Australia’s squad for the World Twenty20 in March is wide open with about 10 spots up for grabs, adding serious intrigue to the Big Bash League when it starts tomorrow.
Just three months out from Australia’s World Cup opener, against New Zealand in Dharamsala, only five players are locks for the tournament, if fit – captain Aaron Finch, Test lynchpins David Warner and Steve Smith, and short-form stars James Faulkner and Glenn Maxwell.
The likes of Shane Watson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Wade all are very strong chances of making the expected 15-man squad for the tournament in India.
None of them are automatic selections though and there is a big group of state players who easily could leapfrog them by excelling in this BBL.
Australia have never taken the T20 format as seriously as Tests or ODIs. This is evident in the fact that their T20 line-up has always been unpredictable – they have churned through a huge number of players, using the format as a way to blood rookies they feel may be prospects for Tests or ODIs.
While they had a bonanza of T20 cricket in 2014, playing 14 matches, Australia have had just one T20 outing in the past 13 months.
Of the 11 who turned out in Australia’s last T20, a five-run loss to England in August, only five of them had played in Australia’s previous T20 match. This constant turnover of players must have made it difficult for the Australians to form any bond in the shortest format and may help explain why, since the start of 2013, they have a poor 10-10 win-loss record.
This was Australia’s 15-man squad from the last World T20 in 2014:
George Bailey (capt), Daniel Christian, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Glenn Maxwell, James Muirhead, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson and Cameron White.
It seems likely they again will choose a squad composed of five specialist batsmen, three batting all-rounders, one wicketkeeper, four pacemen and two spinners.
Australia’s batting line-up is the easiest part of the team to predict with Finch, Warner, Smith and Maxwell set to make up four of their top six in the World Cup. That means there is one specialist batting berth open in Australia’s squad, along with two batting all-rounder positions.
Watson is a leading contender to join the top six, being Australia’s second-most capped T20 international after Warner, and having vast experience in Indian conditions thanks to many seasons in the Indian Premier League.
But where Watson was, for several years, arguably the best T20 player on the planet, his impact has waned significantly over the past three years. In that period, he has averaged just 15 with the bat and 69 with the ball across 13 T20 internationals.
At just 34, Watson could yet revive his international limited overs career. But he will need to have a standout BBL if he is to make the World Cup squad ahead of the likes of younger all-rounders Mitchell Marsh, Moises Henriques and Marcus Stoinis.
Marsh has enjoyed a solid run in both the Test and ODI teams, but has played only four T20s for Australia. He was, however, in the line-up for their last match in England when he formed part of a top six that included four all-rounders in him, Stoinis, Watson, and Maxwell.
Henriques is coming off a fine 2014-15 Big Bash League during which he bowled economically, conceding just 6.4 runs per over, and was one of the leading runscorers with 245 runs at 35.
The fifth specialist batting position in the squad looks hard to forecast. It could be filled by any of the likes of slashing young left-hander Nic Maddinson, veteran Shaun Marsh, long-hitting Queenslander Chris Lynn or prolific old-stager Michael Klinger.
Then there are the likes of Peter Handscomb, Jordan Silk and Travis Head, any of whom could vault themselves over to India with a stunning BBL campaign.
One player who could potentially be competing for both a specialist batting role and the wicketkeeping spot is Tasmanian Ben Dunk. He kept wicket in three T20s against South Africa last summer and has been in commanding touch with the blade so far this domestic season.
After piling up 300 runs at 60 in the domestic 50-over competition, Dunk has plundered 595 runs at 66 in the Sheffield Shield. His main competition for the Australian keeping spot will be Victorian Matthew Wade, who was behind the stumps in their last T20 international.
The bowling spots, in particular, are wide open in Australia’s squad due to injuries to leading T20 pacemen Starc and Pat Cummins, and the lack of a dominant spinner.
In the last T20 World Cup, Australia took gambles on both youth and extreme experience in selecting their two spinners. Leg-spinner James Muirhead was just 20, while chinaman Brad Hogg was a ripe old 43.
After performing admirably in that tournament, Muirhead since has fallen back in the spin pecking order. Hogg, too, has not been seen in Australia colours since that World Cup and looks unlikely to make yet another international comeback. Muirhead and Hogg likely are competing for one BBL spot in the Perth Scorchers’ starting XI.
Queensland leggie Cameron Boyce is the incumbent spinner in the Australian T20 line-up and has been effective in his five matches.
Australia’s first-choice ODI spinner Xavier Doherty hasn’t played a Twenty20 since October of 2013 but will be the leading spinner for the Melbourne Renegades. Doherty is a realistic chance of making the World Cup squad along with leggie Fawad Ahmed, Test off-spinner Nathan Lyon, bowling all-rounder Ashton Agar and wrist spinner Adam Zampa.
The fast bowling spots for Australia’s World Cup squad are an absolute raffle at this stage. There are probably up to 10 quicks who have some sort of hope of making the cut. The favourites would be Coulter-Nile, Jason Behrendorff, Gurinder Sandhu, James Pattinson and Josh Hazlewood.
Leading contenders to make Australia’s T20 World Cup
Specialist batsmen – Shaun Marsh, Nic Maddinson, Chris Lynn, Jordan Silk, Travis Head, Peter Handscomb and Michael Klinger.
All-rounders – Mitchell Marsh, Shane Watson, Marcus Stoinis and Moises Henriques.
Wicketkeepers – Matthew Wade, Ben Dunk and Tim Ludeman.
Spinners – Cameron Boyce, Xavier Doherty, Nathan Lyon, Fawad Ahmed, Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa.
Fast bowlers – Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Pattinson, Jason Behrendorff, John Hastings, Kane Richardson, Gurinder Sandhu, Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird.
Craig Swanson
Guest
What should not be forgotten is this T20 world cup is being played in India. Remember dust bowls, glue pots tailor made for spin. You can bet Indian curators will not be producing flat batting tracks..for their games at least. So selectors need to keep in mind which of our boys are best against spin. Taking flat track bullies such as Maxwell, Watson or Finch could be a mistake. Smith should be the first batsman picked as he is our best player against spin. Warner's play against spin has improved so should make the squad. Joe Burns, Mitch Marsh, Adam Voges and George Bailey all use their feet against spin. Pencil them in. Any others come to mind?
Craig Swanson
Guest
Killing two birds with one stone by picking good bowlers who can also hit a long, clean ball could also be in selectors minds. Blokes like Ben Cutting and Kane Richardson come to mind. Richo is also one of our best T20 death bowlers. Can not understand why he is not currently playing for the Redbacks though. Needs a huge BBL. if Starc is rubbed thru injury who takes his place? Do we go for a like for like such as Behrendorff or Paris?
Craig Swanson
Guest
Have they not already rubbed Starc thru injury? Agree Chris. Maxwell is no certainty. Is a bit too hit and miss for mine. As is Finch. There are also better slow bowlers around than Maxie. My all rounders would be Faulkner, Marsh and Stoinis if they decide to take three. My spinners would be Agar, Boyce, Zampa/ Ahmed.
Craig Swanson
Guest
Handscomb hardly ever keeps. Only since Wade has been injured. My tip is Carters. Keeps for Sydney Uni, the Sixers and whenever Haddin has been unavailable. CA also like him, in particular his ability as a finisher in the shorter formats. Coulter- Nile will be in the mix once he gets some cricket under his belt. Cutting has been a regular in the T20 format for some time. He and Kane Richardson. This bloke is one of our best death bowlers in T20. A very important role.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Yes, I agree. They've got the squad lined up already. Be kind of weird if they didn't.
Nudge
Guest
I think your mate Wade is nearly a certainty in the side James. His late order hitting has improved dramatically in the past year. We know his keepings poor, but I think I'd still pick him in this format. Don't think Patto will be in the squad, he comes onto the bat too nicely in thus format and doesn't really have a slower ball. My team would be Finch Warner Smith Maxwell Lynn Mitch Marsh Wade Faulkner NCN Hazlewood Doherty Res Paris Zampa Watson and Dunk. Richardson back up quick. Doherty is still the best white ball spinner in Australia. I'm pretty confident he'll be there. He was close to the vest spinner in the matador. His fielding and batting lets him down badly which could cost him. Starc a huge loss, So the howling looks ordinary, but you'd always gave to be a chance with that batting unit
J_D_J
Roar Rookie
I agree with you Chris that at least those two guys appear to be ahead of him in terms of allrounders. Cutting's. bowling was disappointing in the BBL last year. He has been such a destructive batsman in the BBL though. I'd love to see him unleashed on the international stage because I think he is good enough with the bat to cause some serious damage to other sides in the last 5-10 overs.
dan ced
Guest
Dammit, how am I going to keep Klinger in the team now! I'm going to have to drop Lynn for a bowler. NCN, I guess. I'm not insane enough to drop Finch or Warner (although I think Finch is a liability).
ajay
Guest
Lol some crazy answer's ! Spot on JAMESWM, I think my team Warner Finch(he's pathetic vs spin no footwork and perhaps worst fieldsman in the side) Smith Lynn Maxwell Marsh/watson(strong hitter) Dunk Faulkner Ncn Zampa/Boyce Patto/sandhu/Paris?
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
T20 is an All-Rounders game said: Head Watson Maxwell D Hussey Stoinis M Marsh Henriques Faulkner Agar Starc Cutting 12th Hastings
Don Freo
Guest
Present tense is very much the point. He is very, very consistent with the bat and in the field and comes off most times with the ball. What he did 12 months ago is no longer pertinent.
Jameswm
Guest
How can you bracket Faulkner with anyone? He's one of our first picked. You also can't afford to have bunnies from 7-11. You need some bating depth, and the bowlers need to be good fielders. Also, I believe both Cummins and Starc will be unavailable.
josh
Roar Rookie
In fact the T20 team should just be picked around Brayshaw's commentary style.
Jameswm
Guest
The thing is Chris - Maxwell would be in our best 5 bats, and Faulkner would be in our best 5 bowlers. And Mitch Marsh isn't far off either.
Brian
Guest
1-4 are your best 4 batsman and 7-11 should be your best 5 bowlers full stop. With Maxi a top 5 batsman and bowler you would only need one other all rounder. Warner Finch Smith Lynn/S Marsh Maxwell (In top 5 bowlers in Indian conditions but can bat 5) Wade Faulkner/Watson/M Marsh Starc Pattinson Cummins Lyon
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Have to be careful going with too many allrounders. Often T20's are won by the best bowling side. Looking back at the 50-over world cup last year there was so much talk about bowlers being little more than bowling machines as batsmen did what they wanted to, but the semi finalists were the top four bowling attacks, the finalists were the top 2 bowling attacks and the winner was the best bowling attack. Heading into the T20 you may find something similar. With teams full of players looking for any chance to clear the fence it's the team with the bowlers best able to counter this that will win out. So if you sacrifice your bowling attack too much to lengthen the batting that could really hurt you. When bowlers only need to bowl 4 overs each is there really any need for more than 5 bowlers in a team? Nice to have some redundancy, so having a 6th bowler can be nice, but only have 7 bowlers in the side if it just happens that picking your best batting lineup has a number of players who are pretty handy with the ball.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I'm guessing you also want to here Brayshaw going on about all the "big unit's" in the team too!
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
He has a decent first class record, but I I think just about every time I've seen him get a 100 in shield cricket it's been at better than a run a ball. That actually worries me. Having some innings like that is one thing, but if the only hundreds he scores are basically having a slog and having that slog come off then I worry about how well he could transfer that to test cricket as the better the attack you are up against the less likely that is to succeed. I'm happy for him to have hundreds like that, but I'd like to see him able to convert on innings where he's not just able to slog his way out of trouble before considering him a genuine test contender.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I don't know that he performs every time he takes the field, but something seemed to switch mid-last summer in the ODI tri-series where he suddenly seemed to take his brain with him when he batted and started making more intelligent decisions, rather than just trying to reverse sweep fast bowlers for six every ball and from that point he became a lot more dangerous and a lot more consistent. 12 months ago his position was under threat because he hadn't been performing, right how he's definitely one of the automatics.
My2cents
Guest
Personally my ideal 11 would include 4 tempo batsman ( guys who can knock the ball around.) 4 tonkers. 7 bowlers ( 4 quicks, 3 spinners) and a keeper. Obviously 8 + 7 into 11 spots means that 5 all rounders plus a keeper who can bat would need to be picked. I suppose a lot will depend on if Steve smith wants to bowl. Personally I'd pick him as a batsman. So I'd have Dunk, Warner M Marsh Smith young batsman maxwell, closer, Faulkner cutting, Pattinson, o'keefe