Michael Klinger

Probably the most unluckiest Australian player over the last decade or so, Michael Klinger would have been a veteran player by now in most international sides. A very fine right-handed top-order batsman from Victoria, he plays first-class cricket for South Australia after moving from Victoria. He formed a good partnership with Daniel Harris and duo made some wonderful contributions upfront.

Klinger was one of the unlucky players not to have played for the country despite a solid domestic record. The fact he was around when the Australia team was at its peak didn't go in his favour. He made his first-class debut way back in 1998/99 and has scored over 7500 runs including close to 20 centuries. He averages in the high 40s in the List-A format while T20 career also has impressive numbers.

Klinger exploits in Australia also earned him an IPL contract in 2011 with the Kochi Tuskers Kerala for whom he played a few games. He also travelled to England to represent Gloucestershire in the English domestic circuit. All along the while, there were vacancies in the Australian batting unit as they had to undergo transition phases. However, Klinger continued to be overlooked by the selectors, much to his agony. It didn't dampen his determination though as he kept churning out runs season after season across all formats. He led his BBL side to a title and was a star in county circuit as well, racking up runs without breaking a sweat. Such was his success there that he earned retention contracts.

Eventually in early 2017, Klinger got his Australia cap for the three-match T20I series at home against Sri Lanka as the Aussies opted to field a team largely made up for fringes with their key men preparing for the tour of India. Klinger enjoyed a good outing with a fifty and two thirty-plus scores but hasn't played a game after that. Klinger quietly continues to chip away at the runs and is already the highest run-scorer in BBL history. While it is proven that he can adapt across formats, he has particularly enjoyed white-ball cricket. With his age on the wrong side of the 30s, Klinger knows that chances of a budding international career are fading quickly. But as always, he will be ready whenever the call comes from the national selectors.

By Hariprasad Sadanandan