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Hastings 'shocked' by ODI squad omission

The world's leading ODI bowler this year "very disappointed" to be overlooked for Australia's squad to take on New Zealand

John Hastings says he was "shocked" by his omission from Australia's one-day international squad to take on New Zealand and has dismissed any concerns that he's not match fit.

Hastings is the world's equal-leading wicket-taker in ODI cricket this year, level with England's Adil Rashid, having taken 29 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 24.

But the right-armer was surprisingly left out of Australia's 14-man squad for the three-match Chappell-Hadlee series against NZ next month, with Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Patrick Cummins the three frontline quicks and James Faulkner also included.

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And while the 31-year-old has been out of action for the past month with a finger injury, he's now 100 per cent fit and says his performance in Sri Lanka earlier this year - he claimed nine wickets at an average of 12 after a long absence due to an ankle injury - proves a lack of cricket is no barrier to him having success at the top level.

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"I was very disappointed. I was initially pretty shocked to be honest," Hastings said of his omission.

"I thought my performances over the last 12 months have stacked up and in my mind I'm 100 per cent fit.

"I know I haven't played a lot of cricket but five-and-a-half months without playing cricket and going over to Sri Lanka without playing a game (and performing well), it didn't really stack up for me.

"I've taken the most one-day international wickets in the world this year so obviously I'm disappointed not to be there.

"But if they think those guys can do a better job, that's fair enough. I can cop that.

"I've just got to go back and try and prove people wrong again."

Hastings has been a revelation since returning to Australia's ODI side against England last year after an absence of more than four years.

In 17 matches since his recall at Headingley, he's taken 32 wickets at 24 including a career best of 6-45 against Sri Lanka in August, and has also averaged 38 with the bat.

On three occasions in that time he's bettered his career-best figures; he took 3-21 from 10 overs against England at Old Trafford, then 4-58 against India at the MCG and then the bag of six against Sri Lanka in Dambulla.

The Bushrangers quick, who has 40 wickets at 29 in his ODI career overall, says the fact that he will play no 50-over cricket between now and Australia's next ODI assignment - a five-match series against Pakistan in January - only added to his frustration.

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Instead he will look to push his case in Sheffield Shield cricket having been named in Victoria's 12-man squad to take on South Australia this weekend.

"I don't really have a vessel to get back into that side," he said.

"Obviously the Matador Cup has gone and my next white ball game will be on Boxing Day (for the Melbourne Stars in the KFC Big Bash League).

"Hopefully I get a game in the Sheffield Shield and that's all I can do.

"Trevor Hohns rang me and we had a conversation about not being in the side. He obviously communicated what's going to happen in the future as well and that I'm still in their thoughts.

"They just said I hadn't been playing much and the big boys were back. So that's all I can take.

"If I can play some good cricket for Victoria and if there's a couple of injuries maybe I'll get another chance, maybe I won't. Who knows?

"But I'll be doing everything I possibly can as always to get back into that Australian side."



While frustrated at his omission, Hastings said he was ready to move on.

"I've got to put that to bed now," he said.

"There's obviously the initial disappointment and you can take that. But moving forward you've got to put that aside and go out and perform.

"There's no point in kicking cans around and having your head down.

"You've got to go back out there and show that you want to play for Victoria and want to play in that Australian team."

Australia's ODI squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), George Bailey, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa

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