A fine
middle order batsman, Tom Bruce has been on New Zealand’s domestic circuit for
almost a decade, a prolific scorer especially in First Class cricket, Bruce has
not been given an opportunity at the Test level, his triple century has once
again reignited the debate, whether selectors are wasting his talent ?
It was crucial game of Ford copy
in 2014-15, when little known Tom Bruce smashed 88 of just 65 balls to get
Central Districts to the finals of New Zealand’s premier 50 over tournament.
Ten days later he made his First class debut against Otago and by the end of
his first season established himself as an exciting new talent. Bruce scored
632 runs at an average of 57.45 and an strike rate of 70.30 in the summer.
Bruce’s stroke making ability
attracted the viewers but it was to be seen how he could cope with the pressure
of scoring consistently. The next season (2015-16) was not as successful (654
runs at 38.47) but by this time he had established himself as power hitter ,
result in early 2017 he got a call for T20 side. Bruce played 17 T20
Internationals in next three years with moderate success. As the Covid 19
struck the cricket world.
Unfortunately for Bruce this was
the last time he represented the national side. When cricket resumed post
covid, he had lost his place in the team and had not been able to return since.
His place has been taken by the likes of Daryl Mitchell and Glen Phillips who
have established themselves as trusted performers.
The point of concern is that
Bruce has completely gone out of favour, he last played in 2020 and have been
overlooked in these five years. The
selectors has ignored his prowess of hard hitting and have gone with players
like Fin Allen, Tim Seifert, Mark Chapman, Tim Robinson and many more. It had looked that almost every player
performing on T20 circuit has got the chance except Bruce.
While Bruce does not have
exceptional record at List A games but it has been surprised to see him not
being picked even when the first choice players have been unavailable.
The bigger surprise has been
selector’s continuous disregard of Bruce’s selection to the Test team. New
Zealand has a settled Test side but to see someone making 6267 runs at an
exceptional average of 47.12 and still being overlooked is perplexing. While
number of domestic cricket performers were given chances (Devon Conway, Glenn
Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Jeet Raval ) but Bruce’s chance never came. The selectors continued to prefer a
struggling Henry Nicholls, they gave long rope to Will Young and Devon Conway,
youngsters like Ravindra were given chances but Bruce was not deemed to be fit
for the batting line up.
A number of people who understand
New Zealand cricket, had defended selectors and said that the selectors
believed in the continuity and hence gave Nicholls and Conway more
chances. Young was opener and Ravindra
an exceptional talent. Apart from it Bruce was already given chance in 17 T20
Internationals which according to some of the experts was enough for him to
show what he has in store, the average success in these games has led his
exclusion.
On the other hand there is a
class of experts who believe that Bruce has been treated unfairly, his
performance in first class cricket makes him a deserving candidate to get a
chance in the Test team, there is no doubt that New Zealand’s middle order in
Test have been stable and competitive but it is also true there were ample
scope all these years for selectors to give Bruce his maiden Test call up.
Daryl Mitchell, Glen Phillips,
Rachin Ravindra, Will young were given
chances while Henry Nicholls and Tom
Blundell along with Devon Conway were persisted in spite of series of failures but
amid this Bruce’s chance never came up.
Amid being overlooked, Bruce has
continued to pile up the runs, this season he scored 345 runs in Plunkett
Shield , New Zealand’s third highest individual score in the domestic
cricket. At 33, the chances for him
getting a national call is getting lesser every season but Bruce is still
hopeful that he would get the New Zealand Test cap one day.
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