Gurinder Sandhu a smart bowler and improving every year: Mark Waugh

Gurinder Sandhu of Sydney Thunder reacts to a missed catch during a Big Bash league match

National Selection Panel member Mark Waugh believes Sydney Thunder paceman Gurinder Sandhu has a promising future in all formats of the game. The 21-year-old has earned a call-up to Australia’s ODI squad for the Carlton Mid Tri Series against England and India, beginning this Friday.

Former Australia batsman Mark Waugh said that Sandhu’s promise should be cultivated in the longer format of the game too. The Indian-origin pacer plays for New South Wales, where a look-in a hard to get amidst the presence of fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Sean Abbott and Doug Bollinger.

“The problem is at the moment that he hasn’t been playing Shield cricket, which is a shame. Because New South Wales have got such a strong bowling attack, he hasn’t fitted in there.”

“He really should be playing first-class cricket, he’s good enough to be playing four-day cricket, five-day cricket as well. He’s improving every year.”

“He’s only 21, but gee he’s a big boy. He’s strengthened up, and I reckon he’s put on two or three kilometres (with his bowling) – if he can get up to 140kph, another 4-5ks onto what he’s got, he’s going to be really dangerous.

“He’s a smart bowler, too. He thinks really well, he thinks about what ball he’s going to bowl. He’s got good variety, (and) he’s a big improver.”

Sandhu has taken a team-high eight wickets at an average of 17 and an economy rate of 6.95 in the Big Bash League.