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Australia’s first-choice XI for the Twenty20 World Cup is no clearer after a final-over loss to South Africa in Durban.
The three-match T20 series against the Proteas is the last chance for coach Darren Lehmann and on-duty selector Mark Waugh to experiment before the World Cup starts in India.
Shane Watson, Josh Hazlewood and James Faulkner were left out of the side for the series opener.
All three are a good chance of featuring in Australia’s World Cup opener on March 18, against New Zealand in Dharamsala.
Watson is part of an intriguing selection battle at the top of the order, although he could yet be slotted into the middle order.
David Warner batted at first drop in Durban, the first time he hasn’t opened in a career that has spanned 55 T20 internationals.
Warner was listed to bat at No.4 but entered the fray following the dismissal of Usman Khawaja, with Australia seemingly keen to keep a right and left-hander at the crease early on.
Watson opened and scored an unbeaten 124 in his previous T20 for Australia, while Waugh was full of praise for the 34-year-old’s bowling.
“In the Big Bash he bowled well and then for Australia in the T20s against India, he was actually our best bowler,” Waugh said while commentating for SuperSport.
“He presents the seam beautifully and he’s a bit deceptive when he hits the deck hard.”
Waugh confirmed Watson was still restricted by a recent abdominal strain.
“He would have played today except he had a stomach strain so we just wanted to make sure that he was fully fit,” he said.
“He’ll play in the last two games.
“We’re probably going to give everybody two games out of three matches so we can have a look at them and give them some game time in the middle.
“We’ve played very little T20 cricket so everyone will get a game.”
Faulkner is highly regarded by selectors but both Mitch Marsh and John Hastings impressed at Kingsmead.
Marsh’s 35 pushed his side’s total past 150, while Hastings kept things tight in his opening spell.
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