Jason Krejza
Encyclopedia
Jason John Krejza is an Australia
n cricket
er. He also plays for the Tasmanian Tigers
and Leicestershire
. Krejza's father was a association football player from Czechoslovakia
and his mother was born in Poland
. His nickname is "Krazy".
to join the Tasmanian Tigers
due to being considered 4th choice behind spinners Stuart MacGill
, Nathan Hauritz
and Beau Casson
in the selection process.
After crossing over mid-season to Tasmania [2006-7 season], Krejza played in 2 Pura Cup
games, claiming 5 wickets and scoring a disappointing 17 runs in two innings. In the Ford Ranger Cup competition, however, he made his mark, taking 8 wickets in 4 games whilst also scoring 83 runs, with a top score of 53 not out.
During the off-season, his cricketing career was placed at risk after being caught speeding and drink-driving by Hobart police. He was subsequently suspended from Tasmania's pre-season training and warned to stay away from alcohol by his team's leadership group.
His renewed dedication to cricket saw him excel in the 2007-8 season. In the Pura Cup, he played 7 games and scored 289 runs at an average of 36.12, with a high score of 63. He also took 18 wickets at 47.11. The only downside to his season was that he did not break into the one-day side, with incumbent Xavier Doherty being Tasmania's sole spin bowler in the one-day arena. He played only one game, and was named 12th man in Tasmania's competition victory against Victoria.
Krejza was seen as the second spinner in the squad behind Bryce McGain
. However, McGain was sent home injured. Krejza was attacked by the Indian Board President's XI—a team consisting mainly of young emerging players or fringe Indian representatives—in a tour match, conceding 0/199 in 31 overs, and he was then excluded from the first three Tests at the expense of McGain's replacement, Cameron White
. This was despite captain Ricky Ponting
frequently hinting that Krejza would play and predicting that India's senior batsmen would not have the gumption to attack him.
Krejza eventually made his debut in the fourth test in Nagpur
, which Australia had to win in order to draw the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
. He came in at the expense of fast bowler Stuart Clark
and played alongside White. Rahul Dravid
became his first wicket. He went on to claim 8 wickets for 215 runs in the first innings. In the process, he became just the fourteenth Australian to take five or more wickets in an innings on debut, and also created the unenviable world-record of conceding the most runs for any bowler on debut, while also taking most wickets in his first Test match innings. It also beat his best first-class bowling of 4 for 91. In the second innings he took a further 4 wickets for 143 runs, leaving him with figures of 12 wickets for 358 runs in his first test. He is the second on the list of Test bowlers who have conceded most runs in a single Test match, beaten only by Tommy Scott
's match return of 9 for 374, for the West Indies against England in Kingston, Jamaica
, in 1929/1930. He was named man of the match despite Australia's defeat. It was in this match that Australian fans at the game gave him the nickname "Apples".
Krejza was then dropped for the First Test against New Zealand in Brisbane on grounds that the pitch would benefit seamers as Australia fielded no spinners. He was to be recalled for the Second Test in Adelaide, but he injured his ankle and was replaced by fellow offspinner Nathan Hauritz
. Australia won both Tests. Krejza played his first Test in Australia against South Africa in Perth. He took 1/103 and 0/106 and was dropped from the squad for the Second Test in favour of Hauritz after the tourists reached their target of 414 with six wickets in hand.
and Steve Smith
, and preferred back-up option Xavier Doherty
. He made his ODI debut in Perth and finished with bowling figures of 2/53 from 9 overs as well as making 6 not out with the bat in a match the Australians won by 57 runs to take the series 6-1. Krejza has been named in the Australian squad for the 2011 Cricket World Cup
on the subcontinent, with both Hauritz and Doherty unable to make the trip due to their respective injuries. The spin-friendly conditions in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh make it highly likely that Krejza will add to his solitary ODI match. He will be sharing the spin duties with all-rounder Smith, as well as part time options David Hussey
and Michael Clarke
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. He also plays for the Tasmanian Tigers
Tasmanian Tigers
The Tasmanian cricket team, nicknamed the Tigers, represents the Australian state of Tasmania in cricket tournaments. They compete annually in the Australian domestic senior men's cricket season, which currently consists of the first-class Sheffield Shield, the limited overs Ford Ranger Cup, and...
and Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
. Krejza's father was a association football player from Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
and his mother was born in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. His nickname is "Krazy".
2004–2008: Early domestic career
Krejza is an all-rounder, contributing to the team mainly as a right arm off-break bowler, but also as a right-handed lower-middle order batsman. He became a regular in the NSW team in 2004/05 but lost his place in 2006/07. However solid form for Sydney Grade team UTS-Balmain led to his inclusion in the NSW limited overs team towards the end of 2006. On 21 December 2006 Krejza announced that he would leave the New South Wales BluesNew South Wales Blues
The New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
to join the Tasmanian Tigers
Tasmanian Tigers
The Tasmanian cricket team, nicknamed the Tigers, represents the Australian state of Tasmania in cricket tournaments. They compete annually in the Australian domestic senior men's cricket season, which currently consists of the first-class Sheffield Shield, the limited overs Ford Ranger Cup, and...
due to being considered 4th choice behind spinners Stuart MacGill
Stuart MacGill
Stuart Charles Glyndwr MacGill is a former right-arm leg spin bowler of the Australian cricket team, with a domestic career at Western Australia, New South Wales, Nottinghamshire, Devon and Somerset...
, Nathan Hauritz
Nathan Hauritz
Nathan Michael Hauritz is an Australian cricketer who has represented Australia in Tests, One-dayers and Twenty20 Internationals. He is mainly noted for his off spin bowling....
and Beau Casson
Beau Casson
Beau Casson is a former Australian cricketer who played for Western Australia and New South Wales, in a career spanning from 2002 to 2011, and has represented Australia at Test cricket. Primarily a left arm wrist spinner, Casson is also capable with the bat and has a highest First-class score of 99...
in the selection process.
After crossing over mid-season to Tasmania [2006-7 season], Krejza played in 2 Pura Cup
Pura Cup
The Sheffield Shield is the domestic cricket competition of Australia. The tournament is contested between teams from the six states of Australia. Prior to the Shield being established, a number of intercolonial matches were played. The Shield, donated by Lord Sheffield, was first contested during...
games, claiming 5 wickets and scoring a disappointing 17 runs in two innings. In the Ford Ranger Cup competition, however, he made his mark, taking 8 wickets in 4 games whilst also scoring 83 runs, with a top score of 53 not out.
During the off-season, his cricketing career was placed at risk after being caught speeding and drink-driving by Hobart police. He was subsequently suspended from Tasmania's pre-season training and warned to stay away from alcohol by his team's leadership group.
His renewed dedication to cricket saw him excel in the 2007-8 season. In the Pura Cup, he played 7 games and scored 289 runs at an average of 36.12, with a high score of 63. He also took 18 wickets at 47.11. The only downside to his season was that he did not break into the one-day side, with incumbent Xavier Doherty being Tasmania's sole spin bowler in the one-day arena. He played only one game, and was named 12th man in Tasmania's competition victory against Victoria.
2008–09: Test berth in India
After being named to Australia's A Team tour to India in August, he was selected for Australia's Test tour of India. With his selection, Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said, "Jason Krejza had a good season for Tasmania last year but is a selection very much for Indian conditions. The selectors felt right-arm finger spinners would perform well in India and Jason now has a chance to prove himself at the international level."Krejza was seen as the second spinner in the squad behind Bryce McGain
Bryce McGain
Bryce Edward McGain is a professional Australian cricketer who currently plays for Victoria. McGain made his first-class debut in 2002 against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground. However, due to other Victorian spinners—Shane Warne and Cameron White—he was unable to hold down a place in...
. However, McGain was sent home injured. Krejza was attacked by the Indian Board President's XI—a team consisting mainly of young emerging players or fringe Indian representatives—in a tour match, conceding 0/199 in 31 overs, and he was then excluded from the first three Tests at the expense of McGain's replacement, Cameron White
Cameron White
Cameron Leon White is an Australian cricketer and current Australian Twenty20 captain. A powerful middle order batsman and right-arm leg-spin bowler, White made his first-class cricket debut as a teenager in the 2000–01 season for the Victorian Bushrangers as a bowling all-rounder...
. This was despite captain Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Thomas Ponting , nicknamed Punter, is an Australian cricketer, a former captain of the Australian cricket team between 2004 and 2011 in Test cricket and 2002 and 2011 in One Day International cricket. He is a specialist right-handed batsman, slips and close catching fielder, as well as a very...
frequently hinting that Krejza would play and predicting that India's senior batsmen would not have the gumption to attack him.
Krejza eventually made his debut in the fourth test in Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
, which Australia had to win in order to draw the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Border-Gavaskar Trophy
The Border–Gavaskar Trophy is a Test cricket series, played between India and Australia. It has witnessed some of the most competitive Test series played in recent years, with results usually either being a narrow win for one of the sides or a closely fought draw...
. He came in at the expense of fast bowler Stuart Clark
Stuart Clark
Stuart Rupert Clark is an Australian International cricketer who plays domestic cricket for the New South Wales Blues. He plays as a right-arm fast-medium bowler...
and played alongside White. Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Sharad Dravid , is a cricketer in the Indian national team, of which he has been a regular member since 1996. He was appointed as the captain of the Indian cricket team in October 2005 and resigned from the post in September 2007. Dravid was honoured as one of the top-five Wisden Cricketers...
became his first wicket. He went on to claim 8 wickets for 215 runs in the first innings. In the process, he became just the fourteenth Australian to take five or more wickets in an innings on debut, and also created the unenviable world-record of conceding the most runs for any bowler on debut, while also taking most wickets in his first Test match innings. It also beat his best first-class bowling of 4 for 91. In the second innings he took a further 4 wickets for 143 runs, leaving him with figures of 12 wickets for 358 runs in his first test. He is the second on the list of Test bowlers who have conceded most runs in a single Test match, beaten only by Tommy Scott
Tommy Scott (cricketer)
Oscar Charles Scott was a West Indian cricketer who played in West Indies' inaugural Test tour of England in 1928....
's match return of 9 for 374, for the West Indies against England in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, in 1929/1930. He was named man of the match despite Australia's defeat. It was in this match that Australian fans at the game gave him the nickname "Apples".
Krejza was then dropped for the First Test against New Zealand in Brisbane on grounds that the pitch would benefit seamers as Australia fielded no spinners. He was to be recalled for the Second Test in Adelaide, but he injured his ankle and was replaced by fellow offspinner Nathan Hauritz
Nathan Hauritz
Nathan Michael Hauritz is an Australian cricketer who has represented Australia in Tests, One-dayers and Twenty20 Internationals. He is mainly noted for his off spin bowling....
. Australia won both Tests. Krejza played his first Test in Australia against South Africa in Perth. He took 1/103 and 0/106 and was dropped from the squad for the Second Test in favour of Hauritz after the tourists reached their target of 414 with six wickets in hand.
2011: International Re-Call
After spending a couple of seasons in international wilderness, Krejza was surprisingly called-up to the Australian One-Day side for the 7th ODI against England. His opportunity arose due to injuries to first-choice spinners Nathan HauritzNathan Hauritz
Nathan Michael Hauritz is an Australian cricketer who has represented Australia in Tests, One-dayers and Twenty20 Internationals. He is mainly noted for his off spin bowling....
and Steve Smith
Steve Smith (cricketer born 1989)
Steven Peter Devereux "Steve" Smith is an Australian international cricketer who currently plays for the New South Wales Blues. An all-rounder, Smith bats right-handed and bowls right arm leg spin. Smith has played for the Kent Second XI, New South Wales, the Sutherland Cricket Club and Illawong...
, and preferred back-up option Xavier Doherty
Xavier Doherty
Xavier John Doherty is an Australian cricketer who plays Australian domestic cricket with the Tasmanian Tigers and for the Australia. He is a left-handed batsman and a slow left arm orthodox bowler...
. He made his ODI debut in Perth and finished with bowling figures of 2/53 from 9 overs as well as making 6 not out with the bat in a match the Australians won by 57 runs to take the series 6-1. Krejza has been named in the Australian squad for the 2011 Cricket World Cup
2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup...
on the subcontinent, with both Hauritz and Doherty unable to make the trip due to their respective injuries. The spin-friendly conditions in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh make it highly likely that Krejza will add to his solitary ODI match. He will be sharing the spin duties with all-rounder Smith, as well as part time options David Hussey
David Hussey
David John Hussey is an Australian cricketer. Hussey is a right-handed batsman and can also bowl right-arm offbreaks. He is the younger brother of Australian Test cricketer Michael Hussey.-Australian domestic career:...
and Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke (cricketer)
Michael John Clarke is an Australian cricketer. He was appointed captain of the Test and ODI teams on 30 March 2011. Nicknamed 'Pup', he is a right-handed batsman, and occasional left-arm orthodox spin bowler...
.