GLENN Maxwell’s omission from the Test squad may have garnered more headlines, but the most surprising name left off the 15-man list is Chris Tremain.

The Victorian quick’s long wait for a baggy green looked to be nearing its end when Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were ruled out of the two-Test series against Pakistan, only for selectors to turn to Peter Siddle, Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser.

Tremain was the Sheffield Shield’s highest wicket-taker last summer, taking 51 at an average of 21.07 — 12 more than second-placed Neser. That season was no flash in the pan either. The 27-year-old has taken 176 first-class wickets in his career at 23.69 and no bowler has been as damaging over the past two Shield seasons — 93 at 20.12.

Given how flat the Melbourne Cricket Ground’s pitches have been for the past few years, those numbers are even more impressive and pertinent given how dry the pitches in the UAE will be.

“That’s the million dollar question,” Allan Border told foxsports.com.au when asked what Tremain had to do to get selected. “You perform, you get an opportunity. Sometimes I don’t know if that’s the criteria the selection panel are looking at.”

Border, who served as a selector between 1998 and 2005, is concerned by Tremain’s omission for Siddle. The 33-year-old’s call-up came off the back of a bumper stint in county cricket (37 wickets at 16.40). Border worries what that means for the Sheffield Shield.

“I know Siddle’s done well in recent times in county cricket but that’s a million miles away from what he’s going to be bowling on in Dubai,” he said. “The bottom line is you want the Sheffield Shield to be the barometer where performances count. If you’re performing at Sheffield Shield level the natural progression should be to the next level.

“All you can do is take wickets at Sheffield Shield level and wait for the chance. Chris had done that.”

Despite his reservations about how Siddle was picked, Border can see some logic behind the 33-year-old’s selection.

“I have no problems with his selection because you know what he’s brining,” he said. “He’s going to give 100 per-cent, charging in in hot and difficult conditions and getting it to reverse a little as well.

“I just feel for the other guys who are perfoming and not being given a run.”