening rounds of the JLT Sheffield Shield season. 

Pat Cummins is currently the only member of the "big four" who is fit, after Josh Hazlewood was sent home from the Qantas tour of Bangladesh with a side strain, while Mitchell Starc is recovering from a stress fracture in his right foot and James Pattinson is managing a back injury.

Behrendorff destroys Vics at the WACA

None of the three are thought to be in any danger of missing the Magellan Ashes, but should an opportunity arise, Behrendorff hopes his name will come into contention.

"To play in the Ashes would be a dream," Behrendorff told Fairfax. "I'm sure if you asked any Australian cricketer, they'd love to play in the Ashes. It's something I'm definitely working towards.

"I'll have to have a strong start to the Shield season and play some really good cricket for Western Australia first and then you never know what might happen.

"Any opportunity you get, if you play well and take the opportunity it can always lead to something bigger. 

“Ideally I'll get the opportunity to play in India and be able to play well, and then who knows what might happen from there."

Brilliant Behrendorff enters Shield record books

Behrendorff revealed he actually missed the call from Australian selector Mark Waugh, instead finding out about his international selection for India via voicemail.

"I listened to it when I got off the phone and I was in shock to be honest, I didn't know what to say or what to do, I was very overwhelmed and very excited," Behrendorff said.

"The message was pretty simple saying that I'd been selected in the Twenty20 side to go to India and it wasn't too much more than that, but it was very, very exciting and something that I'll certainly remember for a long time.

"It was one of those things where you're potentially fortunate that I didn't answer the call because I might not have actually been able to say anything. I might have been lost for words."

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series


First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets


Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets


Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets


Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets


Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets


ODI Series v England


First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets


Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets


Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets


Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets


Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF


Prime Minister's XI


PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets


T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series


First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets


Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets


Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets


Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13


Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16


Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18


Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21