Hastings relishes a comeback battle

By Adam Collins

A long journey in this game rarely takes a linear path. Especially for a big man, as John Hastings has learned over his decade as a professional.

The Worcestershire spearhead, and recalled Australian workhorse, spoke to The Cricket Paper about a career that has spanned the full experience in the most physically grueling job that cricket has. “It feels like a mountain of years ago,” Hastings says of when he last made an Australian ODI squad for an ICC event.

That was 2011, after winning his international white ball cap the year before. Injury followed. It almost always has for the 31-year-old. But so did a Test baggy green in November 2012. Sure enough, he broke down in that debut as well.

The late 20s are where a quick is meant to make their biggest strides, but instead Hastings was shuffling discarded through state cricket. Until a break via the County Championship. A total of 83 wickets came across his 2014 and 2015 campaigns with Durham. He was reborn.

After a spate of injuries to the Australian side at the end of a marathon Ashes tour, Hastings was back popping on his canary yellow shirt. Two summers on, having proven his wares and fitness, again in the county level at the start of a two-year stint with Worcestershire, he returns once more to the international arena for next month’s Champions Trophy.

“One of the main reasons I have been picked is my knowledge and record here in England,” Hastings assesses. “It’s better than any of the other Australian bowlers because of what I’ve done in county cricket. I’ve worked hard to get back into this squad so I’m very happy.”

It was the tournament he had on his mind when his knee buckled in December last year. At that moment, having been inexplicably overlooked for Australian duty despite then having more ODI wickets than anyone on the planet in 2016, he believed the ride was over for good.

“I thought I could have played my last game for Australia,” he concedes. But surgeons were optimistic that the patella injury would recover in time for a full English summer, giving Hastings the incentive he needed. “Making the Champions Trophy was my main goal, to play for Worcester and prove that I was going to be fit, and they stuck by me.”

The faith in Hastings is reinforced by the absence of James Faulkner, another hitter who makes his money bowling at the death. It also signals that, despite bringing their fastest four quicks to England, there is room for nuance, too. “They understand the need for variation in the attack and I’ve worked hard to provide that to the team,” Hastings says.

But it’s always a rollercoaster for Hastings. Just as he got the nod for the Champions Trophy he found out that he wouldn’t be renewed as a nationally contracted player, due to an emphasis on youth. “That’s quite hard to take, but it is the way they are going,” says Hastings. “My numbers have stacked up over many years so it is frustrating. But I can’t really do much more.”

His friend Steve O’Keefe, teammates in Sydney in an earlier life, also missed out on a deal. They remain close, talking since O’Keefe got into strife with administrators for a drunken episode at an official function after the spinner returned from a successful tour of India.

“I’m always there for him and talk about the right way to get back,” Hastings says. “He’s recognised he definitely overstepped the mark, but he’s smiling and ready to prove to everyone he’s an unbelievable person. That’s what we know and all love.”

Losing a national contract also means return to state wages, a topic of hot debate as Cricket Australia and the players association feud over a new deal delivering a reduced percentage the revenue to domestic cricketers.

“The playing group don’t want all the pie we just want our fair share,” Hastings says, having joined others, including Steve Smith, tweeting in support of their union. “We have to go down the line of sticking together as long as we possibly can to get the right deal for us.”

If another national deal never comes, Hastings can “absolutely” see himself following in the footsteps of Steve Magoffin and having a long second-act on the county circuit. “The lifestyle agrees with myself and my wife,” he adds.

He will be away from the club in June during the Champions Trophy, but on his recommendation it will be another Australian, Nathan Lyon, using his locker.

Hastings couldn’t be happier. “I’m just rapt he gets and opportunity because he has wanted it over the last few years and he is a great man.”

This piece originally featured in The Cricket Paper, May 5 2017

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