I have seen enough – the Big Bash League may be only two-thirds finished but my mind is made already on Australia’s squad for the World T20 in March.
My Australian squad (and starting XI):
1. David Warner
2. Aaron Finch
3. Steve Smith
4. Chris Lynn
5. Glenn Maxwell
6. Mitch Marsh
7. Tim Paine
8. James Faulkner
9. Jason Behrendorff
10. Josh Hazlewood
11. Nathan Lyon
Reserves:
12. Cameron Boyce
13. Shaun Marsh
14. Shane Watson
15. John Hastings
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There are several noticeable weaknesses for the Australians heading into the World Cup and those are obvious in this squad.
Their pace stocks are thin and of major concern is that, Glenn Maxwell aside, their all-rounders are either in poor form, injured or have had next to no T20 cricket.
The man I have picked to fill the second batting all-rounder role, Mitch Marsh, has been in awful batting touch in Tests and his international duties mean he will enter the World T20 without a long run in the shortest format.
Marsh’s bowling has been wonderful this past year, although like the rest of Australia’s quicks he will have to adapt to slower, dryer pitches in India. He remains Australia’s best option at six in part due to the physical frailties of his competitors.
The other two leading batting all-rounders in the country are Moises Henriques and Shane Watson. Henriques suffered another ill-timed injury two weeks ago when he hurt the same calf which sidelined him for a month earlier this summer.
Australia would be unlikely to risk picking Henriques for the World T20 out of fear that his calf would give way a third time.
The selectors also likely lack full confidence in Watson’s body. Although the strain of T20 cricket pales in comparison to Tests and ODIs, Watson did look restricted in his movement early in the Big Bash League.
His vast experience, not just in global limited-overs tournaments but also in Indian conditions, makes Watson worth the punt. Realistically, who else is pushing for the back-up batting all-rounder spot?
Stoinis played in Australia’s last T20 international, against England in Cardiff in August, making 10* and taking 0-13. In that match, Australia played four all-rounders in their top six, with Stoinis joined by Watson, Marsh and Maxwell.
That was an experimental approach which almost certainly will not be repeated during the World T20. Stoinis has had limited impact in this BBL, scoring 107 runs at 18 and bowling just five overs across six matches.
Former Australian all-rounder Dan Christian has been in blazing touch with the blade, with 158 runs at 32 in the BBL, but is not the bowler he once was, and has taken just two wickets at 79 with the ball.
Australia’s most important all-rounder after Maxwell, James Faulkner, also is in somewhat of a form trough.
Faulkner’s brilliant limited-overs record for Australia will ensure he heads to India. It is a worry though that he has had few opportunities with the bat in the BBL, while also failing to be effective with the ball, returning collective figures of 1-120.
Faulkner has next to no competition, as bowling all-rounders are thin on the ground at present. Bustling Victorian John Hastings is the best backup for Faulkner, and is also a genuine pace option should one of Jason Behrendorff or Josh Hazlewood get injured or lose form.
Not possessed of the batting prowess of Faulkner, Hastings is still a powerful striker of the ball and an experienced and accomplished T20 player. Hastings’ chance to return to play in his first World Cup has been opened up by injuries to key pacemen Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Nathan Coulter-Nile, all three of whom would probably have been in this squad if fit.
While he is not a match-winning cricketer, Hastings is a steady seamer and only two bowlers have taken more wickets over the past two BBL seasons than his 24 at 17. Those bowlers are Behrendorff and his Perth Scorchers teammate Andrew Tye.
The latter’s lack of experience in professional cricket counts against him. Tye, who is yet to represent Australia, has played just 41 games of professional cricket compared to Hastings’ 241 outings.
With Starc, Cummins and Coulter-Nile injured, Behrendorff and Hazlewood are automatic choices. Hazlewood’s Test teammate Nathan Lyon is clearly the best spinner in the country and now has vast experience in high-pressure situations in international cricket.
Leg-spinner Cameron Boyce is a fine understudy and, depending on pitch conditions in India, could be used in tandem with Lyon.
The final position to decide upon was the wicketkeeper. Brad Haddin is the form keeper in the BBL but has retired. Australia’s T20 incumbent Matthew Wade would be a liability on turning Indian tracks due to his shoddy glovework to the slow men – Lyon must still have nightmares about their former union in Test cricket.
Paine may not be quite as destructive with the blade as Wade can be, but he has been striking the ball well in the BBL, earning 194 runs at 32. Most importantly, his glovework is terrific and far beyond what Wade is capable of.
Altogether, it is a sturdy Australian line-up, with the top eight particularly strong. The bowling looks decidedly thin, though. The absence of game-changers Starc and Cummins has left Australia as outsiders in this tournament.
13th Man
Guest
I am a fan of picking on BBL form so my squad would include Travis Head for sure. I prefer Bancroft to Paine as wk. He has been very impressive for Scorchers with bat and gloves. Shaun Marsh over Aaron Finch as well and Smith obviously gets the captaincy. Agree on Hastings but also like the look of Paris and would include him in my squad. My xi Marsh Warner Smith (c) Head Maxwell Lynn Bancroft (wk) Faulkner Hastings Behrendorff Hazelwood Res: Agar Paris Finch Bailey M Marsh
Deano
Guest
My squad and preferred starting XI David Warner Aaron Finch (c) Steve Smith Chris Lynn Glenn Maxwell Peter Handscomb (wk) James Faulkner Ashton Agar Ben Laughlin Jason Behrendorff Shaun Tait Back ups: Mitchell Marsh Travis Head Nathan Lyon Kane Richardson The Smokeys: John Hastings Tim Paine Usman Khawaja Cameron Boyce Michael Klinger Finch is the skipper so there's no way you'd leave him out. Smithy needs a good break but his ability to adapt to T20 is invaluable. Lynn is a must purely on his BBL form, whether he can handle the spinners on the subcontinent we will see. Handscomb has been solid for the Stars keeping wise and we've seen how explosive he can be with the bat under pressure, a whisker ahead of Tim Paine. I picked Agar on his orthodox spin to compliment Maxwell's offies, and his batting. Hazlewood as good as he is needs a good break considering how much bowling he's done and will do in NZ. Starc's injury is a huge blow, so i'd like to see Richardson or the Wild Thing Shaun Tait get a call up as our speedsters, both have been quick in the Big Bash. Behrendorff and Laughlin with the Left/Right combo and deceptive pace are genuine wicket takers. Faulkner & Marsh are a bit like the Starc & Johnson debate, you shouldn't have 2 players with similar attributes in the same XI, the Finisher gets the pick for mine (nothing against Mitch Marsh, they're both good players). No Watto, just no. I've chosen Head as a back up batter (and potential part time spinner god forbid we use a 7th or 8th bowler) if someone goes down, and the Garry the GOAT, best spinner in the country should we drop a pace bowler.
Craig Swanson
Guest
Surely you could fit in Bailey/. Is probably in career best limited overs form. In fact I would say career best form period. As he is also having a great Shield.season.
Craig Swanson
Guest
I would agree with you about Hazlewood not Behrendorff. He has become a very reliable limited overs bowler. Is as good as anyone at the start and death as anyone. Very unlucky to not be in the current ODI side. Hoff is better suited in the middle overs where he can strangle the scoring so he would be in my side. Also like either Hastings, Laughlin or Tye. All are good at the death. My final choice though would be Kane Richardson.
Don Freo
Guest
Not quite...and not for as long.
Anwar
Guest
Khawaja shoukd be in the T20 World Cup squad
Anwar
Guest
I have a feeling rhar Khawaja will get a go in the last few ODIs and deservingly so
Anwar
Guest
Amith I knew Khawaja was doinf well but didn't know his figures were so good and plus he looks a class apart when he bats and is very imoressive against spin now as well
Anwar
Guest
If you feel for marsh rhen Khawaja deserves more sympathy as he is in even better form in all the formats
Anwar
Guest
Amith I agree with you, Khawaja can't be too far away from being selected
Don Freo
Guest
But the second highest run scorer should be playing ahead of him.
Don Freo
Guest
...but not because he is not a good batsman...he is. He is just a very good keeper and should keep doing it. Obviously a few other keepers thought he should give it up too. Keepers in the Tassie squad at the moment include Paine, Triffitt, Doran, Ben McDermott and Ben Dunk. If we add Sangakkara for the 'Canes, that's a lot of smelly gloves in the change rooms after training.
Lancey5times
Guest
It does seem you're correct Don
Amith
Guest
Ronan i agree that Finch is a good player but Khawaja can't be ignored any more. He got in the test team on the back of his domestic one day form where he was the best batsman years running in the matador cup and by a mile too and now he is turning it up in the big bash with a 100 and 60 in the last 2 games all at a very healthy strike rate, He has to come into calculations now. And whats mroe he is playing spin better then he has ever played before which none of his previous critics are giving him credit for.
Amith
Guest
Some amazing figures on Khawaja which can't be ignored now, he has gone past 40 in each of his last 5 BBL innings, he is averaging above 80 in BBL and at a strike rate of 130 and he is averaging 50 in domestic one day cricket. Watching him again last night he looks a class above all other batsman and surely on the back of 5 centuries in his last 5 matches he needs to come into this squad
Amith
Guest
Khawajas figures are staggering, averaging above 80 in the BBL in the last 3 years, averagin 70 in Ryobi or matador cup in the last 3 years and all at a very healthy strike rate, he looks the player in form and surely has to start coming into calculations now, he also has worked hard on his upper body as pointed by Waugh in the commentory last night and this is showing in the results.
Amith
Guest
The question has to be asked why Khawaja is not being mentioned for T20 or ODIs when his figures are among the best in the country. In T20 he is averaging about 80 in the last 3 years at a strike rate of close to 130 and in domestic one day cricket he has been the best batsman in the last 3 years, i think the question has to be asked on why he is not at least in the squads for the shorter format given our strength in that format as he is a complete batsman
Don Freo
Guest
So, you haven't seen Behrendorff bowl?
The Bush
Roar Guru
The commentators speak it all the time, usually followed by additional comments about him being a dumb cricketer. Whilst I"ll admit to watching the Heat games a little more closely than the other games, Cutting is the most criticized players in the BBL (by the commentators). I suppose it could reflect a frustration at him wasting his natural talent... maybe.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Warner is an incredibly over rated player in the ODI format. I'd be interested in giving S Marsh a run at opener. The tragedy is that Marsh might be just too old to make it to the next World Cup. You never know though, lot of guys have maintained form well beyond 36...