Matt Wade and Mitch Marsh are competing for the last spot in Australia’s batting line-up for this year’s T20 World Cup, after being included in the squad for this month’s tour of South Africa.
The World Cup top four appears set in stone – Aaron Finch and David Warner opening, followed by Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell.
With Alex Carey the clear frontrunner to keep wickets and selectors keen on playing a bowling all-rounder at number seven, that leaves Wade and Marsh fighting for the final batting spot at five or six.
Coach Justin Langer has preached continuity in selection, and his panel have stuck to that more than previous panels, which suggests that from now until that global tournament starts in Australia in October, we will see a shootout between Marsh and Wade for that prized berth.
The Aussies will play ten T20s in the next five months as they seek to bed down their starting XI and expected 15-man squad.
That run begins in 16 days, with a three-match series in South Africa, followed by three games in New Zealand in late March, then one against Scotland and three against England in the UK from late June.
While Marsh has generous experience in the middle order, having often batted between four and six for the Perth Scorchers, it is more of a foreign environment for Wade.
Mitch Marsh (Photo by Stefan Gosatti/Getty Images)
The left-hander’s generous success in recent years has come at the top of the order for the Hobart Hurricanes. Across the past two BBL seasons he has hammered 943 runs at 45, with a blistering scoring rate of 9.3 runs per over.
Wade has been in terrific form across all three formats in the past 18 months, which has coincided with him largely giving up his wicketkeeping duties.
In that time he has also averaged 43 in List A cricket and 52 in first-class cricket. Wade is now a far more rounded and damaging batsman than he was during his previous stints in the Aussie 20-over side.
Between 2011 and 2016 he played exclusively as a wicketkeeper and batted between five and eight in all but two of those matches. His returns with the willow were unimpressive – 239 runs at 20, with a strike rate of 110 – but the lack of proven middle-order finishers in the BBL has clearly convinced selectors to hand Wade a chance to show he can adapt.
His presence also puts pressure on Carey. The South Australian has done a great job in ODIs but is yet to find his feet in T20s, averaging 14 with the bat after 25 matches.
If Carey struggles over the next few months, and Wade flourishes, it could give the selectors pause for thought. That would be particularly relevant if Marsh also excels, leaving the Aussies wondering how to squeeze both he and Wade into their starting XI.
Alex Carey (Giuseppe Cacace/AFP)
Marsh remains a relatively unknown entity at T20 level, with 11 matches spread out over more than eight years. As a 19-year-old he made a barnstorming start to his international career, when he thumped four sixes against South Africa on debut in Johannesburg. Across his limited appearances he has averaged 22 with the bat and 26 with the ball.
In the meantime he has been a consistent star in the BBL, with 1242 runs at 35, at a solid scoring rate of 7.8 runs per over.
This season he has top scored for the Scorchers, with 382 runs at 35, at a swift rate of 8.7 runs per over.
Given the impressive strength and consistency of Australia’s top four, their final middle-order batsmen need to be capable of destructive cameos. Ashton Turner was trialed in this role briefly, but averaged just 14 from his seven innings.
Now the selectors have narrowed their focus on Marsh and Wade, who both have the power games required, but are yet to prove themselves as middle-order batsmen in this format.
It seems likely one of those two men will be in the Aussie middle order when the World Cup kicks off.
Australian T20 squad
Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey (vc, wk), Pat Cummins (vc), Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Australian ODI squad
Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey (vc, wk), Pat Cummins (vc), Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Tom
Smith averages almost 50 at a strike rate of 150 when he bats at 3 in T20is. Why would you move him from there to put Stoinis in when Stoinis's T20i record is abysmal? ridiculous
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
If it is a pure batsman they want then surely it has to be Wade.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
As I stated before Siddle has retired from all International cricket. Has bowled very well in the BBL though.
redbackfan
Roar Rookie
wade T20 Internationals, ave 19, strike rate 109 . T20,s ave 27, s.r. 134 carey T20 Internationals, ave 13, strike rate 123 . T20,s ave 32, s.r 131 batting low in T20 internationals, wade dismissed in only 12 of 26 matches, carey 9 of 25. i think wades stats over the last 2 years when he hasnt been keeping would be much better than his longterm average, . other than a stopgap/injury replacement, i doubt he will keep at international level again, and why would he when his batting has gone so well without the gloves. as ronan has previously pointed out carey hasnt locked in the T20 spot on performance , but it isnt easy down the order as both their records suggest. wells has been an anomaly this year but it seems generally if your top 4 batters dont do it, you are stuffed
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
Not the same...She’s standing up to 105kph
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
BBL is such a low standard down from international’s.
Max Wiggins
Roar Rookie
Hopefully, Marsh can make the most of this chance and give Australia the all-rounder they desperately crave. It's probably going to be his last opportunity to make it at international level.
Simoc
Guest
Pretty weird take James. Wicketkeeping in the T20 format is the most important of all. I think the English womans keeper Amy Jones is the flag bearer for T20 keepers. Stand up to the stumps for all but the quickest and get rid of those old fashioned pads. Bancroft and Handscomb ably demonstrate how bad it can get when you put in pretenders. Bancroft grabbing at the ball was an embarrassment in his appalling outing.
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
Watching Marsh and Wade in the BBL, I think Carey is the one that needs to go. Wade can keep.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If you don't bowl to Wells' square cut...or his french cut, he'd never score. Out of his league in an Aussie side. The Tassies discarded him, the Scorchers discarded him. Let him put a season or two together as Maxwell and Agar have had to.
Rugbyrah
Roar Rookie
20/20 team my pick: Finch Warner Stoinis Smith Maxwell Wade Agar Starc Cummins Siddle Zampa
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
I guess thats why he's not in the squad Tom. I'm just saying that if he was was, he'd have to be right up the top somewhere.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Sams averaged 7 or 8 with the bat. He's not close to any of the bowlers named. Agar has been terrific. Marsh is in great form. Wells has just had one purple patch after years of just plodding.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You really only need 3 or 4 quality batsmen in T20. Flighty hitters are fine for the last 8 overs. Marsh, Carey, Agar, Starc...2 overs each. 15 runs/ over. Marsh, alone would be enough. The greater issue is whether or not the top 4 or 5 use their occupation of the crease. Different for the 50 over game.
Brian
Guest
Agar at 7 just leaves too long a tail. Its a mistake to play 3 fast bowlers just because you have plenty of them. I can already see Finch and Smith getting to 1/75 after 10 and Australia losing the game. Warner, Finch, Smith, Short, Maxwell, Marsh, Carey, Starc, Agar, Cummins, Zampa. Marsh, Finch, Maxwell & Short can bowl a combined 4 overs and you have enough batsman to keep attacking for longer.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Agree with Wells. The middle order requires someone who can keep scoring with ones, twos and boundaries. Wells and Handscomb have looked some of the most capable in that role Is Wade tested in the middle order? Can Marsh graft or just bash?
JamesH
Roar Guru
I assume you’re focusing on T20Is here? Finch: 58 T20Is, avg 38, SR 157 Warner: 76 T20Is, avg 31, SR 141 Yep, they’re that good! Statistically, Starc is one of the best T20I bowlers on the planet (albeit from a sample size of 28 games scattered over 8 years) so I’d start him with Cummins and then add J Richardson if we want three frontline seamers. Stoinis can’t bat at 7, he’s just not dynamic enough at the beginning of his innings. Given that he hardly bowls anyway (only one over in this BBL) I’d be inclined to just play Carey or an extra bowler. Wells could have been an option too. I don’t see a problem with having Agar and Zampa together in the T20I side. They nominally turn it the same way but Agar doesn’t get much turn and relies more on his height to produce awkward lengths, while Zampa is a skiddier bowler who turns his wrong-un more than his leggie. Different enough for mine. I also don’t hate Agar at 7 in this format. It left the tail too long in the recent ODIs but if your top 6 aren’t getting virtually all your runs in T20s then you probably aren’t winning anyway. Finch Warner Smith Maxwell Marsh Wade/Carey Carey/Agar Agar/J Richardson Starc Cummins Zampa
Tom
Absolute rubbish take on Mitch Marsh. He’s a quality white ball player.
Tom
Yes, Finch and Warner are that good. Their T20 records around the world speak for themselves.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I agree that Wells and Sams are unlucky to miss out but there's no reason Marsh and Agar shouldn't be picked. Marsh just came off a BBL where he averaged 35 at a strike rate of 145 (as captain, too). He's also got a strong ODI record and is a handy extra bowling option. As for Agar, this is the format where he absolutely SHOULD be in the national squad. 21 T20Is with an average of 27 and an economy under 7, at only 26 years of age (not to mention being a gun fielder and handy with the bat), and you want to blacklist him?!?