The Sunshine Coast Daily

IT must have seemed a Clayton's moment for outstanding Queensland Bulls all-rounder Ashley Noffke, although it was not a tonic for the Sunshine Coast Scorcher.

He learned the news that he would not be in the Australian squad to tour India when he was actually in India playing for his country.

Noffke, who was back to his best last season snaring wickets for the Bulls and chipping in with runs in an otherwise forgettable season for Queensland, is touring with the Australian A side captained by Simon Katich.

While his Scorchers side yesterday was playing Sandgate in a Twenty20 preseason hit out, Noffke was boarding a bus with teammates for Hyderabad to take on New Zealand A in a one-dayer tomorrow before meeting India A on Wednesday.

Noffke told the Sunshine Coast Daily that missing the top tour was unfortunate, but he was determined to put his name up in front of selectors as this tour and the domestic season progresses.

"Yes it is a little disappointing, but I'll just have to keep taking wickets and making runs," he said.

Although often looked at as a strike bowler, Noffke's consistent batting prowess has put him in the all-rounder class. It was always going to be a hard ask to get the nod over Shane Watson as the replacement for Andrew Symonds, who is being counselled at home about his cricketing future.

When asked about his future chances of breaking into the Australian team the 31-year-old said: "You'd have to ask the chairman of selectors that."

Selection chairman Andrew Hilditch said on Cricket Australia's website that the Australian team would not be selected until after two three-one day games involving Australia A and India A.

But if Noffke thought he might be able to press for some claims in those, the weather put and end to that hope.

"We have hardly played any cricket - the three dayers have been affected by rain."

Hilditch said the Australian A tour was an "opportunity to have a look at three spinners in the 14-man squad for the three-day games who are considered exciting prospects".

"This also provides an opportunity to pick four pace bowlers, two of whom were on Australia's tour of the West Indies (Doug Bollinger of New South Wales and Noffke) and also to have a look at some of our exciting young fast-bowling talent in Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris."

Bollinger and Siddle got the nod ahead of Noffke and Harris for the 15-man Australia squad to tour India this month.

Meanwhile legspinner Bryce McGain and offspinner Jason Krejza were named as the spinning options for the four-Test tour.