Opinion
Australia is the most consistent team in ODI cricket but still they are struggling to grab the T20 World Cup.
This is a great chance for them to lift the trophy as they will be playing at home.
In previous articles, I discussed the squads of Pakistan and India so today I am going to make the Aussies’ squad for the T20 World Cup. I hope this squad will help them win the World Cup in front of the home crowd.
David Warner
T20I stats: 79 innings, 2207 runs at 31.5, strike rate: 140.5, 17 fifties
I had never thought for a minute to not include Warner in the World Cup squad. His stats tell everything. He is a destructive batsman who can ruin the opposition in the power play. He is the leading run-scorer for Australia in T20Is.
(Photo by PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP /AFP via Getty Images)
Aaron Finch (captain)
T20I stats: 61 innings, 1989 runs at 38.2, strike rate: 155.9, 12 fifties
Finch is the Australian skipper, a traditional batsman who just plays according to conditions and to carry the innings forward. He is the perfect T20 batsman who takes his time at the start then starts blazing with his firepower. He has the record of scoring the most runs by an individual in T20Is.
Josh Philippe
T20 stats: 32 innings, 798 runs at 33.2, strike rate: 138.3, seven fifties
Philippe is a young batsman who also opens in T20s and can hit hard. He has scored 487 runs in 16 innings with a strike rate of 129.86 including five fifties in this BBL season. He is in tremendous form and can also keep wickets, which will provide the team with a back-up wicketkeeper.
Steven Smith
T20I stats: 31 innings, 681 runs at 29.6, strike rate: 130.7, four fifties
Steve Smith is considered to be the thumb of Australia’s batting because he accelerates the run rate in the middle overs with just singles and doubles. It is very difficult to adjust the field to control his rotation of strike.
Glenn Maxwell
T20I stats: 54 innings, 1576 runs at 35, strike rate: 160, seven fifties
Maxwell is no doubt one of the best power hitters in T20 cricket. He comes to bat after ten overs and score runs at high strike rate. He has three centuries in T20Is, which is a great achievement taking into account that he bats in the middle order. He is a great fielder and can restrict some runs with his off spin.
(Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Alex Carey (wicketkeeper)
T20I stats: 16 innings, 173 runs at 14.4, strike rate: 124.5, no fifty
Alex Carey is my first-choice wicketkeeper and his recent performances in the BBL are justifying his selection. He has scored 391 runs in 11 innings with the strike rate of 125.32. He bats too low in T20Is so I want him to bat up the order.
Matthew Wade (wicketkeeper)
T20I stats: 20 innings, 268 runs at 17.9, strike rate: 111.7, one fifty
Wade is another amazing batsman who failed to leave his mark in international cricket. He also had a fantastic BBL season where he scored 351 runs in eight innings with a strike rate of 171.21. He can also keep wickets in the absence of Carey.
Jonathan Wells
T20 stats: 82 innings, 1949 runs at 34.8, strike rate: 124.4, ten fifties
Wells is another player who has a great T20 record playing for Adelaide Strikers in the BBL. He bats in the middle order and scored 478 runs in 14 innings with a strike rate of 135.41 in this BBL season. He could get the finishing role in Australia’s line-up.
Marcus Stoinis
T20I stats: 14 innings, 136 runs at 15.1, strike rate: 116.2, no fifty
15 innings, nine wickets at 35.4, economy rate: 8.32
Stoinis is the most underrated T20 player and his talent is far more than just stats. He bats as an opener for the Melbourne Stars and was the leading run-scorer of this BBL season with 705 runs. He can also bowl some economical overs in the middle overs.
Ashton Agar
T20I stats: ten innings, 104 runs at 14.8, strike rate: 110.6, no fifty
24 innings, 25 wickets at 21.3, economy rate: 6.73
Another all-rounder in my squad is Ashton Agar. The left-arm orthodox bowler is the economical bowler and not a wicket-taking option but with another spinner in the team, he can build pressure with his economical spell. He started as a pure bowler but then found his hidden talent and started batting also.
(Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Adam Zampa
T20I stats: 30 innings, 33 wickets at 19, economy rate: 6.12
There is no doubt around Zampa’s inclusion because currently he is the best spinner in Australia. He is not that leggie who relies on unorthodox balls like googlies, but uses them as a surprise package. He will bowl five traditional leg-spin balls and then suddenly bowl on the sixth delivery a googly, which would deceive the batsman.
Pat Cummins
T20I stats: 28 innings, 36 wickets at 19.9, economy rate: 6.87
Pat Cummins is a wicket-taking bowler who comes at first change. He strikes the ball hard and his bouncers are so dangerous that they might hurt batsmen. His variations and yorkers are enough to destroy the opposition in the last overs.
Mitchell Starc
T20I stats: 31 innings, 43 wickets at 18.6, economy rate: 6.91
Another pacy and destructive bowler whose swinging ball at 90 miles per hour is enough to deceive batsmen. He has pace, swing and bounce, which makes him a perfect fast bowler. His average at the death is quite amazing due to his unplayable yorkers.
(Action Foto Sport/NurPhoto)
Daniel Sams
T20 stats: 36 innings, 52 wickets at 18.4, economy rate: 8.13
The leading wicket-taker of this BBL season has the ability to swing the ball conventionally in the power play. Despite having average pace, he is very effective in T20 cricket. He has taken 30 wickets in 17 innings at an average of 15.36 and an economy of 7.83. That is much better than his overall statistics.
Jhye Richardson
T20I stats: nine innings, nine wickets at 31.9, economy rate: 8.44
Richardson, who plays for the Perth Scorchers in BBL, is a handy bowler who goes for the runs in the attempt of the wicket. He is slightly less economical but this loss can be offset by some earlier wickets in the power play. As he is familiar with Australian conditions, he will be a useful bowler in the World Cup.
First-choice playing XI: David Warner, Aaron Finch (captain), Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Jonathan Wells, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins, Daniel Sams, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.
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