The Australian World Twenty20 squad announced on Tuesday was riddled with perplexing selections.
The elevation of wicketkeeping specialist Peter Nevill was a commendable reversal of what had seemed an unstoppable trend towards batsman-wicketkeepers, following the scintillating career of Adam Gilchrist.
The omission of Cameron Boyce and an overall leaning towards a pace-heavy attack were equally intriguing, but far less praiseworthy.
Less surprising, however, was the puzzle presented by a top-heavy batting group. Newly anointed three-format captain Steve Smith leads four batsmen best suited to an opening role.
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David Warner, former captain Aaron Finch and veteran allrounder Shane Watson have all found considerable T20 International success at the very top of the order. Then there’s the reborn Usman Khawaja, who made a scarcely believable two centuries and two half-centuries at an average of 172.5 in the position from his four Big Bash League appearances this summer, finishing as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer from half as many matches as the overall leader, Chris Lynn.
How these four players will fit into a top five which must also accommodate Smith and Glenn Maxwell will prove difficult for selectors Rod Marsh, Darren Lehmann, Mark Waugh and Trevor Hohns.
The difference between Watson’s record as an opener and in other positions is of particular interest to the national selection panel and Smith, who will determine the batting order. Watson has long maintained that his best position in all formats is as an opening batsman, and the numbers lend substantial support to his opinion. At the top of the order, he averages 35.06, with a strike rate of 153.53, and has scored all of his 11 fifty-plus scores in the position.
In other batting slots, Watson averages a meagre 15.20, with a strike rate of 118.75. The memory of his 124* against India, the highest international Twenty20 score by a captain, will be fresh in the minds of the selectors. In his most recent Pakistan Super League match, as captain and opening batsman for Islamabad United, he put on 153 for the first wicket with Sharjeel Khan.
Having performed well with the ball in the recent series against India, it is difficult to see Watson being left out of the playing XI. Whether captain and selectors will take heed of these striking numbers is difficult to foresee.
Finch, the recently dumped captain of Australia’s T20 side who is currently recovering from injury, appears likely to miss out on his preferred opening slot and perhaps the playing XI altogether. Yet he was only recently being deposed as the No.1 ranked Twenty20 batsman, and possesses an elite average of 41.61 in Twenty20 cricket, at a strike rate of 151.47 and with a highest score of 156.
Like many of his Australian colleagues however, Finch has struggled against high-class spin bowling, preferring to feast on fast-medium bowlers with the ball coming sweetly onto the bat.
Vice-captain Warner, recognised as an opening batsman of rare ability in all three formats, is a near-certainty to face the new ball in Australia’s first match of the tournament against New Zealand. However, Warner is possibly the most versatile of this batting quartet. A clean, powerful, and above all controlled striker of both pace and spin, Warner is arguably better placed to take up a middle order position than any of Watson, Finch and Khawaja, all of whom prefer to play themselves in before opening up their strokeplay later in an innings.
Khawaja, despite the scintillating recent form that has seen him elevated to the one-day international side, may find himself competing directly with Finch. Khawaja’s advantages are Finch’s injury, as well as his own significant experience as a No.3 batsman. Crucially, the resurgent Khawaja of the 2015-16 summer has shown a remarkable improvement against spin bowling, employing silken footwork and sublime timing to loft tweakers over the offside boundary.
Khawaja’s lack of international experience, and Smith’s apparent preference for the No.3 position in limited overs cricket, could count against him. However it may prove difficult for the selectors to resist the former’s sparkling touch.
As many have said, whoever the selectors pick, Australia will field a formidable batting line-up in its World T20 opener. So Roarers, what does your top five look like?
Bas
Guest
Watson Khawaja Warner Smith Maxwell Agar Faulkner Neville Zampa Hazlewood Coulter-Nile
ajay
Guest
It isn't about 100s it's about "ABILITY" funch tons ,Mcg or manuka (flat decks and in australia) warner is perhaps best overseas batsman in ipl (world t20)after gayle.finch is poor against spin. Khawaja scored 2 tons for aus A last july in chennai,you have no idea.this should be top 4 watto,warner,khawaja, smith(t20 world cup)and warner,khawaja, smith,head/Handscomb(in odis get rid of bailey).
ajay
Guest
I have no idea what you're talking about.
barry
Guest
Yer that why finch has 7 100s in 54 inns and warner only has 5 in 69 so how isn't that superior to warner and in t20 why hasn't waner got any 100s and khawaja shouldn't get in t20 side no experience in India and dident get picked up in ipl but khawaja should come into the odi side for bailey Finch Warner Khawaja Smith In odi
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah but he got out in the 90s a few times in test matches so he must suck.
ajay
Guest
Absolutely kohli is pathetic t20 player he smashed crap bowlers ,Boland,tait etc,but funch should carry drinks. Warner,watto,khawaja, smith my top4.
ajay
Guest
"finch is far superior to warner in t20 and odi just look at there records" bahahahah funniest comment i have read today are you kidding me? Sloggar funch ? Send him to club cricket don't know what is spin ! Warner lol he was leading run scorer in IPL (World t20? Indian conditions) i know warner is overrated in odi's but surely he's better then poor funch. He's absolute lock in my playing x1 as an opener.finch will carry drinks.
ajay
Guest
Smashed 79 from 47,7 sixes as an "OPENER" In PSL couple of days ago.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
What about the Watson love that's flying? How the worm turns. I'm going to cut against the grain and say Watson should be dropped!
barry
Guest
The best team easily is Finch Warner Watson Smith Maxwell Marsh Faulkner Hastings/agar Coulter Nile Zampa Neville If any one should miss out its Maxwell or warner finch is far superior to warner in t20 and odi just look at there records
Tom from Perth
Guest
"Irrelevant" comment
Chris Love
Guest
Finch Warner Watson khawaja smith maxi M Marsh Agar or Boyce he HAS to tour but would bat further down Neville Hastings/Hazlewood flip a coin. Zampa If Finch is Injured: Watson Warner Khawaja Smith maxi M Marsh Agar Neville Hastings Boyce Zampa If Watson and Mitch Marsh are fit and firing like I expect them to be I see no need to carry more than one front line quick. Both those two will be as good as any quick we would select baring Starc if fit. It's the bloody sub continent and I'd love to see a Boyce/Zampa/Agar/Maxi spin Quartet available to smith every game.
jks
Guest
No one said warner or finch to be dropped. Its about who is playing where in the batting order. I totally agree with your Quote: "Icc ranking bahahaha" coz kohli no.1 T20 bat? No. not by a long shot, neither finch. The rankings are a joke.
Perry Bridge
Guest
I still just ponder what the 'need to drop' might be. It looks more like the desire to include.
jks
Guest
Posted here, since there was no article on the issue. Anyway "you’re a goose" "all time great batsman and the best captain" Hahaha. Thanks for the laugh.
Tom
Guest
I don't know what this has to do with the article but seriously, Clarke forgotton? Clarke and warne irrelevant? you're a goose. Clarke is an all time great batsman and the best captain we've ever had (at least from a tactical/strategic point of view) and warne is our greatest ever bowler.
ajay
Guest
Hahaha no way finch is in best aAustralian playing x1 you drop warner no he was leading run scorer in last ipl and he's absolute lock as an opener pathetic funch can't play spin,can't play pace that's the reason mumbai released him he's joke. Icc ranking bahahaha .
jks
Guest
Haha. This forgotten bloke clarke says something irrelevant yet again today. Once he says "i might not be fit for WC" "my international career is over" A week later, he says "i am fit for WC. I will play & lead" Then he says "I retire" 2 months later "I return. Not ruling out wearing the baggy green." A week later (i.e, Today) "Will not make international return" What a joke of a guy. Get this in your head clarke. You, warne & Don Freo are irrelevant.
jks
Guest
Tons of tweets on watto's captaincy in the last 2 matches. But i choose to copy-paste comments of Pakistani guy on the cricinfo. "Shane Watson's winning streak explained what is lacking in current Pakistan squad.... Leadership. Look, he took two matches, with the same non-performers, which sufficiently non-performed during national careers, as well. The difference is leadership. " "Shane Watson is an increible player. Make him captain of Pakistani team, and he will do wonders with the same lot of players, losing since ages. What a team man. What a performer. Shame that he did not get MOM award, yet adorable performance. Very consistent performer in PSL and all conditions."
jks
Guest
Yep. Watson & Finch. Watson & Warner. Both combinations don't make much difference. Either way is fine. Its between finch & warner to decide for the slot. But experts always talk about Left/Right combination for the openers, i don't know.