It’s not hard to see why Australia is usually the darling of the cricketing world.
A culture of winning, a history of legendary players, everyone is paid well and the administration is rather settled.
Yet somehow, despite all of these natural advantages, Australian selectors just can’t get their heads around T20.
Specifically, the triumvirate of Rod Marsh, Mark Waugh and Trevor Hohns have no clue as to what Australia’s best T20 international team looks like.
Given we are only weeks from the ICC World Twenty20, the reasonable man would see this as an issue.
It is not as though we haven’t seen the impacts of this type of substandard planning before.
Remember England’s 2014 World Cup campaign?
It appears as though Australia see that as some kind of shining light rather than the abyss of clarity that it actually was.
Let’s take a look in detail at the Australian ICC World Twenty20 squad:
Steve Smith (c)
Takes over from Finch as the T20 skipper. Hard to argue that he is a better bet as captain, but why do it now after Australia have just played a 3 match T20 series against India? England pulled this stunt when they sacked Cook just before the World Cup. Instability is never a good thing. It becomes worse when it is the leader.
David Warner (vc)
The world’s best opener in any format. Nothing to see here.
Ashton Agar
Plenty to see here. An absolute shocker of a call. Rod Marsh has an Agar addiction. It is completely unjustified. The standard argument is that the squad is more “balanced” with a left arm spinner. The brutal reality is that a good bowler will be a better prospect than a less good bowler, irrespective of which arm they use.
Nathan Coulter-Nile
There is a world ICC trophy up for grabs and Australia have picked a player who hasn’t stepped on a field since December due to injury. A ridiculous selection given the abundance of other fit all rounders who did well in the Big Bash.
James Faulkner
The “Finisher” hasn’t been in the best of form this summer but deserves to hold his place.
Aaron Finch
The world’s number two T20I batsman according to the ICC. He isn’t. He has also just lost his place as captain which can’t be helping his confidence. However, he is a tough little cookie and I expect him to perform well if he actually gets a game. Will be fighting with Watson and possibly Khawaja for an openers spot.
John Hastings
Will be Australia’s all rounder rock during the tournament. A dependable squad member.
Josh Hazlewood
Without Starc due to injury, Hazlewood will shoulder the burden of carrying the attack. Although, I’m not sure if bowling 4 overs a match allows you to carry anything?
Usman Khawaja
If he wasn’t picked, there would have been riots in the streets. Usman makes 50’s even when out of form.
Mitchell Marsh
Likely won’t bat much given these are T20 matches, but his bowling will be handy.
Glenn Maxwell
Needs a big tournament after a disappointing summer and ODI series in New Zealand. Did not bowl much during the Big Bash, so it is not clear yet how the selectors view his role.
Peter Nevill
Comes in for Matthew Wade, despite not being able to get a game ahead of him for the Renegades in the Big Bash. If you want to replace Wade, then surely Tim Paine was a better bet?
Andrew Tye
One of the better bowlers in the Big Bash. Likely deserves his place on form.
Shane Watson
The giant of Australian white ball cricket. His bowling is likely to be as important than his batting. Speaking of batting, where does he come in? Open with Warner? Usman and Smith probably take spots 3 and 4. He is too low at number 5. Dilemmas.
Adam Zampa
Cameron Boyce was the incumbent and did nothing wrong. There is no dispute that Zampa is an exciting leg spinner and knows how to run people out with his face, but is an ICC event the place to find out if he is ready for the next level?
Of course, for every strange selection, Australia have managed some absolute shockers of non selection.
Where is George Bailey? Chris Lynn? Why were Richardson and Boland given such a run during the summer if they are now not part of the squad?
Can anyone actually tell me what the best Australian team is, because it is not very obvious?
Compounding this is that Australia have found themselves in the toughest group. It includes India, Pakistan and New Zealand.
This will not end well.
Why Australia Can’t Win The ICC World Twenty20 (Part I)
Reproduced at First Post Follow @denniscricket_
DennisCricket_ I was just going to say ‘because they pick names out of a hat to select’ but this works.
SpinnerGrace I think Australia need separate T20 expert selectors for the T20I side
DennisCricket_
5 previous WT20s, 5 different winners.
South africa this time?
#WT20 #ProteaFire
DennisCricket_ cushy job, considering the amount of international T20s the men’s team play.
Mohsin421 WI
DennisCricket_ not a bad shout.
India will be strong too.
Not Nz, Not sure I understand McCullum reasons to not play the #WT20!
Disagree.. Its a quite potent and balanced squad.. Aussies have so many match winners but tend to agree on lack of depth in bowling.. Let the show begin!!
Would be cheering for a Aus India Final…
DennisCricket_ Pretty sure you could form a ‘B’ side with the available players, might beat the actual side selected.
Another great article.
who’s gonna win?
Agreed! I think it would’ve been a challenge even if we had successfully picked a mix of experience and in-form youth but ignoring what Lynn (especially) and Head did in a T20 tournament that finished only weeks ago has pretty much sealed my opinion… we’re going to get pumped!
I actually disagree with you for once. I reckon we can pick a balanced side out of that lot. Stronger for not having Tait and wade there.
Usi
Warner
Watto
Smith
Maxi
Marsh
Faulkner
Hastings
Nevill
Zampa
Hazlewood
I was being sarcastic with Tait. Neville is not a better T20 player than Wade. Paine may be
I get that, how could you be serious about Tait U0001f643.
Wade may be a better player than Nev but man, his keeping stinks! Bat him at 8 or 9 and it won’t even matter
Great call dropping Wade but agree that Paine should have been included based on form. Nevill is the superior gloveman but he’s hardly played any T20 lately, let alone in his career. Picking a specialist keeper is probably the right decision in T20’s considering if your top 5 don’t fire you usually lose the game anyway. Taking half chance stumpings in India will be crucual.
Re Andre Tye: “Likely deserves his place on form”…”LIKELY??” This guy has been THE form bowler over the last 3 years in T20’S. It’s quite unbelievable he’s only just playing for Australia now.
Ashton Agar decision is clearly a dog pick. Rod Marsh may have rabies
James Faulkner has lost it. And he’s been losing it for 12 months+. He’ll cost us games over there
Zero confidence in Zampa, Marsh, Watson, Maxwell and i dare say it, Steve Smith, on turning Indian wickets
Starc is ridiculously important to us. Lynn extremely unlucky
Now i know what England fans must feel like heading into a World Cup…
DennisCricket_ This really could be a 20 part series !
smokiedawson I’m not scared of it.
DennisCricket_ hard to believe the selectors haven’t leaned from England’s 2015 World Cup campaign! Similarities are glaringly obvious!
DennisCricket_ Prrrffrt. He’s no Mr Media.
LiebCricket Mr Media is gold. But he failed to accuse Rod Marsh of having rabies
DennisCricket_ Give him time.
My gut feeling is that Australia couldn’t win whatever team they picked. It just seems that, like the selectors, they really don’t get T20 cricket. Their exhibition against India, on home pitches, suggests that they will be easy meat for each of the other three teams in their group. Of course, being T20, anything can happen, but I doubt it. The pity is that Australia is not using undoubtedly their best T20 spinner in George Bradley Hogg. He’s still got it, with a significantly better T20 bowling average and economy rate than either Zampa or Agar, and a strike rate and batting average comparable to Agar and way superior to Zampa. But, most of all, he really GETS T20, and adds experience, guile and enthusiasm to a team in a way that no other single player can.
Proof will be in pudding I guess.
We probably will never a T20 World Cup unless we have a home tournament
Everyone is rabbiting on about Starc’s omission. Isn’t he injured?? Or have I missed something?
The inclusion of Maxwell (who isn’t just out of form, but has lost his way) over Lynn & Head has me stumped, particularly when you look at the inclusion of Coulter-Nile & Agar. Lynn & Head may not have made big scores in the 2 games they played, but at least they played. But, then, let’s be really honest here & call a spade a spade – a deal needed to be done with the powers-that-be at the WACA following the omission of S Marsh (better late than never). Unless & until there is a wholesale change of governance arrangements & personnel, the political rubbish currently governing Australian cricket will continue & we will pay the ultimate price.
DennisCricket_ followthebounce seriously? “It’s not hard to see why Australia is usually the darling of the cricketing world”
DennisCricket_ followthebounce T20 cricket should not be an international game – leave it to commercial franchises. #notrealcricket