The Doosra that Stopped a Nation

CT4K Put out this Media Release Today...



DOOSRA BOLSTERS KREJZA HOPES

CT4K says picking Krejza will get wickets and sell tickets

“The doosra was delivered late in a Sheffield Shield match already pronounced dead. NSW versus Tasmania was out of breath as a contest, a draw the inevitable result, the crowd either yawning or leaving or long-gone … and then … and then … Jason Krejza ambled in and bowled the most significant delivery by an Australian spinner since the retirement of Shane Warne.”
- Will Swanton, Sydney Morning Herald, 23-Nov-2009

The doosra: that most difficult and exotic of all cricket deliveries. While a challenging delivery to perfect, the well-executed doosra presents an often unanswerable challenge to the batsman.

Until now, no Australian had been able to utilise the doosra at first-class level. The doosra remained the domain of Mushtaq, Muralitharan, Botha and Singh. Concerned Tasmanians for Jason Krejza (CT4K) is pleased to report that last week, Jason Krejza joined the doosra club.

“In the post-Warne era of spinning mediocrity, Australia needs is a spinner that can turn the ball, take wickets, mobilise the punters and add to our attack. We haven’t had this since Warne,” CT4K spokesperson Hugh Miller said.

“Concerned Tasmanians for Jason Krejza believes it’s the biggest dismissal since Whitlam.

Mr Miller focused his attention upon South Australian lawyer, ordinary ex-cricketer and now ordinary selector, Andrew Hilditch.

“What Andrew Hilditch doesn’t realise is that Jason Krejza is not only a cricketing dream, but also a promoter’s dream. Why hold back this cricketing phenomenon?

“Picking Krejza will get wickets and sell tickets. Picking Hauritz will bankrupt the game – morally and monetarily.

Following the momentous doosra, CT4K have announced plans to celebrate the dismissal that rocked a nation.

“We are excited to add another date to the Krejza fan’s calendar on 20 November each year: World Jason Krejza Doosra Day,” Mr Miller said.

“Following the success of World Jason Krejza Day, we hope that World Jason Krejza Doosra Day can also prick the nation’s attention and inspire a generation of off-spinners.”

CT4K

World Jason Krejza Day over!

Well Krejza fans, World Jason Krejza Day is over for another year.

On your behalf, Concerned Tasmanians for Jason Krejza has conducted a media blitz - with radio interviews, newspaper articles and stories in places from Hobart to Canberra to Karratha to Melbourne. The latest interview - for ABC Tasmania - can be found here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/10/2738953.htm

Our website has exploded and the facebook group has more than doubled. Rough estimates here at CT4K are that every Australian will have come into contact with the 'Pick Krejza' campaign at least three times during World Jason Krejza Day - either through media reports, roadside signs or the letterboxing efforts.

If you have met someone who does not know about the campaign, they are a statistical anomaly. (And they are also probably a Nathan Hauritz sympathiser.)

The first test is now just two weeks away - so show your support from Krejza on our guestbook and we will endaevour to get those messages of support to Jason.

12/358 - Celebrate the Figures with 12 minutes silence at 3:58pm today!

Celebrate Jason's debut 12/358 with 12 minutes silence at 3:58pm today!

On 10 November 2009,Tasmanians are being urged to observe 12 minutes silence for the one year anniversary of Jason Krejza's incredible 12/358 on his test debut at Nagpur.

Concerned Tasmanians for Jason Krejza, a community action group born from the injustice of Krejza's axing from the test squad, is asking Tasmanians to stop what they are going and think about Krejza for just twelve minutes tomorrow.

"Jason Krejza's resilience and strength of character in the face of Andrew Hilditch's reign of unimpressive performances is worthy of 12 mibnutes silence - one for each debut wicket," CT4JK spokesperson Ben McKay said.

"Perhaps you might think about his double dismissal of VVS Laxman. Or his first dismissal - Dravid out for a duck. We're asking Tasmanians to make it personal for them.

"So come on Tasmania - if you only celebrate one World Jason Krejza Day event this year, make it this one."

CT4JK is also hopeful of presenting Jason Krejza with its collected messages of support.

"Weve received many messages of support for Jason and would like to pass them on. We want to keep his spirits high so he can be at his spinning best," spokesperson Hugh Miller said.

Playing for Tasmania against Victoria on Saturday, Krejza stepped up to the plate with a match-turning 2/56. Tasmania's next game will be against New South Wales on November 17-20 which will pit Krejza against the poor-performing and unpopular Australian spinning incumbent Nathan Hauritz.

"CT4JK is relishing the chance to see Krejza show up Hauritz in his own backyard," Mr Miller said.

"After this Shield game, there should be no doubts left in the minds of the non-Tasmanian selectors: Krejza will get that baggy green back."

Australia's first test of the season starts 26 November - against West Indies at the Gabba - and CT4JK is quietly confident of Krejza featuring in the squad.

Krejza v the Competition - Compare and Contrast.

One thing has remained constant in this campaign, and that is CT4K has got the facts, figures and figureheads to back up our message. But now its time to compare and contrast. Sure, Krejza is a fantastic spinner – but is he the best spinner in Australia? Could he be one of the best spinners of all time for Australia?

Let these figures decide…

First of all, lets compare and contrast the debuts of Australian spinners in the last 10-15 years…

Nathan ‘ Medium slows’ Hauritz 5/103 - Mumbai 2004
Hauritz could only manage 5 wickets on a wicket that was a raging Indian turner and bowlers paradise. Part time finger spinner Michael Clarke finished with match figures of 6/9 to rub some serious gourmet sea salt into the wounds.

Gavin ‘Who?’ Robertson 5/164 – Chennai 1998
From the result of Gavin’s disastrous second innings figures when the spinners needed to stand up, Australia capitulated from a handy first innings lead and lost convincingly.

Peter ‘Good at state level for a year’ McIntyre 2/87 – Adelaide v England 1995
Peter was completely outbowled and preferred by the captain in the second innings by part timer, Mark Waugh

Brad ‘Stick to the ODI’s’ Hogg 1/69 - Dehli 1996
Yes, he was brought into the match as a bowler.

Beau ‘Where are they now?’ Casson 3/129 - Barbados 2008
Another example where the part timer, Michael Clarke, cause more trouble than the specialist. Probably will be his only test.

Cameron ‘He bowls spin?’ White 1/88 - Bangalore 2008
And to think one Jason Krejza was sitting on the sidelines…

Dan ‘The South Australian First XI is difficult to crack’ Cullen 1/54 – Chittagong 2006
It was against Bangladesh. I mean honestly, I could get a wicket bowling my nudie ‘Hauritz’ offies.

Bryce ‘Infinity Average’ McGain 0/149 – Cape Town 2009
The less said the better.

Jason ‘Krazy’ Krejza 12/358 – Nagpur 2008
The fact is, Jason Krejza is leagues above his opposition. 7 more wickets than anyone else here on this list.

Secondly, lets have a look at some debuts of legendary spin bowlers over the years…

Shane Warne 1/150 – Sydney 1992

Muttiah Muralitharan 3/141 – Colombo 1992

Anil Kumble – 3/170 – Manchester 1990

Daniel Vettori – 2/98 – Wellington 1997

Saqlain Mushtaq – 4/107 – Peshawar 1995

John Emburey – 2/40 – Lords 1978

Jason Krejza – 12/358 – Nagpur 2008

The facts are there. Pick Jason Krejza. Celebrate the figures.

The Hobart Mercury joins the campaign

Injustice is right.

The Saturday Mercury got on board the campaign to reinstate Krejza today with a back-page story highlighting the Australian cricket selectors' treatment of Krejza. CT4JK has a message for Andrew Hildtich - It's not good enough mate, and we won't stop until Krejza is picked in that test squad.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Head to the guestbook and post your message of support to Krejza.
The CT4JK team will make every attempt to get the messages to Jason Krejza after he is done destroying the Victorian Bushrangers at the MCG today.

The Krejza Facts

For some reason that escapes all but the insane, the Australian selectors dropped Jason Krejza and have refused to pick him since. Why? Apparently it’s because he needs to work on his ‘defensive pressure.’ Great. So he can become a ‘friend of the paceman’ like Nathan Hauritz. A stop gap to frustrate the batsmen. But how about this selectors, how about a spinner, that is super hard to score off AND takes wickets? Let me introduce you to Jason Krejza… and his figures in all forms of the game since he was dropped from the Australian team. They make very interesting reading. Something you cannot deny is that Jason Krejza does NOT leak runs. Pick Jason Krejza.

Twenty/20 Big Bash 2009
V Vic – 1/23 (4)*
V Qld – 1/29 (4)
V WA – 1/21 (4)*
V NSW – 3/23 (4)#* and Not Out 33 (from 24 balls) Named Player of the Match
V SA – 1/23 (4)* and Not Out 31 (from 22 balls)^ Only Tasmanian to stand up

20/20 Stats:
2nd in Tasmanian Batting Averages/ 13th Overall
1st in Tasmanian Wickets / 8th overall
1st in Tasmanian Economy Rates / 1st Overall*

Ford Ranger Cup 2008/09
V Vic – 1/30 (6) and Pinch hitting 17 (from 16 balls) at end of innings^
V WA – 1/36 (10)* and Steadying 13 (from 24 balls) to hold innings together

Sheffield Shield 2008/09
V WA – 2/34 (12)# then 0/27 (13)
V Vic – 3/107 (32.2) then 2/27 (9)#
V SA – 1/69 (26) and 59 n.o^

Ford Ranger Cup 2009/10
V Qld – 0/22 (10)*

Sheffield Shield 2009/10
V Qld – 2/58 (23.1)*
V SA – 4/70 (29)#*

* Adam Dale like economy-rate awesomeness
# Warne like wicket taking ability
^ Mitchell Johnson like ability for valuable runs

What's all this about Jason Krejza?

Jason Krejza is Australian test cricketer currently in exile from the national team. He currently plays for the Tasmanian Tigers in the domestic competitions, where he is regularly judged best afield for his bowling, batting and fielding displays.

He started to make the NSW side in 2004/5 and began to set the SCG alight with sensational finger-spinning displays. SCG crowds soared and the Blues won several competitions. However, a combination of tall poppies and Shane Warne kept him out of the national side. Dis-spirited, he lost form and slumped to fourth choice spinner behind Stuart "Pinot" MacGill, Nathan "Can't turn it" Hauritz and Beau "Shit hair" Casson.

In late 2006 he moved to Tasmania to start again. The Tasmanian air did him wonders and the Blues realised how foolish they were to let him go. The Tasmanian Tigers, under the leadership of Dan "Old Man" Marsh and with the spinning talents of JJ Krejza, won the One Day competition in 2007 and the Sheffield Shield in 2008. Krejza was reborn and a state celebrated a new hero.

The Australian selectors - egg now all over their faces and blouses - were left with no choice but to pick Krejza for the hardest test in world cricket: the looming Indian tour where the Australian test side were to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Krejza, overlooked for the first three tests. Australia were 1-0 down in the series and needed a win in the fourth test to retain the trophy. The captain tossed Krejza his first baggy cap and Krejza responded with world record debut figures of 12/358 - including world record 8/215 in his first innnings. Upon his return to Tasmania Krejza became a huge celebrity, featuring on many locally produced television shows and those little columns in the newspaper like "What am I reading now?" or "My favourite spot."

Sadly, his international test career has floundered since this tour, playing just one more test - in a defeated side in Perth. Although Krejza bowled magnificently, his figures did not match his effort and he returned 1/209 for the match. As one reknowned sports journalist said at the time, "Dropping a spinner for an average WACA test is like putting down a dog for urinating on a fire hdrant."

Krejza returned to Tasmania and continues to bowl for the Tassie Tigers. He has several nicknames: "Tassie", "Krazy" and "JJ Krayz". His surname is pronounced "kray-jyah"