Australia's case for the T20 World Cup (part 1)

With the flurry of Big Bash activities brought on through the return of domestic cricket to free-to-air TV, we are forgiven for believing Twenty20 cricket entertainment and not a legitimate format of our game.

The T20 World Cup, to be held in Bangladesh during March and April, will be the Australia’s next assignment after the tour of South Africa.

The naming of the squad should be done in the coming weeks, following suit with the other participating nations.

The provisional squad named will consist of 30 players that will be cut to a squad of 15 once the squad is finalised and ready to leave for Bangladesh.

Recently, Cricket Australia has placed T20 matches on the agenda after going into the last World Cup as the ninth ranked team in the world.

Currently Australia are seventh but development of the format has increased dramatically on the domestic front with the Big Bash being prioritised over other domestic tournaments (which this writer is very unhappy about) and the fast-tracking of T20 specialists within the national side.

Regarding the squad, some players will be certainties but we are in danger of choosing a core group of players across three formats and not going by form or specialist abilities.

The Big Bash has highlighted certain players who are in top notch form and should be rewarded with selection, as well as some young talent coming through, keeping a view to the future high on the agenda.

Another dilemma arises through the ‘old guard’ of players currently playing very well in the Big Bash.

Channel Nine’s part-time young gun commentator Mike Hussey sits third on the player runs ladder, one spot behind Simon Katich with the evergreen Michael Klinger rounding out the top five.

Special mentions must also go to the Victorian duo David Hussey and the forever-forgotten Brad Hodge, who have played crucial roles for their team, although the Stars are a ridiculously stacked team; the talents of the two veterans are usually not called upon.

The bowling department is also stacked with representatives of ‘Dad’s Army’.

For all bowlers who have bowled more than 20 overs in the tournament, only two players are going for less than a run-a-ball; New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori and fan favourite George Bradley Hogg.

Hogg has arguably been the best spinner in the history of the Big Bash and this year is equal first for spinners on the wickets tally, with Vettori and Aaron O’Brien, and made the last World Cup squad back in 2012 with respectable results.

The need for experience in the squad should be balanced with proven performers, in-form players and a fresh group of youngsters with an eye on long-term goals.

Projected provisional squad

Batsmen
George Bailey (C), David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Steve Smith, Adam Voges, Cameron White, Chris Lynn, Nic Maddinson, Nathan Reardon, Usman Khawaja.

The list of batsmen chosen has complemented both youth and experience.

As this is the provisional squad, we can clearly see the players who will be cut for the squad and naming 11 batsmen was difficult.

A lack of proven middle order contributors is key for Australia, considering their abundance of possible opening partnership combinations that are also significantly slanted towards an offensive game.

The last four players on the list are the best young performing batsmen this year; Queensland pair Lynn and Reardon has been sensational for their franchises, Maddinson has been a steady hand in a great Sixers side, while Khawaja has provided a cool head when playing for the faltering Thunder.

Fast bowlers
Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jackson Bird, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Cameron Gannon, Gurinder Sandhu.

Australia are going through a golden phase of fast bowling right now, with many quicks not even hitting their peaks yet.

Aside from Johnson, all players are under the age of 27, with so much cricket ahead of them.

The dilemma for this selection was the process of overlooking certain young bowlers who deserved to be in at least the provisional squad but cannot force themselves due to the other, more established players with international experience.

Gannon is the top bowler in this year’s Big Bash, with a ridiculous strike rate of 8.9 (8.9 balls per wicket) while Sandhu is equal fifth on the bowlers tally with an economy rate of just over a run-a-ball.

Jackson Bird has been involved with the national side as recently as the Winter Ashes series and should be rewarded after a stellar Big Bash season, so far being the quick with the best bowling average and economy rate.

A deserved shout out goes to Michael Nesser, the Queensland quick playing for the Strikers who has been brilliant (Sandhu’s economy rate got him over the line) and also to the relatively unknown 20-year-old Mark Steketee (also from Queensland) who bowled some great spells for the Heat.

Queensland really have some great young quicks lined up for them for the second half of Shield cricket; Gannon, Alister McDermott, Ben Cutting, Nesser, Steketee and Ryan Harris.

While we are on the subject of Harris, his exclusion from the squad is due to his track record of not playing international limited overs matches rather than on lack of skill.

Spin bowlers
Bradley Hogg, Nathan Lyon, Stephen O’Keefe.

I can’t say no to Bradley Hogg especially as a fellow West Australian. He has been the most consistent spin bowler in the Big Bash this season and shows no sign of slowing down.

Batsmen aren’t being able to pick his wrong’un and he’s still flighting the ball with the recklessness of a teenage spinner but with successful returns.

His 100% commitment in fielding and bringing a buzz to the Scorchers side is invaluable but, most importantly, is there anyone better than him?

As stated above he’s tied with Vettori and O’Brien for most wickets as a spinner but O’Brien is expensive and not attacking while Vettori is from the wrong side of the Tasman.

Lyon is the player who should be given a crack here. He made his name during the inaugural Big Bash and has carved out a successful Test career that has finally closed the revolving door of Australian spinners.

The last choice of O’Keefe is due to the fact he’s the best Shield spinner by a mile.

Doherty wasn’t named as he would have trouble turning a doorknob and the flock of spinning youngsters – Adam Zampa, Cameron Boyce and Ashton Agar – have been largely unimpressive or non-existent in the Big Bash this year.

Allrounders
Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Moises Henriques, Dan Christian.

A self-explanatory group of players.

Watson is arguably the best T20 player in the world with his blend of explosive batting, clever bowling and reliable fielding that has seen him become the top all-rounder in T20 cricket.

Interestingly, he is also Australia’s top bowler and batsmen.

Maxwell and Faulkner have displayed incredible potential in both domestic and international cricket that would have most IPL franchises ready to plunge deep into their pockets for their services.

The selection of Henriques and Christian are rewards for a superb outing in the Big Bash.

Henriques has been the Sixers’ stand-in captain and leading the way with both bat and ball, while Christian has been one of the Heat’s most dangerous batsmen before recently been whisked away to the Australian ODI side as Watson’s replacement.

This section was relatively easy to picking, with only Mitch Marsh being the other considered player, while Ben Cutting has been destructive with the bat but not pulling his weight in his main job of bowling, being far too predictable, resulting in expensive figures.

Wicketkeepers
Matthew Wade, Ben Dunk.

Dunk is the most left-field selection in my squad.

Dunk is fourth on the runs tally, with a phenomenal strike rate of 150, but has been relieved of the gloves by his Hurricanes’ skipper Tim Paine.

His keeping is more than capable after holding arguably the best pure keeper in Australia, Chris Hartley, out of his own side back when Dunk played for Queensland.

His strong hitting and ability to pick the gaps has been essential for the Hurricanes this season.

With a view of the future in mind, Matthew Wade must be picked for confidence and development matters.

Wade would be Australia’s wicketkeeper if not for a late-blooming Brad Haddin and an inconsistent series in India.

Wade’s keeping is above average but was made to look like of club cricket calibre during the Indian tour, regularly having to buy the spinners’ drinks after fluffing more than a few chances.

The selectors have made it clear he is Australia’s #2 keeper with his recent inclusion in the ODI side as Haddin puts his feet up for a well-deserved break.

Tomorrow I will announce my starting XI and four reserves from the 30 players named above.