Paceman John Hastings is shocked at his Australian axing, noting he is the leading wicket taker this year in one-day cricket internationals.
The 31-year-old Victorian has not hidden his disappointment, two days after being left out of the squad for next month's three one-dayers against New Zealand.
The squad features the return of Pat Cummins and he will join Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc in the pace attack.
"I was very disappointed - I was initially pretty shocked, to be honest," he said at Friday's Victorian training session.
"I felt my performances over the last 12 months had probably stacked up and in my mind, I'm 100 per cent fit.
"I know I haven't played a lot of cricket, but five and a half months of not playing cricket and then going over to Sri Lanka without a game, it didn't really stack up for me.
"So yeah, I was very disappointed not to be in that side."
Hastings has not played since October 18 because of a broken finger, but is back in the Victorian squad for Saturday's Sheffield Shield match against SA at the MCG.
His last ODI was against South Africa on October 9 and he has taken 29 wickets this year, level with England's Adil Rashid.
Victoria have started the Shield with three wins and if Hastings cannot break into the XI, he will play instead locally for Frankston.
New chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns broke the news to Hastings.
"He just said I haven't really been playing much and the big boys were back, so that's all I can take," Hastings said.
"Hopefully I get a game tomorrow, but other than that, it's really all I can do.
"If they think those guys can do a better job, then that's fair enough, I can cop that.
"I just have to try to go back and prove people wrong again."
Hastings' next white-ball game will not be until the Melbourne Stars start their Big Bash League campaign on Boxing Day in Hobart.
But Australia will soon tour New Zealand and Hastings said the message from Hohns is that he is still in the selectors' thoughts.
"That's the thing I'm holding onto - if I can get back playing some good cricket for Victoria, then if there's a couple of injuries maybe I will get another chance," he said.
"There's no point in kicking cans and having your head down - you have to go back out there and show you want to play for Victoria and want to play back in that Australian team."
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