When no one gave the Australians a chance during the T20 World Cup last year, Aaron Finch and co thrived on the lack of pressure en route to winning the tournament. Less than 12 months after winning the tournament, the pressure is on the defending champs to go back-to-back on home soil. Australia has made just one change from their 2021 T20 World Cup squad, with Mitchell Swepson making way for Tim David.
Here is the 15-man Australian squad for this year’s T20 World Cup:
Aaron Finch (captain), Pat Cummins, Ashton Agar, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wicketkeeper), David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Australia will be playing their five Super 12 games across five different venues – SCG, Perth Stadium, MCG, The Gabba and Adelaide Oval. With those venues in mind, here is what I think is Australia’s best XI for the 2022 ICC World T20:
David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Aaron Finch (captain), Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Compared to the XI that played for the majority of last year’s tournament, it’s just the one change for me with Tim David coming in for Steve Smith. Alongside this, I’ve gone with a slight change in the batting order.
I’m a huge believer that your best players in the format must bat in the top four of a T20. And Glenn Maxwell fits that bill perfectly. Maxwell has shown success as an opener in the BBL and in Australian colours in T20 internationals. Opposition bowling attacks have loved the fact that they’ve been able to start off their bowling innings against an out-of-form Aaron Finch.
(Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
With Maxwell and Warner opening and Mitchell Marsh at number three, Australia can go hard at the powerplay with the bat and provide a great platform to scores of 200+.
With Finch at number four batting on wickets where there shouldn’t be much spin on offer during October, he can tee off in the middle overs and take advantage of the shorter boundaries across all the venues Australia will be playing in. Australia has opted for an all-guns blazing style with the bat in T20 cricket recently, which makes David playing over Smith more logical. Smith’s career T20 and T20I strike rate falls in the mid-120s.
Meanwhile, David has a SR of 158.52 in T20I matches and a SR of 163.17 across all T20s. Having performed across T20 leagues around the world, now is the time for David to make the T20 team for Australia. Even if he doesn’t perform as well as expected, David has earnt the right to make the Australian T20I lineup and get a long rope.
Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade have flourished in their finishing roles over the past year, so their inclusions are self-explanatory. The NSW trio and spinner make up Australia’s four-man main attack and are straight forward additions like Stoinis at six and Wade at seven.
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Overall, Australia has named a strong squad, with quality players on the bench ready for an opportunity should it arise. It is tough to predict if they will win, as T20 cricket is such a fickle format, especially during the knockout stages. However, I do expect Australia to at least qualify for the semis. From there on, it’s a matter of which team handles pressure best.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
The way Green performed opening, he is shaping as a (if not “the”) replacement opener and Wade has delivered further down the order (even though historically it wasnt his strong suit). Maybe something like the following: (1) Warner, (2) Green, (3) Marsh, (4) Maxwell (5) Inglis, (6) David (7) Wade, (8) Starc/Agar (9) Cummins/Starc (10) Zampa, (11) Hazlewood
jammel
Roar Rookie
Given the squad they've selected, and given they'll play Finch, that's the XI I'd go with too. Personally, I don't think Finch should play. We definitely need Smith - to be listed at #4 to rebuild and play in tricky batting conditions. Maxwell shouldn't open. He'd be my captain! I'd also have had Green and maybe McDermott/Head in the squad. So in an ideal world I'd have gone: Warner Inglis+ MMarsh (V) Smith Maxwell (C) Green David Starc Cummins Zampa Hazlewood
Nudge
Roar Rookie
With the squad they have chosen and Finch a certainty to captain, id like to see Warner Finch Marsh Smith Maxwell Wade David Starc Cummins Zampa Hazlewood. We are going to play 3 quicks and one recognised spinner plus Maxwell. We won the World Cup in spin friendly conditions a year ago with only one recognised spinner so that’s not going to change in our conditions. We need Smith for the odd game we are 2 for not many or we are chasing a tricky 140 target. If we get off to a flyer and don’t lose too many wickets he bats 7
bowledover
Roar Rookie
We'll see how Green goes, he might be another option, instead of say Abbot.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Warner, McDermott, Marsh, Maxwell, David, Green, Inglis/Wade, Starc, Agar, Zampa, Hazlewood. Nobody seriously thinks Finch should play, do they, even though he undoubtedly will?
Andrew
Guest
All are talking about the best 11. But the major concern is who'll be bowling the death overs?! AUS's death-bowling isn't convincing. Starc isn't threatening as he once was. Batsmen worked him out. I think Nathan Ellis could become a good death bowler. Unfortunately, he isn't in the squad.
Andrew
Guest
Why Ashton Agar isn't in your best XI? All teams will field 2 genuine spinners in T20 cricket. Agar has the best economy rate. He can stem the flow of runs at one end. He'll be more than handy in the SCG & MCG. Marcus Stoinis is out of form and injured at the moment. He has to perform in the T20I Series against WI & ENG before the WC. Steve Smith will surely be picked. AUS need him. T20 cricket isn't only about hitting boundaries. You need players like him (& Williamson) as the glue that allows other batsmen to tee off. He's a gun fielder.
Homer Nixon
Guest
McDermott for Green and I agree with the other 10.
Homer Nixon
Guest
It is true. He would hands down be the guy I'd be taking to a roulette wheel.
Brian
Guest
He won the toss and elected to bat every time, his ability to call heads or tails correctly was the most crucial aspect of the win.
Brian
Guest
There's enough batting all-rounders to play a batsman at 7. Maxwell, Marsh + they'll play Stoinis or David and they havn't even picked Green.
Brian
Guest
Should be Warner, Inglis, Smith, Marsh, Maxwell, Green, David, Starc, Cummins, Zampa, Hazlewood Will be Warner, Finch, Smith, Marsh, Stoinis, Maxwell, Wade, Starc, Cummins, Zampa, Hazlewood.
Clear as mud
Guest
he was good enough under pressure in the Dubai version, 80 runs for 1 out at 137 and then made runs at a great rate back home after that
Paul Henderson
Guest
Chris Lynn has to get a call up at done stage better then half the blokes they have selected including finch.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
I think the following would be a formidable lineup: (1) Warner, (2) Mcdermott (heck even Wade), (3) Marsh, (4) Maxwell (5) Inglis, (6) David (7) Abbott, (8) Starc/Agar (9) Cummins/Starc (10) Zampa, (11) Hazlewood Marsh or Maxi to captain. But Finch will captain and open (Mcdermott isnt even in the squad), and theyll shoe horn Smith in the middle at the expense of David and likely try and squeeze Wade in the lower middle order when he is most suited to opening… and Abbott isnt even in the squad.
DTM
Roar Rookie
Even in the 2021 T20 WC, Finch struggled (135 runs averaging less than 20 at a strike rate of 116). He's another year older and his form has declined further. Should he bat at 4? I don't think so. Maxwell for captain.
Frank delosa
Guest
Finch. What makes you think he will do any better in the popcorn cricket? He is done matey. Give the spot to McDermott or someone else.
Frank delosa
Guest
Stoinis!? Are you kidding me? This isnt 2014.