- Tyson Otto, The Daily Telegraph, January 15, 2013
NSW allrounder Moises Henrqiues at the Sydney Cricket Ground after being selected in the Australian one-day squad. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Australian
LIKE his phone bill, Moises Henriques’ return to the ODI team is well overdue.
The 25-year-old all-rounder will have spent 1172 days waiting for a recall to the Australian team ahead of the third ODI against Sri Lanka at the Gabba on Friday after first bursting on to the scene on a tour of India as a 22-year-old in 2009.
It is a recall he very nearly missed when national selection panel chairman John Inverarity came calling yesterday morning.
“I was at home. I’d just woken up and I’d missed John’s call and I then tried to call him back, but my service had been disconnected because I hadn’t paid a bill,” Henriques said.
“So I quickly paid the bill and got on to him quick smart.”
His relaxed attitude towards paying bills is the same relaxed attitude he believes is the reason behind his impressive summer and recall to the Australian team.
Averaging 64 in first class cricket this summer playing for NSW and Australia A, Henriques has scored 314 runs at an average of 78.5 in the Sheffield Shield off the back of strong performances in the Champions League for the Sydney Sixers.
“Talent-wise nothing’s changed. I just think I’ve matured a bit more as a cricketer,” Henriques said.
“I was always very hard on myself when I wasn’t performing and that used to get me down outside from cricket. I always enjoyed playing cricket, but I guess that would really affect my life away from cricket.
“I think I’m a lot more balanced now in how my performances affect me. That’s going to get tested again playing for Australia. The pressure you have to deal with representing your country is completely different.
I think the higher you go into the spotlight the more pressure you have to be able to handle.”
Yesterday he was included in a 12-man squad for the third ODI with captain Michael Clarke, opener David Warner and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, while Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Ben Cutting, Steve Smith, Brad Haddin and Kane Richardson were dropped.
Henriques, who has played every match for the Sydney Sixers and NSW in Sheffield Shield and One Day Cup, admitted to nerves ahead of his first ODI on home soil.
Henriques said his success was simply a matter of learning through experience.
“You’ve just got to keep learning. If I’m not a better cricketer now then I’m doing something wrong,” he said.