Last Updated on 4 years ago by Charbel Coorey
Opinion: Australia’s best XI for the T20 World Cup | What should Australia’s playing XI be for the T20 World Cup?
To pick Steve Smith or to not pick Steve Smith? Should Australia play all three of Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis and Tim David, or does there need to be an insurance option in case of a collapse? Is Aaron Finch still capable of producing match-winning performances?
These questions have been rife in Australian circles ahead of their T20 World Cup defence on home soil. Also, the performances of Cameron Green and Nathan Ellis have put the spotlight on the selectors, with uncertainty remaining as to whether they will indeed be drafted into the World Cup squad.
Australia’s best XI for the 2022 World Cup
Assuming the squad remains as is, Australia will be best served picking the following XI, which offers a threat right down the order. More importantly, there is a clear role for each player.
1. David Warner
Straightfoward. Arguably Australia’s greatest ever T20 player. The man of the tournament in the 2021 World Cup is heading into the 2022 edition in fine touch, with consecutive 70+ scores against West Indies and England.
2. Aaron Finch (c)
If Australia were to look past Finch, they would have done so at the end of last year’s successful World Cup campaign to give an opportunity for a new captain to settle into the role. However, the selectors have persisted with Finch, and he is in Australia’s best XI currently mainly due to his leadership capabilities and tactical awareness.
Also, Finch’s T20I form, while not great, has been more promising than his wretched ODI form earlier this year. He will be back opening in the England T20Is at Canberra, and his role will be to take advantage of the powerplay and avoid soaking up deliveries.
3. Mitchell Marsh
Time at the crease is vital for Marsh ahead of the World Cup, but his potential was on show as he led Australia to victory in the 2021 Final. His power game will be important for Australia in this tournament, and doubts around his ability against spin can somewhat be quelled by the fact that campaign is being held early in the season where the pitches will be fresh.
4. Glenn Maxwell
Maxwell is under the spotlight, and rightly so. His T20I form this year has been diabolical, hitting just 181 runs 12 innings at an average of 16.50 and strike rate of 118.3.
However, leaving a player like Maxwell out of a World Cup XI is an even bigger risk than playing him. His ceiling is immense, highlighted by an average of 39.10 and strike rate of 167.4 in all T20s this year. Couple that with his bowling and fielding capabilities, and the Big Show can turn a game around in no time.
5. Marcus Stoinis
It can be argued that Australia would not have won the 2021 World Cup without Marcus Stoinis. His knocks against South Africa and Pakistan were crucial in the final analysis, displaying the calmness required in pressure situations.
Also, as shown in his powerful 15-ball 35 in the first T20I against England, Stoinis has improved as a middle order player in recent years. Since the start of 2020, Stoinis has struck 535 runs between overs 7-16 when batting at five or six at a strike rate of 144.20. In the death overs, this bumps up to 446 runs at a strike rate of 167.67.
6. Tim David
Tim David rounds out the top six. Between overs 16 and 20 in all T20s this year, David has struck 679 runs at a strike rate of 202.08. A player of his calibre can create headaches, forcing opposition think tanks and captains to devise a well-calculated plan to dismiss him as early as possible.
The aformentioned top six means Steve Smith misses out. This is not to say Smith is of no value in T20s, but to suggest he should be in the side in case of a collapse is quite an un-Australian way of thinking. Central to Australia’s success over the years has been the mindset to play attacking cricket on the front foot, with no thought or fear of failure. This top six reflects that.
By playing Smith, you likely lose the proven ability of Marsh at three, power and bowling option of Stoinis, or the sheer brute force of David at the backend.
7. Matthew Wade (wk)
An easy pick. Wade has been magnificent since the beginning of 2021, reinventing himself as Australia’s finisher. In this period, he has smashed 230 runs between overs 16 and 20 at an average of 46.00 and strike rate of 188.50.
8. Pat Cummins
Cummins will be key in the powerplay and middle overs for Australia. His economy rate in T20Is is a respectable 7.28, with 50 wickets to his name in 44 matches.
9. Mitchell Starc
It’s a big tournament for Starc. He has dominated in ODI World Cups, but his 2021 T20 World Cup campaign left plenty to be desired. Nonetheless, his ability to nail those yorkers at the death will be crucial in Australia’s title defence.
10. Adam Zampa
Zampa has quickly become a vital member of Australia’s T20I unit. He was key in Australia going all the way last year, with his control and excellent wrong-un a key asset that Finch will no doubt turn to in the middle overs.
11. Josh Hazlewood
The most improved T20 player in the past couple of years, in Australian circles at least. Since the start of 2021, Hazlewood has taken 74 wickets in 47 T20s at an average of 17.85 and economy of 7.41. Also, he concedes less than ten per over at the death in this period, which is certainly respectable, and he will no doubt be tasked with finishing things off well with the ball.
