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Holland speaks out on Test snub

Victorian spinner reflects on the disappointment of missing out on the recent tour of Bangladesh

Victoria spinner Jon Holland has expressed his disappointment at missing Australia's recent Test tour of Bangladesh, adding the selection decision was "hard to get my head around". 

Holland played two Tests in Sri Lanka last year, replacing an injured Steve O'Keefe, but has since fallen behind in the spin pecking order. 

That's despite taking 50 wickets at 20.78 last Sheffield Shield season to help Victoria to the title. 

When O'Keefe was suspended for the JLT One-Day Cup by Cricket New South Wales for a drunken incident in April, Holland looked the man most likely to accompany off-spinner Nathan Lyon on Australia's two-Test tour of Bangladesh. 

The 30-year-old was overlooked however, in favour of fellow left-armer Ashton Agar and young leg-spinner Mitch Swepson. 

Holland then flew to Darwin to take part in an intra-squad practice match in preparation for the Bangladesh series, and promptly took 4-1 in the space of 1.5 overs on the third morning.

Holland takes four wickets in 11 balls in Darwin

It was too little, too late for the Victorian, who said he was disappointed not to have received a phone call from selectors to learn of his omission. 

"You just find out on the internet. They don't tell you anything. No-one said anything to me," he told SEN Radio.

"I'm not Cricket Australia contracted so I think there's a reasoning why they don't get in contact with the players back in domestic cricket, but it would be nice to get a phone call or something to let you know that you're close but you're not getting picked." 

He added that his non-selection was "hard to get my head around", with the situation becoming more complex when paceman Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the second Test with injury, and was replaced by none other than O'Keefe. 

"I guess it's always hard to miss out on selection for Australia," he said. "The opportunity came up and I thought I was pretty close to being selected but it didn't go my way and you have to put up with that in professional sport and hopefully next time they pick me.

"It's hard when you think you're so close and you're there in the warm-up games. Steve wasn't there and they go the other way."