At the end of February, the Sri Lankan cricket team will tour Australia to play three Twenty20s.
Unfortunately the Australian Test side will be in India preparing for the all important Test series, which mean the likes of David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc will be unavailable.
This means that most of the of the squad will be picked off Big Bash form.
Aaron Finch (Captain)
Despite being dropped from the ODI side due to poor form, Finch has responded well by scoring 354 run at an average of 44.25. Finch is a no brainier for the captaincy.
Ben Dunk
Dunk has been in superb form this season and was leading run scorer in the Big Bash. After scoring 364 runs at 52, Dunk is an automatic selection.
Chris Lynn (if fit)
Not much needs be said regard Lynn’s selection, he just needs recover from his most recent injury to be selected.
Travis Head
It was a lean Big Bash season for Travis Head, averaging just 15.20 from his five matches. But recent ODI form should see him get picked.
Joe Burns
Burns had a good season, averaging 59.66 in middle order.
Tim Paine (Vice-Captain/Wicket-Keeper)
It was a mixed season for Tim Paine, he started off well, averaging 51 from his first four games before averaging just 5.75 from his final four. Despite this, his keeping ability is excellent, while his captaincy experience at domestic level see him take the vice-captaincy.
James Faulkner
Despite underperforming in the Big Bash, Faulkner’s ODI form should see him picked in the squad.
Pat Cummins
Since returning from injury Cummins has been in excellent form.
Chris Green
Green has had a good tournament taking seven wickets, going at just 6.79 per over.
Andrew Tye
Tye has been one of the best bowlers in the Big Bash over the past few years and has followed it up with another great season.
Adam Zampa
Zampa has been excellent since making his Australian debut last year and is one of the best short-form bowlers in the world.
The reserves in the squad are Daniel Hughes, Sean Abbott and Mark Stekete.
What do you think Roarers, can this side defeat Sri Lanka?
Matth
Guest
I'd like to see at least one game in the series be a reward for services performed. So start with (in no particular order): Klingner White Hodge Bailey David Hussey Voges Hartley The Duke Doug the Rug McKay Bradley Hogg I think the crowd would get right behind that lot.
Bucks
Guest
1.Finch (c) 2.Dunk (wk) 3.Lynn 4.Head 5.Bailey 6.Turner 7.Cutting/Faulkner 8.Cummins 9.Zampa 10.Tye 11.Beer 12.Faulkner/Cutting Subs - Burns, D Hughes, Green
AREH
Roar Guru
Yeah agree, not convinced on Pattinson as a T20 bowler, he served up some awful overs in the BBL, far too streaky and expensive at times, trying to blast batsmen out but instead was merely pace on the ball to help the batsmen.
AREH
Roar Guru
Good mix in this side and all deserving too.
Alan
Guest
Pattinson? Have you been watching the Big Bash?
Adrian
Guest
Let's make this a team mixed with players who almost made it and players who might make it in the future. Almost made it to India: Finch, Lynn, Head, Bailey, White, Nevill, Faulkner, Cummins, Zampa, Pattinson, Sayers Good for the future: Patterson, Jake Lehmann, Hilton Cartwright If we're feeling nostalgic, we could even give Klinger a go, or maybe even give Callum Ferguson or Joe Burns another shot at the big time. Our B team isn't that bad, I think.
BurgyGreen
Guest
1. Finch (c) 2. Dunk (wk) 3. Lynn 4. Klinger 5. Head 6. Bailey 7. Faulkner 8. Abbott 9. Cummins 10. Zampa 11. Stanlake 12. Steketee 13. White
Rob
Guest
My Team for 20/20. Finch Dunk Lynn Head Paine Bailey (C) Turner Faulkner Abbot Cummins Richardson (WA) very sharp and a gun in the field. Subs. Cutting, D. Christian, B. Laughlin,White
dan ced
Guest
I can't disagree with this lineup, it's pretttty much what I chose. Michael Klinger, Aaron Finch, Chris Lynn, Ben Dunk, Tim Paine, Dan Christian, Pat Cummins, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, Ben Laughlin, AJ Tye... not sure if White has had a better tournament than others. I'd say Lynn won't risk it, and will try to play shield instead, so maybe Hughes. I'm not sure about Christian now, I put that lineup together a week or two ago.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Faulkner hasn't been playing BBL because he's been playing for Australia in the ODIs. You can't penalise him for that. In - Lynn (if fit), Finch, Faulkner, Laughlin, Zampa, Head, Cummins Probably - Abbott, Cooper, Dunk Maybes - Tye, White So looking like this 1. Finch 2. Dunk (wk) 3. Lynn 4. White 5. Head 6. Cooper 7. Faulkner 8. Abbott 9. Cummins 10. Zampa 11. Laughlin 7-8-9 can all bat well. One specialist spinner and two part timers. One fast quick for the new ball. 2-3 clever bowlers who mix it up.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I wouldn't play Paine down the order. I'm a Hurricanes fan but Paine needs a bit of time to get into his innings, whereas a number 6 has to be able to go from ball 1. He either has to bat in the top 4 or - given that Dunk is a capable keeper - be swapped for a genuine middle order batsman. I'd go for the latter option. Bailey has had a good Big Bash and would be handy at 4. In your lineup, that would see Head and Burns moving down a spot. However, I'm not sold on either of them in the T20 side. Head has looked ordinary in the Big Bash and Burns doesn't really have the strikepower to worry international bowlers. I guess the problem is that the best performers in all sides have been in the top 3 (Dunk, Finch, Hughes, Paine, Klinger, Lynn) Not many players have been able to find consistent runs in the middle order. Possible options are Cam White (who would probably bat at 4 with Bailey at 5), Tom Cooper and even Brad Hodge. I think Cooper is a good choice because he brings an extra option with the ball and moves well in the field. The bowling is way more open. The guys you've listed all warrant selection, yet you could just as easily pick a lineup of Abbott, Johnson, Laughlin, Hogg and Steketee. I think Abbott and Laughlin are just about the first picked on BBL form, so I'd probably play them in place of Faulkner and Green. Head and/or Cooper offer additional spin options. My lineup would probably be: Finch (c) Dunk Lynn/Klinger (depending on fitness) White Bailey (vc) Cooper Abbott Cummins Laughlin Tye Zampa Klinger/Paine, Green and Faulkner would be the reserves, with Steketee and Hughes honourable mentions. I concede that there's a lack of youth in the batting but it's not exactly our first-string side and I think we need to pick players based on form.
g
Guest
1 finch c 2 dunk wk 3lyn 4head 5burns 6 henriques 7 Faulkner 8 abbot 9 cutting 10 cummins 11 zampa