The Australian selection panel of Rod Marsh, Mark Waugh, Darren Lehmann, and Trevor Hohns should take particular notice of how their cricket cousins across the ditch named their World T20 squad.
The Kiwis picked three spinners – offie Nathan McCullum, the older brother of recently retired Kiwi captain Brendon, left-armer Mitchell Santner, and Indian-born leggie Ish Sodhi.
That showed enormous courage, and even greater conviction when the trio were not only named in the playing XI at Nagpur against host nation India – one of the tournament favourites – but the world-class pace combination of Tim Southree and Trent Boult were left out.
Fair enough with McCullum (35) who had played 61 T20s, but both Santner and Sodhi are 23 and had played just five T20 internationals apiece.
Turns out, the Kiwi selectors knew what they were doing.
New Zealand batted first with a low 126, but McCullum, Santner, and Sodhi cleaned India out for just 79, the Indians’ lowest-ever home T20 total.
Santner took 4-11 off four and was named man of the match, Sodhi claimed 3-18 off four, and McCullum 2-15 off three.
Their combined total was 9-44 off 11, and what’s more the first nine.
The Kiwi selectors have shrewdly selected horses for courses.
And what have the Australian selectors done?
Just two spinners, Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa, with nine international T20s between them – please don’t class Glenn Maxwell as one.
But there are a truckload of quicks – Josh Hazlewood, John Hastings, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Andrew Tye, Shane Watson, James Faulkner, and Mitchell Marsh – on wickets tailor-made for spinners.
Using the Kiwi method, injury-prone Coulter-Nile and inaccurate Tye could have been left at home, replaced by Australia’s best spinner, the offie Nathan Lyon, and another really promising leggie in Cameron Boyce.
Now that would make it interesting, starting with Australia’s opening game against the Kiwis at Dharamsala tomorrow.
How about playing Lyon, Zampa, and Agar – the equivalent of McCullum, Sodhi, and Santner.
If David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, Shane Watson, Mitchell Marsh, Maxwell, Faulkner, and Peter Nevill, with Usman Khawaja in the mix, can’t get enough runs, Australia doesn’t deserve to win.
That would leave a pace attack of Hazlewood, Faulkner, Watson, and Marsh to link with spinners Lyon, Zampa, and Agar, with Boyce in the wings.
The likely batting order would be:
Warner
Watson
Smith
Maxwell
Marsh
Faulkner
Nevill
Agar
Zampa
Hazlewood
Lyon
It would be Maxwell’s first and last chance. Another failure and Finch to open with Watson and Warner drop down the list.
That team could make a big noise in the tournament, only trouble being Lyon isn’t there.
Don Freo
Guest
Shorter versions...or one of the shorter versions?
Jeff
Guest
They certainly didn't seem to be doing way better last night .If you look at the latest ODI series between us and the Kiwis and the result last night we seem to be being outplayed in the shorter versions of the game at the moment by them.
AlanKC
Guest
Fawad seems to get a case of the "yips" when playing for Australia and generally looks to be half the bowler he is at lower levels.
13th man
Guest
Oh for goodness said David, more anti-Maxwell drivel!! Get over it, Maxis here to stay. If Agar and Zampa plays we have exactly the same combo as NZ. - A young promising leggie (Zampa and Sodhi) - A young left arm spinning all rounder (Agar and Santner) - A more experienced off spinning all rounder (Maxwell and N McCullum) And as Maxi is a far better bat than N McCullum we have room for another quick or another batsman. The side I would like to see tonight is Finch Watson Khawaja Warner Smith Maxwell Agar Faulkner Neville CoulterNile Zampa. That's 6 bowling options 3 quicks (NCN, Faulkner and Watto) and 3 spin options (Maxi, Agar, Zampa). If you really need another quick Mitch Marsh comes in for Khawaja or Finch. And on a fast bowlers pitch Hastings in for Agar.
Don Freo
Guest
Doherty has been forgotten because his bowling is forgetable. How experienced do you think Holland and Fawad are? How many T20Is? Perhaps you mean "older" not "experienced". I think you'll find Zampa has played more BBL than Holland has.
Paul D
Roar Guru
3 overs, 0/48 in the T20 world cup semi-final in 2012. He's forgotten for a reason.
Craig Swanson
Guest
I agree with Lordy. The Kiwis got it right picking 3 spinners. This is after all being played in India. Rod and the boys chose 2 spinners but two rookie spinners. Would have preferred a bit more experience. Someone like Johnny Holland or Fawad Ahmed. What about the forgotten man Xavier Doherty?
Don Freo
Guest
I was talking about David's article. Did you read it? Your response indicates some other conversation.
TC123
Roar Rookie
Get over yourself Don. Australia are ranked 8th in twenty20. The only nation that wants to copy you is maybe Zimbabwe. It sure as hell isnt NZ. We played three spinners and it paid off or did the kiwi selectors ask for Australia's help with that decision
Lancey5times
Guest
This comment has done something never before seen as part of a David Lord article. Had me nodding in agreement and grateful to Mr Lord for in a strange way making this possible
jameswm
Roar Guru
Eds can you add a daily live thread on the Shield games? Lynn is currently going nuts. Qld were 4 for 76 and 5 for 111 needing 230 to make WA bat again, and Lynn is about 76 off 40.
Paul D
Roar Guru
You are such a drone David, again with the anti-Maxwell guff. It's getting really tiresome and predictable. One game (by an opposition side no less, our side hasn't even played yet) and you're already drawing a line right through the entire squad. I'll give you that Boyce should have made the squad, I was astounded he wasn't picked, but your proposed side is at least one proper batsman short. Back to the drawing board old son.
Don Freo
Guest
I think you'll find, David, that the Aussie selectors are doing way better than the Kiwi selectors. Certainly the Aussie side is doing way better than the Kiwi side. The world would do well to take notice of the work being done by the Aussie selectors. No need to copy a lesser performing model.
baz
Guest
Although he took 5 Wickets in a big bash game don't rate Lyon in 20-20 would go for others before him. Zappa and agar Yeah as agar is an all rounder spin bowler