Cosgrove still on the outer
24/11/2008 2:56 PM
South Australian batsman Mark Cosgrove remains on the outer but is still a 'required player', according to Redbacks coach Mark Sorell.
Cosgrove, who last week admitted he'd look at playing elsewhere if he couldn't get a spot with his home state, was overlooked by selectors for the team's upcoming Sheffield Shield game against Queensland.
Sorell said the left hander was an important member of the squad despite his lack of game time this summer.
"We don't want to lose good players in our system, there's no doubt about that," he said.
"Opportunities are the important thing for a player to look at so we'll sit down at the end of the year and look at where Mark is at and he'll have to make decisions as well."
"We want him in our group, he's a very good player and we need him around. Mark is the sort of guy that can crack open a game."
Sorell said Cosgrove had responded well to some of the disappointments of this season.
"He keeps getting down to business and shows a great attitude around the group, that's all we can ask," he said.
Sorell said the Cosgrove selection dilemma highlighted the depth of the Redbacks squad.
"It's been tough to get in and one of the pluses for us has been that battle for spots in the top six which I think is a strength of us moving forward," he said.
"At the moment we are trying to keep some consistency and then who do you drop out and that always the issue as well and you have to justify those parts of it."