A veteran-packed side with an average age of 31 would be my choice for Australia’s opening match of the World T20 tournament in Bangladesh next week.
Old-stagers Brad Hogg and Brad Hodge, with a combined age of 82, would provide invaluable experience and composure in the one major international cricket tournament Australia are yet to win.
MY TEAM
1. David Warner
2. Aaron Finch
3. Shane Watson
4. Cameron White
5. George Bailey
6. Brad Hodge
7. Brad Haddin
8. James Faulkner
9. Nathan Coulter-Nile
10. Mitchell Starc
11. Brad Hogg
Who missed out: Glenn Maxwell, James Muirhead, Dan Christian, Doug Bollinger
The Aussies’ first match is against the unpredictable Pakistan on Sunday at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
Australia have a poor record against the Pakistanis, having triumphed in just four of their 11 encounters in the shortest form of the game.
Even worse, they have won just one of their past six matches against Pakistan.
In the last T20 World Cup, in 2012, the Aussies were in rampant form early on, winning their first four matches against Ireland, the West Indies, India and South Africa.
Consecutive losses to Pakistan and then the West Indies, in the semi-finals, saw them fail to capitalise on that momentum.
Australia’s recent struggles against Pakistan in T20 have largely been due to their inability to counter canny off spinners Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez.
The last time the teams met, which was in the 2012 tournament, Ajmal and Hafeez combined for 5-39 from their eight overs.
As a result of being strangled by that pair, Australia could only crawl to 7-117 from their 20 overs in pursuit of 150.
The Aussie side I have chosen has a clutch of batsmen who can force the pace against slow bowlers.
Shane Watson, George Bailey and Brad Hodge are all masterful players of spin at limited overs level, capable of disrupting the rhythm of even the best tweakers.
The former pair routinely loft spinners into the stands, while Hodge is defter but can also prove destructive when necessary.
Similarly, Brad Haddin and James Faulkner in the lower order are able to dispatch spinners from the moment they arrive at the crease.
Opposition sides will be wary of the batting firepower Australia possess and will try to choke them with spin on the slow, dry decks expected in Bangladesh.
Despite the conditions, the Aussies may play to their strengths by fielding a pace-heavy attack.
They have selected just two specialist spin bowlers in their squad, who together form a truly odd couple.
Chinaman bowler Brad Hogg, at 43 years old, has been paired with 20-year-old leg spinner James Muirhead, who had only just been born when Hogg made his professional debut.
Muirhead may be a promising wrist spinner but I would not select him in my starting XI ahead of the vastly-experienced Hogg.
I would back Australia’s potent pace battery of Mitchell Starc, James Faulkner, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Shane Watson, leaving any support spin duties to Hodge and Cameron White.
Should Australia’s attack appear too pace-reliant against Pakistan, consideration could be given to either playing Muirhead in addition to Hogg, or including spinning all-rounder Glenn Maxwell at the expense of Hodge or White.
Australia may be ranked fifth in the World T20 standings but, make no mistake, they are a massive chance of taking out the title.
ross prentice
Guest
They refuse to pick any Queensland players
ross prentice
Guest
The big show is a no go. Once again the selectors are influenced by ex-test cricketers with an agenda to have their state player play for Australia. Chris Lynn has done nothing wrong and he can bowl. It is beyond comprehension that the selectors keep trying the 'no-show" but if they keep trying he will eventually score some runs unfortunately Chris Lynn would have scored a lot more.
Winston
Guest
Sorry to steer off topic, but this is probably the closest article which relates to what I want to say. Did anyone watch the Afghanistan vs Hong Kong game last night on Fox? I happened to have it on in the background while doing other things. It was hilariously dismal stuff! Best part is the HK team consisted of 2 Brits and the rest of them had surnames which looked like Pakistani ones. I didn't know there were so many Pakistanis in HK!
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Hogg hasn't been effective in international T20s. I can't see him troubling many of the sub-continental players.
Brian
Guest
The big show got into the t20 side very early before he was ready for any kind of international side. Thats probably reducing his averages
Aussie Opener
Guest
Understand where you are coming from Andy, But , he is a pretty good bowler, not in the Starc class, reasonable batsman who can hit it out of any ground, and he is a brilliant fieldsman with a fantastic arm. Just about everything you want in a T20 cricketer who will or at least should bat if needed right at the death.
Andy
Guest
Am I the only person not sold on Coulter-Nile? Don't rate him at all at international level
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
+1 Nudge, Exactly the team I'd have had Thanks though Ronan! I didn't realise Hodge was such a handy bowler as well. There's no need for two specialist spinners with Hodge and Maxwell (and i daresay Finch) covering these roles! Between Hogg/Muirhead, Maxwell, Hodge and Finch you have anywhere between 10- 14 overs of spin covered. White is too slow of a starter to play in the Middle order in T20. He's either an opener or a 3. With Finch, Warner and Watson ranked 1st, 8th and 9th in the world at T20 (batting) respectively there's just no room for him.
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
No doubt Warner is also waiting for an apology from Malcom Conn and all the other knockers. Unfortunately Mike, neither you or Warner are going to get any such apology. Conn is like Trott, soft and opportunistic.
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
Maxwell is being picked as a bowler who can bat. His short form cricket form has been excellent this year. 6 T20's. 5 Wickets at an Average of 17.4. Strike Rate of 14.4. ECONOMY OF 7.25. ODI Form. 5 Games, 4 wickets at an ECONOMY OF 4.62. Maxwell should and will play every game in Bangladesh because he's our 2nd best spinner. He bowls tight lines and his figures show how hard he is to put away.
Beauty of a geek brains of a bimbo(atgm)
Guest
*
Mike Caxton
Guest
Still awaiting the apologies for the self-righteous abuse I received now that Trott has admitted cynically pulling the mental illness card
Sam
Guest
I know that a lot has been said on this topic, but I just think it's wrong to pick someone with a T20 strike rate of 130 (i.e. Hodge/White) at no. 6 over somebody with a strike rate of 149. If Maxwell comes in with three overs to go, hits 18 off 9, and gets out, that is a far better contribution than having, say, White/Hodge, who come in and get 24 not out off 18. I also think you're under-rating him as a bowler:; his bowling has come a long way recently. Plus, despite having a worse career average in T20, he has a superior overall economy to that of Hodge, which is, by definition in a limited overs game, more important.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Yep Hodge is a better middle order option and there's no spot for White in the top 3.
Ducko
Guest
I'd choose Hodge. He can hit from the get-go. White often takes a while to get going, which is a luxury you can't afford in the latter overs. If White plays, it has to be at the top & I can't pick him before Warner, Finch or Watson.
Nudge
Guest
But Ronan,your comparing a 10/12 year career to a 2 year career and that doesn't show how much Maxwell has improved as a bowler in the last 3 months. And that's in all formats. Just assume they both play all matches. How many overs do you think Maxwell will average a game, and how many overs do you think Hodge will bowl a game? My prediction would be maxwell 3- 3.5Hodge 0.0-0.05
Beauty of a geek brains of a bimbo(atgm)
Guest
Hahahaha yummy!
Beauty of a geek brains of a bimbo(atgm)
Guest
Test team?not so sure that he is ready for that yet! DO U WANT HIM IN YOUR SIDE FOR PAK TESTS?
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Cheers champ get on the Guinness I say!
Beauty of a geek brains of a bimbo(atgm)
Guest
Happy St Patricks day ronan o'conell!