Millions of words have been written and spoken about the shabby treatment Usman Khawaja has received in limited-over selections by the national panel this summer.
At last he has been named in the 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup in India from March 16 to April 6.
But there are ten others who were selected for Australia against India in the three T20 internationals who will miss the World Cup.
Batsmen Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, and Chris Lynn, keepers Matt Wade and Cameron Bancroft, leggie Cameron Boyce, offie Nathan Lyon, and pacemen Kane Richardson, Shaun Tait, and Scott Boland.
Nine selected for the World Cup played against India in the T20s – Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steve Smith, Shane Watson, James Faulkner, John Hastings, Andrew Tye, Usman Khawaja, and Glenn Maxwell.
More cricket:
» There’s method in the selection madness
» Aussie rookies face litmus Tests in New Zealand
» Nevill the shock inclusion as Australia announce World T20 squad
» The Liebke Ratings: New Zealand vs Australia third ODI
» Watch: New Zealand retain Chappell-Hadlee Trophy amid controversy
» Scorecard: New Zealand vs Australia third ODI
That left six World Cuppers who weren’t selected against India – Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, and Adam Zampa.
And to complete the changes, Steve Smith takes over as captain from Aaron Finch. Don’t read anything sinister into that, the switch should have been made earlier as Smith is clearly the best captain in the country in all three formats.
But the squad still has question marks against it.
Finch and Faulkner have hamstring tears, while Coulter-Nile is recovering from a dislocated shoulder, with no certainty any one of three will be fit in time.
For the sake of this exercise let’s presume all three are right to go, so who will open with David Warner?
In an embarrassment of riches – there’s Finch, Khawaja, or Shane Watson?
Left-arm orthodox Agar and leggie Zampa will be the senior spinners, so Smith won’t be forced to bowl Maxwell as he has in the past.
And the same Maxwell desperately needs some runs early in the tournament, or face carrying drinks.
Looking at the squad, naming a starting line-up won’t be easy.
David Warner
Usman Khawaja
Steve Smith
Shane Watson
Mitchell Marsh
Glenn Maxwell
Peter Nevill
Ashton Agar
James Faulkner
John Hastings
Josh Hazlewood
That line-up bats to ten, with a four-man pace attack of Hazlewood, Hastings, Watson and Faulkner, and two spinners – Agar and Maxwell.
If Maxwell fails again with the bat for a sixth successive time, Zampa comes with his leggies. He has been providing opponents with plenty of headaches with the ball, while he’s underrated with the bat.
That team could make genuine noises in India, especially as the selectors have covered some weak areas.
The squad
Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill, Andrew Tye, Shane Watson, and Adam Zampa.
Pumping Dougie
Guest
Shaun Marsh? True. But I feel despite his good IPL record he has had so many chances in all forms of the game, been around a while, never struck fear into the opposition and never grabbed his spot. So I wouldnt "back him in" like the others.
Don Freo
Guest
You forgot Shaun from your success list. 128 T20...average 40. Go on...admit it...that's pretty impressive.
Pumping Dougie
Guest
I agree with your sentiment Don. Warner, Watson and Brad Hodge are the only Aussies with impressive records in T20 internationals or the IPL (ignoring BBL for the sake of this exercise) I reckon we should back-in Maxi, M.Marsh and Faulkner (if fit) on pure talent and how destructive they've been in the ODI arena. Maxi failed in NZ but was unbelievably dominant in the ODI World Cup last year. All 3 players' skills are transferable to T20.
Bucko
Guest
1.Warner 2.Khawaja 3.Smith (c) 4.Watson 5.Maxwell 6.M Marsh 7.Faulkner 8.Zampa 9.Nevill (wk) 10.Hastings 11.Hazlewood Finch is unlucky to miss out but has struggled in India in IPL, vs. India etc. Khawaja handles spin really well.
Fred
Guest
Smith is a mediocre choice to be in the squad. I'd play both, Finch and the infamous butt grabber instead and Watto lead.
Don Freo
Guest
Not sure "exciting" defuses the innuendo, Amith.
Matth
Guest
God info
Don Freo
Guest
India. That's where Marsh excells. You seem to be misunderstanding the word, "irrelevant". You see, if my comments are irrelevant, you wouldn't be engaging in conversation with me on this issue. What a dilemma! Am I now Mr Relevant...or do you just not respond?
jks
Guest
And i never said finch should be dropped. No. He is far better than smith in T20. watson, warner, finch, khwaja/smith, maxwell,.. And for Australia to have any chance to win this WorldT20, watson must be captain. Period. We know his skill as captain, far more than you can ever dream to know. If this is the team in any other nation, they would straight away give captaincy to watto. No second thoughts. They would even drop smith from T20. He sat on bench many times in IPL 2013 & 2014, coz he was not in best 4 overseas players in the playing XI.
jks
Guest
Miss Irrelevant Don, Are you aware that stats of 34 innings carry far more weight than of 22 innings? And Watson SR 154, Finch 152. And also, how conveniently you ignored the 1st set of stats "Indian conditions" where this WT20 is going to happen, where Watson averages 36, SR 141... finch.... averages 25, SR 121 warner averages 34, SR 139
Don Freo
Guest
One innings. Are you aware that 38 is better than 35?
Don Freo
Guest
He's not. Why misspell Finch? Is that you trying to be persuasive?
jks
Guest
You are the new shane warne. Irrelevant. In Indian conditions, no T20Is in india, only IPL Watson 76 innings, SR 141, avg 36, 109 sixes warner.. 83 innings, SR 139, avg 34, 103 sixes Finch.... 39 innings, SR 121, avg 25, 29 sixes Overall stats as openers in T20 internationals watson: innings 34 innings, SR 154, avg 35, Sixes 67 warner.. innings 54 innings, SR 138, avg 28, Sixes 67 finch:... innings 22 innings, SR 152, avg 38, Sixes 34 You talk about recent form. Recent T20I series: Openers: Watson: 124* runs, SR 175 Finch 1st match: 44 runs, SR 133. Finch 2nd match: 74 runs, SR154 Now, carry my drinks, Don Freo.
ajay
Guest
"Why should he get the preference to open?"cause he's better than khawaja and funch in t20 and proven matchwinner in subcontinent unlike poor funch and inexperience khawaja.
Don Freo
Guest
he doesn't perform as well as Warner, Khawaja, Finch and Marsh. Certainly not now. He may have once. Therefore, the others get preference as an opener. If he can't bat elsewhere, he can carry drinks. Why should he get the preference to open? He is not captain.
jks
Guest
Some people do not get simple things. Watson averages 35 with a strike-rate of 154 when opening the batting, compared to his average of 15 and strike-rate of 119 when he’s batted elsewhere. When he underperfoms down the order, these people are quick to blame. & They wonder why performs great in IPL. Repeating the same damn mistake again. Its 2014 Wt20 all over again.
jks
Guest
How some people do not get simple things. Watson averages 35 with a strike-rate of 154 when opening the batting, compared to his average of 15 and strike-rate of 119 when he’s batted elsewhere. When he underperfoms down the order, these foolish people are quick to blame. & They wonder why performs great in IPL. Repeating the same damn mistake again. Its 2014 Wt20 all over again./.
jks
Guest
How some people do not get simple things. Watson averages 35 with a strike-rate of 154 when opening the batting, compared to his average of 15 and strike-rate of 119 when he’s batted elsewhere. When he underperfoms down the order, these foolish people are quick to blame. & They wonder why performs great in IPL. Repeating the same damn mistake again. Its 2014 Wt20 all over again.
James
Guest
So... Thinking outside the box a little here - Why not bring Hogg? It's India so spin is more crucial than pace. Most people in world cricket still struggle to pick his wrong-un. Select him as a specialist spinner! How often does the 10th wicket play a part in T20? If you've lost 9 wickets in less than 20 overs, chances are you've lost the match. Experience is important in any team. Hogg was a part of 2 successful World Cup ODI teams as well as the 2012 World Cup T20 team which made it to the semi final. He's also one of the major reasons the Scorchers have been so successful. Given spin is going to play a huge part in any successful team, Hogg should be in the squad at the cost of one of the front line quicks.
Amith
Guest
Khawaja showing his humorous side, good to see and these type of guys always make the dressing room more exciting :)