Chadd Sayers

Like scores of other Australians, Chadd Sayers spent his childhood playing backyard cricket and decided to take up grade cricket to test his talents. Having grown up in an era of well-nigh invincible Australian fast bowlers, Sayers grew up trying to emulate them but ended up going through injuries in his teens. Stress fractures on his back hindered his bowling talent, and he had to make do with batting for a large part of his initial cricketing days.

It was his never-say-die obstinate attitude that pushed him to pursue fast bowling. In retrospect, what might seem like a brave decision, could easily have been blatant stupidity. However, as fate would have it, Sayers pushed himself enough to become the highest wicket-taker in South Australian grade cricket in the 2006-07 season, falling agonizingly short of winning the Bradman Trophy that year. He continued to do well over the next two years, but mysteriously failed to earn himself a state contract. Sayers persevered and finally won himself the Bradman medal in the 2010-11 season, picking up 65 wickets at a staggering average of 8.63. Chadd Sayers had pretty much broken down the Shield selectors' door -- he had been selected to play in the Sheffield Shield.

Sayers had a breakout 2012-13 season, free of all injuries, and finished as the highest wicket-taker of the season with 48 wickets at 18.52 despite missing a month of cricket during the season. He had now shown enough consistency and was on the radar for national selection, but due to stiff competition, remained on the sidelines. He was unfortunate enough to have a few near misses with the Baggy Green, the first of them being in the 2015-16 tour of New Zealand. However, he did not get a game and had to watch his teammates from the sidelines. Sayers continued to impress in Shield cricket and beat his personal best, forcing his way into contention with consistent performances.

Sayers has a stocky build and is primarily an outswing bowler, using the rare inswinger and off-cutter as variations. Despite his limitations and his tryst with injuries, he has made use of his skills and consistently picked up wickets over the years, only to be shunned by speed-hungry coaches and intent-loving captains.

A pay dispute with the board meant that Sayers was once again denied a Test debut during the tour to Bangladesh. Furthermore, even during the home Ashes in 2017-18, he was replaced by Mitchell Marsh in the squad ahead of the third Test since the latter added extra batting firepower to the line-up. Nevertheless, in the wake of ball-tampering allegations against the top-level hierarchy of the Australian team, Sayers was finally handed the coveted Baggy Green in possibly the most torrential period that Australian cricket has seen in living memory. He was picked for the 4th and final Test at Wanderers as a mentally-deflated Aussie side looked to redeem themselves.

After an unbearably long wait for the Baggy Green, Sayers has gained enough experience on his way to the pinnacle of Australian cricket and needs to put it to good use if he is to nail his spot in the side, especially in such torrid times. As for now, it remains to be seen if those truckloads of Shield wickets can translate to international wickets. Chadd Sayers is one of the newcomers that a nation has pinned its hopes on -- a nation in a desperate need to redeem itself.

Rishi Roy

As of March 2018