With the bash-fest that is the world cup of T20s coming up, there is just one question that needs to be answered.
Do you want to know the terrifying truth, or do you want to see me sock a few dingers?
The answer, of course, is dingers.
This squad of 15 players has approximately the same chance of actually being selected as the first cup game being called off due to snow. But Mark Waugh, if you’re reading this, you can do a lot better than listen to me.
But hey, what do I know.
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Opening the batting
Dave Warner and Aaron Finch (captain)
Unless the selectors want to give the bull a rest, which he’s more than earned, I think Warner’s an obvious selection.
Finchy has absolutely dominated the shorter form of the game whenever he steps up to the plate, both internationally and domestically, so this pair was a pretty easy selection.
No.3: Chris Lynn, a.k.a. the Brisbane Heat
After being shunned from the one-dayers against India (obviously a ploy to keep him under wraps for the world cup) there’s no way he doesn’t earn the nod here.
He hasn’t put a foot wrong in the BBL so far and has the most brute force strength I’ve seen since the days when Andrew Symonds was shoulder charging streakers. He’ll do just fine.
No.4 Maxy Klinger
The 35-year-old will make his much deserved international debut when the best nations come together in India this year.
Ok now that I’ve finally woken up I realise that probably won’t happen, but a man can dream right?
Look, he averages 38 for his career in all T20 action so this BBL isn’t just a fluke of nature, the guy can play.
Add that he’s got an experienced head on him, maybe not internationally, but still, and I can’t see why not.
No.5 Shaun ‘finished my Test career on a high’ Marsh
Maxy’s partner in crime earned a spot with the ODI squad and on that same form I can’t see why I wouldn’t pick him in the world cup side.
Barring a complete and utter fall from grace during the upcoming India series (the current odds have it at 3:1) you have to pick him on form alone.
No.6 Glenn ‘I look pretty good when I don’t reverse sweep’ Maxwell
Another obvious choice in my opinion. He’s a better player than his 20 average suggests and I think he’s going to prove that in the coming months.
With the tournament in the sub-continent he’s also going to have to bowl four overs a game, that or Finchy gets to roll the arm over (shudders at the thought).
No.7 Matt Wade
This is a very blase selection so let’s just move on to the bowling core.
No.8 James Faulkner
I just love him, like a mother loves a son, if that son can finish international games with bat or ball. He will add a lot of batting depth to this team and as long as he has that slower ball going he’ll be incredibly tough to get away – but now I’m telling you things you already know.
No.9 Jason ‘the better version of Joel Paris’ Behrendorff
This dude is going to be special, if and when he gets his chance.
He’s ripped it up in the BBL the last two years and is one of this team’s out and out wicket takers.
I might be a little worried about whether he can adapt to the Indian conditions, but I say if you’re picking on form, he’s one of the first blokes with a plane ticket.
No.10 George Bradley Hogg
I know, I know, he didn’t really do what we all had hoped last time around and now he’s 44, but call me a believer.
Hoggy will be 80 years old, in a nursing home and still fooling the staff with that wrong-un.
If he fails this time I swear I’m done with him on the international stage, although if you ask me, if he gets picked, he’ll take that tongue all the way to a title.
No.11 Shaun Tait
He looks good right? It’s not just me? Sure he might break down half-through a tournament, but that’s what back-ups are for.
Just imagine it, Tait steaming in at one end and Behrendorff nipping it either way at the other, it’s a thing of beauty.
We all know what he’s capable when he’s at full force,, and while Tait 7.0 might not be what he once was I know there would be a brown trail following me if I ever had to face him.
Reserves (Tait’s reserves)
Mitch Starc: Because let’s bowl him into the ground. (Honestly I forgot about him until now and really like my first XI, so just let me have this one).
John Hastings: One of the worst bowlers to ever play for Australia, until I looked at the list of post-Warne spinners. He has been deadly at the close of innings in the BBL and deserving of a spot.
Michael Beer: It’s India, pick all the spinners (ok, left arm slow).
George Bailey: Will take Marsh’s spot once he does what we all hope he doesn’t.
Andrew Tye doesn’t make the flight, but damn, how good has he been?
Anwar
Guest
Surely Khawaja should be in the squad given his fantastic form
VivGilchrist
Guest
Tait? The polar opposite of Ryan Harris when it comes to ticker. No thanks.
Riley Krause
Roar Rookie
Not in my wildest dreams do I think the selectors will actually pick Tait or Hogg. In Hogg's case it's honestly just personal opinion that I don't really rate either Boyce or Zampa (thus why I picked Beer). As for Tait, you're probably right, but he's actually bowled with relative accuracy and I think we could do a lot worse, but if Starc is healthy he slots right in there.
Craig Swanson
Guest
This is tongue in cheek selection.Right? This world cup is in India...you know hot, dusty poor excuses for cricket pitches. So we need to pack plenty of spin in our squad. I would like to see three specialists. Lyon and Boyce or Fawad/Hogg/SOK/Agar. My middle order spinning all rounder would be Travis Head. His time is now. Maxwell as a reserve.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Smith definitely has to be in the team, and with that I also don't see how Finch gets to remain captain. I get that Clarke decided that trying to turn himself into a T20 player wasn't something he wanted to do, so he just decided to give the T20's a miss, thus you needed a separate captain there, but with Smith at the helm and being a top T20 player who would definitely make himself available for it, surely he has to be captain. Smith comes in for Klinger in that lineup. Starc is a walk-up starter if he's able to get fit by then, but that's a big if. Hopefully he can make it, in which case you just slip him in for Tait in that lineup. No way Tait's going. He may get commentators salivating, but there are plenty of bowlers ahead of him in BBL reckoning at the moment. Again, definitely no Hogg either. Boyce is probably the young leggie to go, he's bowled a lot better than Zampa. Two big worries I have are how little Maxwell has been bowling for his team, and how Faulkner has been regularly going the journey with the ball. These two are guaranteed starters, but both are struggling on the bowling side this summer. In sub-continental conditions they might come into their own though.
GD66
Guest
Ditto here, Jarijari. Ponting has been intimating Tait, Hogg and the likes should be in the squad because of superior experience. He even mentioned Mike Hussey, in a half-joking way. In Hogg's case, what sort of message does that send to Zampa and Boyce ? How are they ever going to get any experience ? Any team can win a given T20 game, so if Australia blood some newbies and go down swinging, so what ? We can always trot out the old "rebuilding" phrase, but with conviction and justification. As for Tait, why ? Just because all the has-been commentators give him a paint job every time the "Wild Thing" comes on and may reach 150 km/h, he's just as likely to spray the ball anywhere or get his next in a long line of injuries, as you have indicated, Riley. And again, that would mean the likes of Tye and Behrendorff, both of whom have won games in the past, needn't bother getting excited as they can be bypassed for a fast but fragile fading light with a suspect action. And again, when selection time comes for an overseas tour, they will have missed an opportunity to bowl on foreign decks, invaluable experience. If this trio of past-their-use-by veterans creak into the squad based on experience, again the CA selection panel, whose justification criteria seem to change every week, will need to come under close scrutiny. Get some youth in there and invest in the future !
Perry Bridge
Guest
Clint McKay might be worth a ticket. Wonder whether Travis Head in the sub continent - he is just so easily coming out and knocking out a 20 odd ball 50 now.
Jarijari
Guest
Started off OK Riley. Finch, Warner, Lynn is a given -- but not Tait or probably Hogg for that matter. And I reckon Maxwell should be at 4 or 5, did you forget Smithy? He's our best outfielder and can control an innings in the middle order if need be. As good as Klinger is, Stevie boy gets there. Cutting bowled well last night, handy allrounder. Prefer Starc if he's fit and/or Cummins. And I'd pick Paine, better keeper than Wade, more accomplished bat and better team leader. I'd probably go O'Keefe just ahead of Lyon though they'll pick both, maybe even play both at times. Behrendoff and Tye should be there on form. But Jimmy Faulkner's the first bloke chosen, absolute genius at the short form. I can't count, but that might leave Bailey out. Forget the old boys, you over 40 Riley, how quick do you move now?