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Sandhu's a first-class talent: Waugh

Selector says new ODI squad member can also be a star in longer forms of the game

National Selection Panel member Mark Waugh believes Sydney Thunder paceman Gurinder Sandhu has a promising future in all formats of the game, but needs to be playing first-class cricket.

Sandhu, a western Sydney product, has played 12 Bupa Sheffield Shield games for the Blues, collecting 41 wickets at 27, but he is yet to nail down a starting XI spot, with the squad also boasting fast-bowling talents Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Sean Abbott and Doug Bollinger.

On the Saturday, the 21-year-old earned a call-up to Australia’s ODI squad for the Carlton Mid Tri Series against England and India, beginning this Friday with Australia v England at the SCG.

Waugh believes Sandhu has all the attributes to excel in all three formats 

But Waugh said he’d like to see the tall right-armer getting more opportunities in the longer format as well.

“The problem is at the moment that he hasn’t been playing Shield cricket, which is a shame,” he said on TEN’s coverage of the KFC T20 Big Bash League, in which Sandhu has been a star performer for the Thunder.

“Because New South Wales have got such a strong bowling attack, he hasn’t fitted in there.

“So he really should be playing first-class cricket – I think he’s good enough to be playing four-day cricket, five-day cricket as well.

“He’s improving every year.

“He’s only 21, but gee he’s a big boy. He’s strengthened up, and I reckon he’s put on two or three kilometres (with his bowling) – if he can get up to 140kph, another 4-5ks onto what he’s got, he’s going to be really dangerous.

“He’s a smart bowler, too.

“He thinks really well, he thinks about what ball he’s going to bowl. He’s got good variety, (and) he’s a big improver.”

Sandhu’s call-up to Australia’s 50-over squad comes after he has taken a team-high eight wickets at an average of 17 and an economy rate of 6.95 for the Thunder in BBL|04.

He also shone for the Blues in the 2014 Matador Cup, finishing as the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 15 at 25.73.