Australia’s T20 team could be packed with veterans for their upcoming series against Sri Lanka, with the hosts set to be missing seven members of their first-choice T20 XI because of a scheduling clash with the Test tour of India.
Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade and Usman Khawaja all are unavailable for the T20 series because of Test commitments.
Starc, Smith, Warner, Maxwell and Marsh all are locks in Australia’s first-choice T20 line-up, while Khawaja and Wade both featured in their last T20 series, in Sri Lanka.
Australia long have used T20Is and ODIs to blood new players but, right now, there are few emerging cricketers demanding selection in the shortest format. When it comes to batting, the Big Bash League is being dominated by older players.
Of the top 13 runscorers in the competition (prior to last night’s semi-final), only one of them is an Australian aged under 29 years. That player, Sydney Sixers strokemaker Daniel Hughes, is not exactly a pup – he’ll be 28 years old by the time of the first Twenty20 against Sri Lanka on February 17.
Hughes has cracked 250 runs at an average of 50 (strike rate of 123) this BBL season, and also had a brilliant domestic one-day campaign, with 386 runs at 64 in the Matador Cup.
If Australia look to the future in selecting their T20 team, then they’ll pick batsmen the likes of Ashton Turner (23 years old), Travis Head (23), Marcus Harris (24), Alex Ross (24) or Ben McDermott (22).
But if Australia simply pick the best possible team, then their batting line-up would be packed with veterans. Tim Paine (32 years old), Aaron Finch (30), Dunk (29), George Bailey (34), Cameron White (33) and Dan Christian (33) would be close to Australia’s strongest top six, given the players available.
Finch’s blasting approach would be well complemented by the more cultured style of Paine. Dunk, meanwhile, has been the most impressive batsman in the BBL, aside from the injured Chris Lynn. At four and five, Bailey and White are two of Australia’s most experienced T20 players. Only David Warner and Shane Watson have played more T20s for Australia than White (47 matches), while Bailey’s 28 T20Is as a captain is a record for Australia.
Australia will badly lack a dynamic all-rounder in the middle order against Sri Lanka due to the absence of Maxwell and Mitch Marsh. Dan Christian is a quality T20 all-rounder and has been in brilliant touch with the ball in the BBL. But with just 87 runs at 14 this season, he hasn’t been offering much with the blade. Australia may ignore the poor BBL form of ODI player Head and include him instead.
James Faulkner, Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa are obvious selections in Australia’s attack. My third pace option would be Sean Abbott, who has taken 27 wickets at an average of 17 over the past two BBL seasons.
Australia’s selectors may not have much respect for the role of spin in the shorter formats but I definitely do. That’s why I’d pick 23-year-old Sydney Thunder off-spinner Chris Green to complement Zampa’s leggies. Green is not a prolific wicket taker, with 15 wickets at an average of 24 from his 17 T20 appearances. What he does have, though, is fantastic control. Green’s career economy rate of 6.82 runs per over is absolutely outstanding for a T20 bowler.
In Cummins, Abbott and Zampa, Australia already have plenty of strike power, Green’s frugalness would offer fine balance to the attack.
When you’re missing up to seven members of your starting XI it is never going to be easy. But the following Australian line-up would be competitive against Sri Lanka:
1. Tim Paine (wk)
2. Aaron Finch
3. Ben Dunk
4. George Bailey
5. Cameron White
6. Travis Head
7. James Faulkner
8. Pat Cummins
9. Sean Abbott
10. Chris Green
11. Adam Zampa
Reserves
12. Dan Christian
13. Scott Boland
14. Joe Burns
Don Freo
Guest
Wow..."up and coming potential" and you are suggesting Dunk and Paine ahead of Whiteman? Tye ahead of Richardson (Jhye or Kane) or Steketee? Tye and Dunk are 30yo. Finch is also past it. Let Head or Turner captain the side. Head has proved himself with SA and Turner has captained a number of Oz U23 sides. Get rid of Faulkner and replace him with Wildermuth...unless you actually want old blokes and don't want up and comers at all.
Steve
Guest
Your angle: "Australia may be packed with veterans ..." controlled the entire tenor of the article, until picking veterans and talking about their selection became the obsession. Most of the blokes you mention and select are well and truly cooked - and what would the vibrant, young and energetic (an rapidly-expanding) T20 cricket audience in Australia, get out of watching that mob of farts? We don't need to pick a bunch of old blokes to compete with this Sri Lankan team that I'm watching in SAfrica. Good Lord, they look awful. Gee, your old mate Dan Christian would already BE their number four bat and opening bowler for goodness' sake! (And he's absolute pants). This should be close to our team, if winning but also picking up-and-coming potential is a focus ... Finch (c) Harris Dunk (wk) McDermott Head Turner Faulkner Cummins Tye Stanlake Zampa ("reserves", as you call them - always the addition of a wannabe-selector - would be Abbott, Paine and Pattinson).
Simon
Guest
It's interesting how most of the top runscorers in the BBL are aged 28 and up and yet in the Sheffield Shield the leaderboards have been completely dominated by young batsmen. Great thing for Australian test cricket
Craig
Guest
It is really interesting why the older players are so much more successful in this format. I would suggest that a team of even older players, Johnson, Hogg, Watson, Gilchrist, Ponting, Symonds would be more than competitive against the crop of best young players.
Craig
Guest
That young bloke Johnson from the Scorchers might be worth a go.
Joshua Jackson
Roar Rookie
McDermott three matches, 50 av 190 strike rate + Joe Burns average 60 strike rate 130. Two Youngs uns are the best to choose from, first was left out at the start, the second bats behind Lynn and Mcullum.
WesternRoo
Guest
Finch Dunk (WK) Lynn (should be fit, if not then Hughes) Bailey Hodge Head Faulkner Abbott Cummins Johnson Zampa
Dan
Guest
His Improvement over the last 18 months has been huge, great to see!
AREH
Roar Guru
Yep, almost 200 runs and took five wickets opening the bowling for the Renegades in a new role, and was very effective - I think he'd slot in quite well and five or six.
JamesH
Roar Guru
On BBL form I'd be tempted to go with Cooper over Head. His spin has been very useful and he's had a couple of strong performances with the bat. Faulkner is also a tad lucky, given that his BBL form hasn't been that great. I suppose Paine comes out if Lynn is fit, with Dunk going up to open and taking the gloves. Otherwise that's a solid team. I'd go as far as saying that it would give our first XI a run for its money.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I'm a huge fan of Turner in all forms of the game. I think he's been a bit under-utilised by the Scorchers with bat and ball.
anon
Guest
Chipper bloke that Bailey.
Nathan
Guest
What about This team; 1. Paine (wk) 2. Finch (c) 3. Hughes 4. Dunk 5. Head 6. Burns 7. Faulkner 8. Cummings 9. Abbott 10. Laughlin / Johnson 11. Zampa / Hogg Would love to see Hogg and Johnson play, they have been great this season, but not sure they would do it.
josh
Roar Rookie
What about M.Johnson from the Scorchers? Seems to bowl with pace and hostility.
Dan
Guest
Id go young with the majority of the side. Finch (C) Dunk (wk) Head Heazlett Burns Turner Faulkner Cummins Abbott Tye Zampa
James Jackson
Guest
I don't know if he's up to snuff
Rossy
Guest
He's been belted and picked up a couple of lucky wickets he is C-Grade at best (have been to every Heat home game)
Don Freo
Guest
Sammy Whiteman has to get the gloves. I have loved his cameos with the bat...even though they have been short in BBL, the strokeplay has been great. Fantastic with the gloves.
dan ced
Guest
Still want Klinger in there, still up there in the runs this season. Klinger, Finch, Dunk, Hughes, Bailey, Ross, Abbott, Cummins, Laughlin, Zampa, Steketee My mind changes every day...I may have a rea keeper in instead of Ross, but Klinger/Finch/Dunk/Laughlin/Cummins are locks for me. White wasn't as dominant as last year, Cooper arguably had a better season.
jonty smith
Roar Guru
I really hope Paine gets a game. I'm not sold on head in the team even if it is to include some youth. This would be my xi Paine vc, wk Finch c Dunk D Hughes Heazlett Turner Faulkner Nair Abbott Cummins Zampa