Jonathan Holland (OH 2005) becomes Haileybury’s 3rd Test Cricketer
As the Second Test commences in Galle, Sri Lanka today, the injury misfortune of New South Wales spinner, Steve O’Keefe has become a fortunate rise for Victorian and OHA member, Jonathan Holland (OH 2005).
Jonathan becomes Australia’s 444th Test Cricketer and only the 3rd Haileyburian to play in a Test Match. The others are Gerry Hazlitt (OH ’06) (read here) who played nine Tests for Australia from 1907 – 1912 and James Pattinson (OH 2008) who has played in 17 Tests, debuting in 2011.
Test selection marks an incredible rise for Jonathan, who has fought back from three serious shoulder injuries and couldn’t get a Sheffield Shield start for Victoria for most of last summer as Fawad Ahmed was picked as the state’s number one spinner.
The 29-year-old eventually made two Shield appearances and those performances enabled him to get over the line for his Test call-up. He took six wickets against NSW and then in the final against South Australia, grabbed match figures of 8 for 162 as the Bushrangers claimed victory.
Jonathan made his first class debut in 2008 and has since played 38 matches for Victoria.
We will watch his Test Career intently and we wish him the very best of luck as he makes his Test debut.