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Voges' dashed World Cup dream led to Ashes berth

Adam Voges reflects on how the frankness with Australia coach Darren Lehmann told him he was out of the World Cup squad allowed him to focus on securing a Test spot

Daniel Brettig
Daniel Brettig
06-Jul-2015
"I'm done then, am I?"
Through his tears, Adam Voges summoned the gumption to ask Darren Lehmann if his international hopes were completely snuffed out. It was Allan Border Medal night in January 2014, and outside Doltone House on Sydney's Elizabeth Street, Lehmann had told Voges that he would not be figuring in the team's 2015 World Cup plans.
Up to that moment, virtually all of Voges' opportunities to play for Australia had been in coloured clothing. His record showed he had seldom let the team down. So to hear he would not be considered for the squad that would compete for the game's biggest trophy on home soil truly hurt. There was not much room for any other chances, but Voges had to ask the question.
Stubbing out a cigarette, Lehmann replied. "No, you're not done, there's always opportunities." It might have been a throwaway line from a selector to a jilted player, but it has turned out to be very true. Voges cast off any bitterness about missing a World Cup spot and forged ahead for West Australia. Eighteen months later he is set to play in the first Investec Ashes Test in Cardiff.
"I didn't think I'd ever let anyone down when I'd played one-day cricket," Voges said. "I thought my performances statistically were good and I played in a lot of teams that won games, so from that point of view it was pretty disappointing. But Boof was very honest and I knew exactly where I stood at the end of it.
"It took a little while I must admit, but I moved on and my focus from then was doing well for WA. I think during that conversation I said, 'Well I'm done then am I', and his answer was no, you're not'.
"So maybe there was that little glimmer of hope when I walked away from that, but he certainly didn't shut the door that's for sure. It was just an honest chat that we had. It hasn't changed me or him as a person in any way. I think there's still a mutual respect and a good relationship there. I'm sure it was a hard chat for him to have as well."
Lehmann's frankness allowed Voges to focus on Western Australia, and a prolific 2014-15 season elbowed him onto the plane to the West Indies and England. In Dominica he showed the value of his calm, measured batting on the way to a memorable debut hundred, and in England his ability to soak up pressure and bat around more combustible teammates will be invaluable.
"I was batting the other day [in Chelmsford] and I came out and Warner was smacking them. Then he got out and Watto came in and he smacked them. Then he got out and Mitch Marsh came in and he smacked them," Voges said. "I was quite happy doing my thing at the other end. If I can build partnerships with those guys then that's what I try and focus on.
"There will be times where I hopefully get a bit of a run on as well, and I'm certainly not there to just occupy balls. I'll certainly be proactive and positive in the way that I play but those guys were on a different level the other day. I think that's the art of batting, knowing when are the right times to attack and when a bloke is bowling well and you need to get through a tricky period. And knowing when you can cash in as well."
Generally, an Ashes is not considered the best time to include players with minimal Test match experience. However, Voges' rich history of first-class matches, both in England and Australia, leaves him well placed to make an immediate impact, much as the opener Chris Rogers did in 2013.
"I've learnt a bit of patience over the last few years," Voges said. "My two young ones will be here tomorrow, and I think they've taught me patience pretty well. But I think it's just experience - it's going to be a big occasion, I'm sure there will be some nerves. You'd be disappointed if there weren't.
"But just going back and knowing I've played a lot of cricket now and just being able to go back on that experience and hopefully that will hold me in good stead."
That experience includes plenty of knowledge of England players. Stuart Broad, for one, was a team-mate with Nottingham. "Off the field, he's a nice guy," Voges said. "I've played a lot with him, I've always got along well with him. It's always different when you walk across the white line, and we won't be saying too much to each other I'm pretty sure. Once it's all finished I'm sure we'll have a beer afterwards but we're here for business now, and that's how it will be.
"It's the Ashes, we all grow up watching and is probably the most important Test series, so from that point of view, because of the occasion and how big it is, there's always going to be a little bit of niggle in the heat of the moment, and that's fine. Looking forward to getting out there."

Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig