Joe Mennie speaks about his surprise selection in the Australian ODI side

Joe Mennie remains a relatively unpopular name in cricket. And that justifies all the buzz that has been around Mennie getting a selection call from the national selection committee.

For starters, Mennie, a tall and fast medium bowler, has been one of the most copper-bottomed wicket takes in the Sheffield Shield. Realising that his opportunities are confined to his home state, he soon later made his first class ODI debut for the Redbacks.

In 2015-2016 he was the highest wicket-taker in Australian domestic cricket with 51 at an average of 21.21. These figures and the consistency to perform well have rightly earned him a place in Australia’s ODI tour of South Africa.

Like for any budding cricket, a call from the national team is a dream come true. The sudden and unexpected selection has already made him a headline on several sports news websites.

Shocked to get selected

"I was very shocked actually," Mennie expressed as he spoke to reporters in Adelaide on Monday. "I got the call from [national selector] Rod Marsh and I didn't know what to say, there was a bit of silence on both ends from us. It was something I didn't see coming and something I'm very happy with and looking forward to."

But the most surprising aspect of the selection is that it came from One-day cricket, which is not really Mennie’s expertise. In the Matador Cup last summer, he picked up seven wickets at an average of 50.58 and conceded more than five runs an over. But in the Sheffield Shield contest, he topped the list of wicket-takers. Mennie, however, feels that this is the right time for a new chance.

"The body is feeling good, the ball is coming out the best it ever has, so from that point of view I'm hitting my straps pretty well and probably you'd say the form of my career," Mennie said. "The last couple of years I've hit my straps and found my game. I was really happy to get the opportunity to represent Australia A and then to get the call-up for the one-day tournament coming up is very pleasing."

Meeting the expectations of selectors and fans in international cricket will be a challenge for him. He will be competing with John Hastings, Worrall and Scott Boland as specialist fast men in the tour to South Africa.

Australia and South Africa will play 5 ODIs between 30th September and 12th October.