The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Opinion

How Australia should line up for the 2021 T20 World Cup

Autoplay in... 6 (Cancel)
Up Next No more videos! Playlist is empty -
Replay
Cancel
Next
Roar Rookie
20th August, 2021
15

Back in February, I wrote an article on how the Aussies should line up for the T20 World Cup. 

A lot has changed since then, including the venue of the World Cup.

For the first time ever, a major ICC tournament will take place in the United Arab Emirates, due to India’s COVID-19 situation. Another thing that has changed is the rescheduled IPL, also to be held in the UAE.

Many players will get a good month with their franchises to asses conditions ahead of the tournament. And with Cricket Australia releasing their final 18-man squad, including three reserves, for the tournament, this seems like the right time to decide on an ideal XI for the tournament.

Openers: Aaron Finch (captain) and David Warner
Aaron Finch is in a race to get to full fitness before the World Cup, but as captain, he will for sure be selected to open the batting. His form is quite concerning in T20 cricket, averaging 25.4 at a disappointing strike rate against the West Indies.

David Warner is also a guarantee, especially as he will have a month’s preparation in the IPL before the tournament. He struggled on the unpredictable Chennai pitches during April’s IPL, and was even stripped of the captaincy. The form of these two is quite concerning, but there does not seem to be a quality alternative.

David Warner after being dismissed at the Cricket World Cup.

(Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)

Advertisement

Three and four: Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh
Steve Smith is recovering from a wrist injury, but will be ready for the World Cup. There have always been questions about his strike rate in T20 cricket, but on the slow UAE pitches, his maturity will be needed at number three.

After an excellent series against the West Indies, Mitchell Marsh has all but secured himself a place in the XI. An average of nearly 44 in the Caribbean, alongside some solid bowling performances, makes him the obvious pick at four.

Five and six: Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper)
Glenn Maxwell is also a lock for this team. He was in blistering white-ball form in December against India, and replicated this in the IPL this past April. His part-time off spin could also come in handy in the UAE.

Josh Inglis (finally) got his first call-up to the Australia squad for this World Cup, on the back of a brilliant English summer. He averaged 48.3 at an incredible striker rate of 175 for Leicestershire in the Vitality T20 Blast, while also impressing for the London Spirit in the Hundred.

He is also handy with the gloves, and is surely the superior middle-order batsman to Matthew Wade.

Josh Inglis

Josh Inglis (Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Seven, eight and nine: Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc
Ashton Agar should retain his spot at seven, thanks to his handy left-arm spin. He has been in dire form with the bat recently, but two spinners are a necessity in the UAE.

Advertisement

Pat Cummins won’t be participating in the rescheduled IPL, so he will be well rested for the tournament. He is much improved with the bat too, averaging 20 at a strike rate of 140 in the IPL.

Mitchell Starc was in very average form before the recent tours of the West Indies and Bangladesh, but has done enough during those matches to keep his place in the side. He still remains one of the great wicket-takers in white-ball cricket.

Ten and 11: Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood
As Australia’s best white-ball spinner in an Asian-hosted tournament, Zampa will be absolutely key for Australia, and will have to perform brilliantly. He didn’t have a good series in the Caribbean, but picked up five wickets in four games in spin-friendly Dhaka conditions.

Josh Hazlewood is probably the most at risk of all of the bowlers. He will be the one left out if Justin Langer opts for a third spinner, Mitchell Swepson, and faces competition from Kane Richardson in the squad. However, his excellent bowling in the recent tours should mean he gets a run in the team.

close