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.
(Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)
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 (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.
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.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
yeah. As it should be...I wasnt disagreeing. My comment was not super clear - I just think MMarsh plays at 3, in particular if the Finch/Warner go cheaply/early. If Finch/warner performed super well up top and you needed 'ballistic' in the last couple of overs, have maxxy and inglis come in for those.
DTM
Roar Rookie
Most batsmen (more so than bowlers) are better suited to one or two formats. Smith is absolutely first picked for the test team and maybe one of the first for ODI's. However, he doesn't really provide much value in T20's - in fact playing him in this format will lessen his effectiveness in the other formats. Warner is probably the only real exception to this rule. I would have M Marsh in my T20 and ODI team but he wouldn't be in the first 25 players I chose to play test cricket. Maxwell is the same but maybe I'd rank him a little higher than 25. Who are you going to leave out for Starc?
Ben Palliyaguru
Roar Rookie
I don't mind the idea of taking Smith to #5 or just removing him entirely. But starc must be in the XI
Ben Palliyaguru
Roar Rookie
order is flexible and depends on the situation
DTM
Roar Rookie
I'll be a little controversial here. I think there's only room for 2 of Warner, Finch and Smith in the top 4. Marsh should bat at 3 and Maxwell at 4. Then the number 5 would be either Warner, Finch, Smith or Stoinis. Agree on Inglis and Agar at 6 & 7. However, I don't think we can play Starc, Cummins and Hoff - one of them has to make way for K Richardson - probably Starc.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
I set out a similar team list a few days ago, so obviously agree around player selection. I disagree a little around the order. I think if Mitch Marsh is batting in the side, he needs to bat higher than 4 - say 3 - because thats where he has shown he can perform. I think Maxxy needs to be played at 4, but only if the top 3 have set a bit of a platform. If they havent, I see no reason Smith could bat at 4. I think Smith, while not ballistic or as explosive as Maxxy, has grown into a t20 player who can score runs so not sure why he couldnt bat at 5.
Sedz
Guest
Jeff I think Aus management has to be flexible when it comes to T20. They can send Maxwell if the team gets to a good start to maximize his full range of hitting in the last 6 or 7 overs. However if Aussies are just trying to build after the early loss of wickets within first 12 overs then its sensible to send Marsh.
Ben Palliyaguru
Roar Rookie
batting order is flexible, and depends on the situation
Ben Palliyaguru
Roar Rookie
Exactly, flexibility is needed. If finch and warner start well and one of them gets out at 110 after 10 overs, then definitely promote Maxwell to 3.
Oliver
Roar Rookie
A good team, but in the t20 format I would 100% bat Cummins above Agar regardless, unless we have a massive collapse within the first 10
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I think that’s the key Paul. Flexibility. No way I’d have Maxwell in at 2 down inside 5 overs, because his performances don’t lie, the odds weigh heavily that Aus would soon be 3 down inside 8 overs and that loss of wickets has a cascading impact for the rest of the innings. If 2 down after 12 overs or so, sure, see if he can last and score quickly. For just under 80% of his career he hasn’t been able to last more than 4 overs faced, so it’s not like Aus would be risking missing out on his batting coming in at around 12 overs. The importance of not losing wickets early gets overlooked too often IMO in T20s. Australia isn’t going to win a tournament of 7 matches on the basis of one decent innings from a key position player once every 6 games. Consistency and reliability is needed first and foremost.
Paul
Roar Guru
That looks about right, but I think Australia still needs to get it's order right, eg should MM bat 3 instead of Smith? Where's the right place for Maxwell to bat - I agree with you, 5 is right for him. I'd also like to see some flexibility in the order, so if Finch & Warner get off to a flyer, Maxwell comes in next, followed by Inglis.
Simon
Guest
I think this is close to spot on, but I'd swap Marsh and Maxwell. You need Maxwell in for the maximum amount of deliveries, he can be the difference between 150 and 210 if he gets going through the middle. Marsh also has a really strong ability to come in and hit sixes late, we've seen it a lot with the Scorchers. Inglis is such a great keeper pick and I can't believe they've finally seen the right way just before the world cup. I would consider Kane Richardson to take either Hoff or Patty's place. Him or AJ Tye are arguably our best death bowlers, and one in the XI would be good. I think we can actually win it with this team, contrary to how many view our T20 chances
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Maxwell has been ordinary for Australia in iT20s over the last two years. He averages 13 balls per innings and half of those 12 innings he has failed to score more than single figures. Only twice has he made a score higher than the 20s. He’s not reliable enough to be Australia’s #4. In contrast, over the last two years Marsh has reached at least 40 in 8 of his 16 innings. These past 9 innings in WI and BAN Marsh scored 4 half centuries and two 40s alone. His form has to be maximised at 3 or 4.
Soyaib Zihad
Roar Rookie
Ben, good article. But I am not sure why pople sending Maxwell at 5 in t20 cricket. He must bat at no 4, no way. Yes, I admit Marsh has done well enough at the top order. But overall his quality is not up to maxi's level. So, how can you unsettle your 'most settled no 4 batsman' for another one who just has shown some good form recently.