The T20 World Cup is the only major limited-overs trophy that eludes Australia and given the inability of the selectors to answer key questions, the likes of India, England and even the West Indies are ahead of the Aussies in the pecking order.
Here are three areas of concern Australia must address in their tours of West Indies and Bangladesh ahead of the showpiece tournament scheduled to be held in India (but likely to be moved to the UAE).
1. Lack of middle-order specialists
Australia has a plethora of top-order specialists and the selectors have been hell-bent on fitting them all in. The likes of Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Marsh do their best work in the top four, but both usually bat at five or six.
Also, Australia have put faith in the likes of Matthew Wade, Josh Philippe, Alex Carey and D’Arcy Short. However, if David Warner, Aaron Finch and Steve Smith are all available, then surely only Carey or Wade get in as keeper, and they too are top-order players in this format.
This makes Josh Inglis’ exclusion all the more surprising and leaves Australia relying heavily on the top order to perform to give the side the best possible chance or registering match-winning totals.
Finch, who is the only Australian batsman to hit 100 T20 sixes, is a superb option. So too Warner, who is a T20 great. Smith can offer value at three. And, of course, Glenn Maxwell is the danger man at four. But it’s the positions from five down that offer the least reliability.
Glenn Maxwell (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Since the initial squad announcement for the West Indies, Ben McDermott and Daniel Christian have been added. McDermott can offer value in the middle order, given his strike rate of nearly 140 batting at five, while Christian, despite his older age, was immense for the Sydney Sixers in last season’s Big Bash, courtesy of his ability to smash runs at a ferocious pace in both the middle and death overs.
A player like this is vital for Australia, given Stoinis, Marsh and Carey can take time to get going.
2. Death-bowling effectiveness
Australia’s death-bowling worries were on show earlier this year against New Zealand. The likes of Daniel Sams and Kane Richardson, who are final-over specialists, haven’t cracked it at international level, which puts pressure on the others around them to recover the damage.
However, the form of key man Mitchell Starc is also a concern.
Sure, it was red-ball cricket where he struggled in season 2020-21, but Australia needs to ensure he is in a good mental state given what he has gone through personally in recent months.
So, with key players – including Pat Cummins – reportedly keen to skip the tours of the West Indies and Bangladesh, citing bubble concerns, the challenge for Australia is nailing down the death-overs bowling. Nathan Ellis could be worth trying in the upcoming tours, while the likes of Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith need to find consistency at international level and fast.
3. Developing consistency of performance
Australia find themselves in a bit of a conundrum. There are key areas to fix, where new players could provide solutions, however combinations need to be confirmed to develop continuity and confidence, as the Aussies have never prioritised T20s.
This is why Australia will be hoping they can nail combinations early on in the West Indies tour – so they can look to build on in the remaining part of that series as well as in Bangladesh.
Clear as mud
Guest
it would be something. not sure what. but agree it is worth a thought
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Like you suggested continuity is a key & winning streak will help the lads create a formula they can rely on. Like to see Maxwell & Finch open T20
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Catches win matches!
Clear as mud
Guest
Lynn played a T20 against India in late 18 in Brissy. recuced to 17 overs. we made 158 at almost 10, Lynn got 37 off 20, Maxi 46 off 24. we opened with Short and Finch (Short flopped as usual), Stronis tonked at 5 and McDermott was at 6. pretty handy performance minus Warner and against a brilliant India Lynn only got two more games. we maded 168 in one of them. i wouldn't be basing anything on that series, or on Lynn. what about the model?
matth
Roar Guru
I thought we tried this a few years back with, for example, Chris Lynn and others and it turned out 9-110 was more likely than 9-180
Clear as mud
Guest
independent of personnel, what is the actual best balance for a T20 team? - 11 aggressive batters 10 of who can bowl passably - try and win 220-200 every game? - 10 strike bowlers who all bat a bit, and a keeper - try and win 150-140? - somewhere in the middle? with the middle option, we seem mathematically obvious with a few dashers and a few grafters and a couple of containment bowlers and a couple of strike bowlers. we do OK, not great. i'm not sure we've ever tested where we want to be on that bat versus bowl spectrum. which is why i keep coming back to Smith, it helps that I don't like him (but do respect him). do we really want a top 3 spot to a guy with his lack of big scores and explosive ability? it's low risk, but does low risk win these comps? would we be better having 5-6 tonkers up top and just let rip. 1 after the other? and 5 attacking bowlers. one pivot allrounder, either a keeper but preferably a Christian type if you have a keeper who tonks? so it might be Warner Finch Phillipe/Inglis Maxwell Henriques Christian J Richardson Cummins Starc Zampa Meredith I mean, we only have to bat 120 balls. 9-180 better than 5-170 etc etc Swap Agar (who bats) in for Meredith on the slower wickets in India. Wade an option based on BBL form but would have to keep, and I think Wade has had enough chances and not set the T20I scene alight. Maxwell and Henriques both with huge IPL experience and success against spin. let's go down swinging?
Paul
Roar Guru
Fair enough, though I wonder about the form line from the BBL. At the least, he has to worth a try as a 5,6 or 7 bat for Australia, assuming selectors can past having him and maybe Phillipe in the team
I must admit when Aus started the BB I thought them and India would dominate T20 forever but it doesnt quite seem to have worked out that way. T20 is a bit of a game of luck anyway as one good innings or one early bowling spell wins a lot of matches. And wickets are more likely to fall due to batting errors than to bowling expertise.
Tom
Inglis batted down the order for Perth in the BBL and WA in the One Day Cup last season and did very well. Averaged 35 at a strike rate of 140 in the BBL and over 40 at a strike rate of 123 in the One Day Cup.
Paul
Roar Guru
I think you make some fair points, Charbel. There's no doubt the death batting and bowling is problematic. You mentioned Josh Inglis as an option, but is he more of a top order T20 player as well? In fairness, Australia has hardly had it's best T20 squad together for a while and that trend will continue for at least the next 3 or 4 months. I'm happy to see all options tried in both departments to see who can do a job. You also talked about developing consistency of performance. I'm not sure how you can do that when a) it's rare in the past year for our best squad to be put together and b) this format is as much about luck as good cricket. If we get our best 16-18 players and have luck go our way, we'll be in the mix to win the World Cup.
JGK
Roar Guru
Three areas Australia must address if they are to win the T20 World Cup Batting, bowling and fielding?