Whiteman ton enhances case

Asked ahead of his Australia A debut what he aspired to achieve in the series that has brought together some of cricket’s foremost emerging talent in the nation’s Top End, keeper Sam Whiteman conceded he “just want to do my job with the gloves and keep really well”.

Then, almost as an afterthought he added: “Hopefully I get a few opportunities to have a bat and try and chip in a few runs.”

Just three days into the first match of that month-long series that pits Australia’s internationals-in-waiting against India A, South Africa A and the National Performance Squad, Whiteman didn’t so much chip as stroke, slather and occasionally blast a career-best innings of 174.

In addition to confirming widespread opinion that he is rapidly firming as favourite to take over the long-term Australian ‘keeping berth from Brad Haddin, he also wrote his name into the history books by eclipsing a record that has stood untroubled for almost 80 years.

With close mate and fellow Western Australian Mitchell Marsh, Whiteman was involved in an historic seventh-wicket stand of 371 that eclipsed the previous best put together at first-class level on Australian soil by 36 runs.

In compiling 26 boundaries and a six from the 278 deliveries he faced, Whiteman gave lie to his self-effacing description of his own batting style as “gritty” and instead rekindled memories from his developmental years when the left-hander modelled his game on his boyhood idol, Adam Gilchrist.

“I tried to (emulate Gilchrist) when I was younger, but in the last few years I've realised it's not my game,” the 22-year-old told cricket.com.au in an interview conducted prior to the current Australia A series getting underway.

“So I definitely tampered with how I bat now. I wish I could play like him, but it's not me.

“I think I'm more of a keeper than a batsman at the moment.

“Hopefully those even up over the next few years. But I still feel like I can do a good job with the bat and chip in when I need to.

“It's not the prettiest to watch but it gets the job done sometimes. I'd probably describe it as gritty.”

Despite entering first-class ranks for the Alcohol. Think Again Western Warriors as a top-order batsman in 2012, before today Whiteman had failed to reach triple-figures in first-class cricket.

“I definitely missed a few opportunities last year and of course I'd love to go on and get the hundred and get the monkey off the back,” he said presciently before today’s breakthrough innings.

“There's no rush. Hopefully it happens this year.”

His previous best effort was 96 when playing as an opener in just his third Bupa Sheffield Shield appearance - against Tasmania in Hobart - having begun his Shield career at the MCG against a Victorian attack that included Australian new-ball trio Peter Siddle, James Pattinson and Clint McKay.

It was a genuine baptism of fire, and even though he recorded his maiden first-class duck in that match it provided the Yorkshire-born country boy – who grew up in Bunbury 175km south of Perth – with an immediate gauge of what was required to succeed in the world’s toughest domestic competition.

“Debuting at the MCG and opening the batting against Pattinson and Siddle – it’s a good story to have,” he recalled.

“I was definitely nervous but I was lucky enough to get off the mark first ball which really helped settle the nerves.

“(In) the second innings, we had a bit of a lead over Victoria and they came out firing.

“I still reckon it's the quickest spell I've faced, from James Pattinson.

“You've got Aaron Finch under the helmet (at short leg) saying he's going to kill me, and I look back on it, and, yeah, that was awesome.

“That was when I stood back and thought, 'Wow, this is what it takes I guess'.”

Even in the wake of his breakthrough century and involvement in such an epic partnership, Whiteman maintains sufficient grounding and a strong enough work ethic to know that his ambition to wear the Baggy Green cap will ultimately be helped, but not secured by, his batting.

A quick look around the back-up wicketkeeping stocks across Australia reveals names such as previously capped Tim Paine and Matthew Wade, as well as fellow Australia A squad member Peter Nevill, and highly-accomplished Chris Hartley and Tim Ludeman.

Whiteman, who told cricket.com.au earlier this year he would have entertained pursuing a career in England if the land of his birth had made an approach when he was playing second XI cricket for Surrey in 2010, was therefore surprised to earn a spot in the current Australia A squad. 

And when pushed to identify who he believed was next in the queue should Brad Haddin suddenly announce he was hanging up his gloves, Whiteman acknowledged it could be any of the current crop of Australian ‘keepers before finally settling on a frontrunner.

“I would probably go… I'd say Peter Nevill,” Whiteman said when put on the spot, before adding that he didn’t view their joint selection for the current ‘A’ series as an indication they would be squaring off for the next-in-line tag.

“He (Nevill) is a few years older than me.

“He's obviously got a few more years of first-class cricket and he's done really well.

“At the moment I'd probably see him … he's definitely in front of me and he's a really good player.

“It will be a really good opportunity to work with him and hopefully I can learn a few things off him and, who knows, he might learn a few things off me.”

Or – in light of today’s events – 174 of them.