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What went wrong for Australia in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022?

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The National Selection Panel (NSP) has named the below men’s squads for the Qantas Tour of India and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

The side will travel to India for three T20 Internationals in September before returning home to play the West Indies, England and India leading into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup which opens against New Zealand at the SCG on October 22.

Australian ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Squad:

Aaron Finch (VIC/Geelong Cricket Club) (c)
Ashton Agar (WA/University Cricket Club)
Pat Cummins (NSW/Penrith Cricket Club)
Tim David (WA/Claremont-Nedlands Cricket Club)
Josh Hazlewood (NSW/St George Cricket Club)
Josh Inglis (WA/Joondalup Cricket Club)
Mitchell Marsh (WA/Fremantle Cricket Club)
Glenn Maxwell (VIC/Fitzroy Doncaster Cricket Club)
Kane Richardson (QLD/Gold Coast Dolphins Cricket Club)
Steve Smith (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club)
Mitchell Starc (NSW/Manly Warringah Cricket Club)
Marcus Stoinis (WA/Subiaco Floreat Cricket Club)
Matthew Wade (TAS/Clarence Cricket Club)
David Warner (NSW/Randwick Petersham Cricket Club)
Adam Zampa (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club)

Singapore-born, Perth raised Tim David has been included with leg spinner Mitchell Swepson missing out having been a part of the squad which won the T20 World Cup for the first time, beating New Zealand in the final, in Dubai last year.

Pat Cummins returns to play after missing the ODI Series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand in North Queensland for a period of rehabilitation and physical preparation while Adam Zampa returns to the T20 squad following the birth of his son Eugene.

NSP Chair of Selectors George Bailey said: “This is a similar squad to that which became the first Australian’s men’s team to win a T20 World Cup who are now very excited about playing the tournament at home.

“Mitchell Swepson was unlucky to miss out based on conditions in the UAE at the last World Cup where we planned for tired, spinning wickets compared to what we would expect are good batting conditions along with the larger grounds in Australia.

“Tim (David) continues to establish himself with some quality performances in leagues around the world, earning a place in the squad. He is a highly gifted, natural ball striker who will add extra batting depth to the group which has had a lot of success in T20 cricket.

“We expect him to play a similar role to that he has been playing in the past few years.”

NB: David Warner will miss the Indian tour as part of a managed period of preparation for a full summer schedule. Cameron Green has been included in the squad for the Indian T20 Series.

“Cameron’s improvement in all facets of his game has been impressive and we are excited for him to continue the growth of his all-round T20 cricket through further exposure to the format,” Bailey said.
 
Globetrotting T20 star Tim David has stormed into Australia's T20 World Cup squad on the back of his big-hitting exploits on the franchise circuit.

On Thursday morning Australia revealed a 15-player squad to defend their World Cup title on home soil this October-November, and David’s selection over leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson was the only change from the group that won the 2021 tournament in the UAE.

The 15 will also travel to India in mid-September for a three-match T20I series, with the exception of David Warner, who will be rested, with Cameron Green taking his place.

Australia's T20 World Cup squad: Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (vc), Tim David, Aaron Finch (c), Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner*, Adam Zampa. * Squad will also travel to India for three T20Is, September 20-26, except Warner will be replaced by Cameron Green

David, who has born in Singapore to Australian parents before moving to Perth as a two-year-old, represented that country 14 times in T20 internationals in 2019-20, but under ICC rules is eligible to play for Australia immediately.

Described as "an out and out match-winner" by Australia legend Ricky Ponting, David has forced his way into the national squad courtesy of a series of breathtaking performances in T20 leagues around the world.

"He's the sort of player that could actually win you a World Cup," Ponting said of the 26-year-old recently. "He's not just the average run-of-the-mill guy that might just sneak into a squad ... he actually reminds me a bit of someone like an Andrew Symonds back in the 2003 World Cup. You know if you get them in and you give him an opportunity, they're a chance of winning a tournament for you.

"That's how I'd be looking at him right now.

"I know there are some other great world-quality players in the middle order for Australia, but probably none of them boasts the resume as good as Tim's over the last two years."

Those past two years have seen David amass 1,874 runs at a phenomenal strike-rate of 168.40 in 86 T20 games.

The right-hander averages a boundary every 4.5 balls, and his strike-rate swells to 204.80 when batting between overs 16 and 20.

Purchased for a whopping A$1.53m by the Mumbai Indians at the IPL auction last February, David's strike-rate of 216.28 in eight matches was the highest by any player to have faced at least 50 balls in a single IPL season.

He entered the IPL after smashing 278 runs at a strike-rate of 194.41 in February's Pakistan Super League, a series he played in having initially been sounded out by Australia's selectors for a home T20 series against Sri Lanka at the same time.

The 26-year-old then followed up his IPL breakout season with a successful T20 Blast competition with Lancashire in England, smoking 405 runs at a strike-rate of 174.57.

Standing 196cm, he also bowls occasional right-arm off-breaks and has taken 12 wickets from his 121 T20 games.

David played one match for Tasmania in the 2021-22 Marsh One-Day Cup against Western Australia, taking 2-25 and hitting 36 off 23 balls.

In a sign of the times, David is yet to make his first-class debut and has only played 16 List A matches, most of them with Surrey in 2021 when hit two centuries and averaged 68 with a strike-rate of 150.44.

For an Australian squad looking to become the first team to win back-to-back T20 World Cups, he adds an undeniable X-factor to a very well-balanced group.

"This is a similar squad to that which became the first Australian's men's team to win a T20 World Cup, who are now very excited about playing the tournament at home," Chairman of Selectors George Bailey said in a statement.

"Mitchell Swepson was unlucky to miss out based on conditions in the UAE at the last World Cup where we planned for tired, spinning wickets compared to what we would expect are good batting conditions along with the larger grounds in Australia.

"Tim (David) continues to establish himself with some quality performances in leagues around the world, earning a place in the squad. He is a highly gifted, natural ball striker who will add extra batting depth to the group which has had a lot of success in T20 cricket in recent times.

"We expect him to play a similar role to that he has been playing in the past few years."

David started his career with the Perth Scorchers but it wasn't until he moved to the Hobart Hurricanes for BBL|10 that he began to make a name for himself, impressing on Hobart debut with a 33-ball 58 against reigning champions Sydney Sixers.

Mitch Marsh, player of the final in last year's T20 World Cup, retains his place despite returning to Perth on Tuesday with ankle soreness following Australia's win over Zimbabwe in the first Dettol ODI.

Australia's T20 World Cup begins on October 22 in Sydney with a trans-Tasman clash against New Zealand.

Australia’s T20 fixtures prior to the World Cup:

September 20 vs. India (Mohali)

September 23 vs. India (Nagpur)

September 25 vs. India (Hyderabad)

October 5 vs. West Indies (Gold Coast)

October 7 vs. West Indies (Brisbane)

October 9 vs. England (Perth)

October 12 vs. England (Canberra)

October 14 vs. England (Canberra)

Men's T20 World Cup 2022

First round

Group A: Sri Lanka, Namibia, UAE, Netherlands

Group B: West Indies, Scotland, Ireland, Zimbabwe

Super 12 stage

Group 1: Australia, Afghanistan, England, New Zealand, A1, B2

Group 2: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, South Africa, B1, A2

Australia's T20 World Cup 2022 fixtures

Oct 22: v New Zealand, SCG, 6pm AEDT

Oct 25: v 1A, Optus Stadium, 10pm AEDT

Oct 28: v England, MCG, 7pm AEDT

Oct 31: v 2B, Gabba, 7pm AEDT

Nov 4: v Afghanistan, Adelaide Oval, 7pm AEDT

Click here for a full 2022 T20 World Cup fixture

Semi-finals

Nov 9: SCG, 7pm AEDT

Nov 10: Adelaide Oval, 7pm AEDT

Final

Nov 13: MCG, 7pm AEDT

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/tim...rs-maxwell-warner-smith-wade-zampa/2022-09-01
 
Thanks to the PSL and LQ he well and truly came into the limelight. Throughly deserves his selection. Monster hitter!
 
That's a good decision. Tim David deserves it.He actually even deserves to be called in ODI's.

Australia willprobably play the same XI that won the world cup with David taking Stoinis place at 6. The only weak link being Finch. He is in desastrous form.
 
Mobashir said:
That's a good decision. Tim David deserves it.He actually even deserves to be called in ODI's.

Australia willprobably play the same XI that won the world cup with David taking Stoinis place at 6. The only weak link being Finch. He is in desastrous form.
Click to expand...

I think Smith might be dropped. Stoinis can give an extra bowling option and bat at any position.

Warner, Finch, M Marsh, Maxwell, Stoinis, David, Wade.
 
Australia's white-ball captain Aaron Finch says footwork patterns have been his demise amid a recent form slump, but he's been backed to turn it around by the chair of selectors George Bailey.

Finch has played 10 ODIs in 2022 and scored 159 runs at an average of only 15.9, while his strike-rate (73.95) is also the lowest it's ever been during his career.

Finch will lead Australia's T20 squad in defence of their World Cup on home soil later this year before the ODI equivalent is played in India in 2023.

"Finchy's record over his entire career is a pretty incredible one," Bailey told reporters in Townsville on Thursday.

"He's the leader of the team and I think you'd be a very brave person to write him off.

"Very excited for him to lead his team in a home World Cup which is pretty special."

In their opening matches of the Dettol ODI Series in Townsville, Finch registered 16 runs across two innings against Zimbabwe.

The 35-year-old says front-foot patterns to begin his time at the crease has hindered his batting.

"When I get a bit heavy there it starts to affect the rest of my game," Finch noted.

"I feel as though that's coming along really well. The rewards will be there very soon, just hasn't happened just yet.

"I know that I've got the full support of the players and the coaching and selection staff so I'm working hard on my game. It just hasn't quite flowed yet.

"It just comes down to giving yourself a bit of time and hopefully getting a big one shortly."

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/aar...-bailey-support-zimbabwe-world-cup/2022-09-01
 
Ab Fan said:
I think Smith might be dropped. Stoinis can give an extra bowling option and bat at any position.

Warner, Finch, M Marsh, Maxwell, Stoinis, David, Wade.
Click to expand...
Even tough Smith failed in the last T20 world cup I will never drop Smith from a world cup XI.
 
Powerful squad this.

Surely the favourites to retain the trophy.
 
Warner
Finch
Marsh/Smith
Maxwell
David
Stoinis
Wade

Khuda ka Khauf karo! This is a frightening line up
 
David is not starting mitch marsh plays while Smith retains his place
 
Xoib said:
David is not starting mitch marsh plays while Smith retains his place
Click to expand...

This isn’t Mumbai Indians where a played of TD’s caliber will be disrespected

Tim David is the Zlatan Ibrahimovic of T20 cricket. He plays every game no matter what
 
Remember him ripping up the PSL. Fully deserved imo.
 
Warner
Finch
Smith
Maxwell
David
Stoinis
Wade
Ashton Agar
Starc
Cummings
Hazlewood
 
Turning on the power now, good to see a PSL product doing well.
 
He's going to be lethal at the T20 World Cup.

Adds another dimension to the Aussie batting unit.
 
Its a shame he couldnt some how play for pakistan, just the sort of player we need in our T20 middle order.

He will be a match winner for the Aussies.
 
Australian cricket legends Adam Gilchrist and Mark Waugh believe Tim David must feature for the Aussies at the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup and expect a pair of veterans the most likely to make way for the boom all-rounder.

While David only managed scores of 18 and two from the opening two matches of the three-match T20I series against India, the 26-year-old showed his class with a blistering half-century in the final game of that series in Hyderabad on Sunday.

David's first taste of international cricket for the reigning T20 World Cup champions comes on the back of a successful sustained period of T20 cricket in domestic leagues around the world and both Gilchrist and Waugh have been suitably impressed.

IPL connection has Jayawardena keeping close eye on Tim David
The Australian greats were recently asked to name their best Australia XI for the upcoming T20 tournament and the pair agreed that David has already done enough to feature.

"Tim David should have a place in that XI," Fox Cricket commentator Gilchrist said.

"His power and the way he has taken it on...and seeing what we have seen from him over the last 18 months all around the world, it is really in all different conditions and they (opposition teams) will fear him coming in.

"It is a role that Australia have never really tried to fill, having someone who knows they are only going to get 15 or 20 balls (to make an impact)."

Waugh echoed Gilchrist's sentiments, although the former champion right-hander said much can change between now and the start of the tournament in mid-October.

"I have got Tim David in the XI at this stage," Waugh noted.

"That could change with form, but that looks a pretty good side to me."

But the Australian pair couldn't agree on which player should make way for David, with Waugh leaving experienced batter Steve Smith out of his best side and Gilchrist believing the pressure was on Marcus Stoinis to hold on to his spot.

Smith only reached double figures once from three hits against India, while Stoinis skipped the tour and remained home in Australia to rest a side injury he picked up against New Zealand at the start of the month.

The burly all-rounder did manage 80 runs and was only dismissed once at the last T20 World Cup, importantly saving the day for the Aussies alongside fellow veteran Matthew Wade in the cut-throat semi-final against Pakistan when the duo combined for an 81-run partnership that dragged their team over the line in thrilling circumstances.

But Gilchrist is unsure on whether the talented 33-year-old is a walk-up start for Australia since the recent emergence of David.

"Marcus Stoinis seems to be the man under pressure at the moment," Gilchrist said.

"But I think Tim David should have a place in that XI.

"Unfortunately that best XI is going to have 12 players in it and I don’t know who I am going to leave out."

Adam Gilchrist's best Australia XI:

1. Aaron Finch
2. David Warner
3. Mitch Marsh
4. Steve Smith
5. Glenn Maxwell
6. Matthew Wade
7. Tim David
8. Pat Cummins
9. Mitchell Starc
10. Adam Zampa
11. Josh Hazlewood

Mark Waugh's best Australia XI:

1. Aaron Finch
2. David Warner
3. Mitch Marsh
4. Glenn Maxwell
5. Marcus Stoinis
6. Tim David
7. Matthew Wade
8. Pat Cummins
9. Mitchell Starc
10. Adam Zampa
11. Josh Hazlewood

ICC
 
In limited overs, both old power houses Eng,Aus are building strong squads for others to catch up.

7 match T20 series between aus and eng would be fantastic in current form
 
shamaan said:
Warner
Finch
Smith
Maxwell
David
Stoinis
Wade
Ashton Agar
Starc
Cummings
Hazlewood
Click to expand...

They have an abundance of power hitting riches. Surely they must try to fit in the uber brute Cam Green in somewhere.
 
This is a beast squad in home conditions. Teams with quality bowling will only be able to challenge them somewhat. For opponents the best chance is if some batsmen are running a bad form.
 
Kroll said:
They have an abundance of power hitting riches. Surely they must try to fit in the uber brute Cam Green in somewhere.
Click to expand...

Finch could do the right thing and drop himself of Green.

I wouldn’t rule it out. These Aussies/English players know what is best for their team and not what is best for themselves
 
Hazlewood expects Australia conditions to favour bowlers at the T20 World Cup

ustralia quick Josh Hazlewood believes that the conditions in his home country could give bowlers some respite during the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022.

Australia will host the Men's T20 World Cup for the first time and Hazlewood thinks that the conditions and the size of the grounds could favour bowlers in a format that is usually merciless for them.

"It's probably a little bit better for the bowlers in a lot of regards," Hazlewood said about the conditions in Australia. "The outfields are bigger, the wickets have a bit more pace, [you can] use those boundaries to your advantage, depending where you are playing on the squad sometimes there are short and long boundaries."

Australia, who are the hosts and defending champions, haven't been at their best in the death overs of late, but Hazlewood believes the conditions could come into play there to favour the Aussies. He outlined the recent experience in India as a good one for his team ahead of the tournament.

"It was a great test to see where we're at. A number of guys got to bowl the end against probably the best hitters in the game on the fattest wickets and smallest boundaries," he said.

"There's always stuff to work on – what fields you want at certain times, what balls you're bowling, how you're sequencing it. But there's no better practice than that and we will be better off for the run."

Australia play five more T20Is at home ahead of the tournament – a two-match series against West Indies and a further three games against England. Speaking about the competition in a tournament like this, Hazlewood said that the competition would be "cut-throat".

"It's very cut-throat and it probably adds to the excitement from ball one that it's game on and there's no warm ups. There's probably an extra level intensity for the tournament."

ICC
 
Shane Watson wants Australia to stay loyal with T20 World Cup selection

Two-time ICC World Cup-winner Shane Watson is adamant Australia must stick with Aaron Finch as their captain for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup and believes young all-rounder Cameron Green should only feature at the tournament if an injury occurs to a key player.

Watson is renowned as one of Australia's best white-ball players of all time and the 41-year-old famously helped his country to success at the 2007 ICC World Cup in the West Indies and then again eight years later on home soil.

The Australian star was led by some legendary captains during his illustrious international career, with fellow greats Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke in charge of those two World Cup triumphs and also playing a key role in the overall success of the team.

Similarly, Watson has declared Finch's role in the current side as being just as important and says the out of form opener must be persisted with, despite a recent glut of low scores.

Finch has managed just two T20I innings of greater than 50 since last year's ICC T20 World Cup and recently stepped down from his position as ODI captain and retired from the format in order to concentrate on the upcoming T20 tournament.

But Watson believes Finch's value to the team extends way beyond his runs at the top of the order and he thinks the veteran right-hander must remain in Australia’s first choice XI.

"Finch is such an incredibly important part of this Australian team being the captain," Watson told host Sanjana Ganesan on the latest episode of The ICC Review.

"He has been given the full support of the selectors and coach as well. So for me, everyone’s got their fingers crossed that it’s all able to click for him during this T20 World Cup because, firstly, it is such an important role that he plays in the Powerplay opening the batting and, secondly, as a leader, as the captain making decisions under pressure.

"It’s very important that there is no innuendo or pressure around him in terms of his position in the team … from an Australian point of view, I’ve got my fingers crossed that he will be fit and firing."

Teams have up until October 9 to tinker with their final squads for the upcoming tournament and Australia take on the West Indies in a two-match series in Queensland prior to that final cut-off date.

Finch will get the opportunity to find some form during those two matches, while Cameron Green may also get another opportunity to show his wares at the top of the order, after he was included in Australia's 16-player squad to face the Caribbean side.

Watson is a huge fan of Green and has admired the emerging all-rounder for some time, but believes the 23-year-old should only feature at the T20 World Cup if injury strikes a key player prior to or during the event.

"The only time I think he should be coming into the squad is if someone gets injured or they don’t recover from their injury,” Watson noted.

"Marcus Stoinis, if he doesn’t recover fully from his injury or Mitchell Marsh for example, if they don’t recover from their niggles that they’ve had in the lead-up to this T20 World Cup, then absolutely (Green is) the first one picked."

Watson thinks the players that did such a good job in delivering Australia their first T20 World Cup title in Dubai last year deserve the chance to defend the trophy they won on home soil.

"The way the squad performed so well in the last T20 World Cup, there’s no weak links," he said.

"You have to give the players who were so dominant in the last T20 World Cup the first opportunity to be able to play in this T20 World Cup at home.

"It’s unfortunate from Cam Green’s perspective because he is certainly good enough to be given a chance to play in that Australian team, but I’d definitely give the players who did a great job in the last T20 World Cup the first opportunity and the opportunity to play this World Cup at home, because there’s no weak links in that Aussie team."

ICC
 
Ab Fan said:
Australia becomes a monster T20 team now.
Click to expand...

Only a miracle can make them loose.

Having said that the Australian side of 1992 was also hot favourite. Pressure of playing at home can sometimes make you do silly things.
 
Australian opener David Warner believes the battle for spots in the Australian middle order will only further heat up after Tim David's impressive performances since his debut.

David has showcased his power and hitting ability in full flight since making his debut during Australia's tour of India last month. He impressed with his finishing ability and continued to do the same in the second T20I against West Indies in Brisbane, hitting a 20-ball 42. David's knock helped Australia post a competitive score helping them seal a 2-0 series win.

The competition for the middle order spots in the Australian side is heating up, with the hosts yet to finalise their XI ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell are the designated finishers in the side but David has certainly made a big impression. Other middle order batters in the squad include Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith, while skipper Aaron Finch also dropped down the order from his usual opening slot during the series against West Indies.

The meteoric rise of Australian maverick Tim David
Opener David Warner believes that with such fierce competition in the ranks and David's form, making a final call will be a massive challenge for the selectors.

Speaking to the media after the match, Warner said, "Each individual has their roles - we've got Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell who are our finishers - (so) where does he fit in the line-up and what's his role? Coming out and playing that role there when it was a hard wicket to start on really opens our eyes to 'how do we utilise that?"

"But even what he did for Mumbai (Indians, in the IPL), he got a couple of thirties or forties off eight or nine balls - it's incredible. You don't get these types of players every day. It's going to be good for us moving forward and hopefully, there's a spot there as well because the selectors have got a headache now."

Warner also believes that David's performances are a massive boost for the defending champions as they aim to clinch back-to-back T20 World Cup titles.

"Now he's in our team and our set-up, it's a godsend. He's an incredible player and he's got some serious power. It boosts our middle order. With his height as well, and strength, it suits us that's for sure."

Australia will play a three-match series against England next and a warm-up fixture against India before opening their World Cup campaign against New Zealand on October 22 in Sydney.


ICC
 
Australia captain Aaron Finch has provided an update on the fitness of a host of key players as the reigning champions resisted the urge to make any changes to their squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Many question marks surrounded the make-up of Australia's final squad as they attempt to retain the T20 World Cup crown on home soil that they won in Dubai last year.

The upsurge in form of youngster Cameron Green, ongoing fitness concerns surrounding key all-rounders Mitch Marsh and Marcus Stoinis and a recent injury to veteran opener David Warner have all given selectors plenty to ponder, but the Aussies will enter the tournament - barring any future injury - with the same 15 players they announced at the start of August.

It means Green will have to wait at least another two years to feature at his first T20 World Cup, while Finch said he expects to have all his players fit and ready to go for their tournament opener against New Zealand in Sydney on October 22.

David Warner

Warner threw a late spanner in the works when he landed awkwardly while fielding during the second T20I between Australia and England in Canberra and a subsequent neck injury saw him sit out the third and final match of that series in the nation's capital two days later.

Finch thinks Warner will be fit for that clash against the Kiwis at the SCG, but said the experienced left-hander may sit out Australia’s final warm-up game against India in Brisbane on Monday.

"I think he (Warner) will definitely be right for New Zealand, but I am not sure about the warm-up game against India," Finch said at a press conference in Melbourne on Saturday.

"He was OK the day after he hit his head and then the following day his neck got really sore and stiff.”

Finch said Warner had been in good spirits, despite the injury concern.

"He probably should have been in a neck brace with the way he was carrying on about it the other day, so we will wait and see what he is like,” Finch joked.

"If he is fit he will play, but if he is still a little bit sore we will err on the side of caution.

"When you have got experienced players who know what they need to do to be ready for a tournament you are not too concerned whether they play that game or not.”

Mitch Marsh

Marsh was an integral part of Australia's successful T20 World Cup campaign last year, but has been battling an ongoing ankle complaint and hasn't bowled in a T20I match since June.

Finch said Marsh had been bowling well in the nets and he expects the talented 30-year-old to be able to contribute with the ball during the T20 World Cup.

"Mitch has been building up his bowling, he just hasn’t been at the intensity we need to go into a game that is required," Finch said.

Marcus Stoinis

Stoinis was another one of Australia's heroes at last year's event, but he too has been battling injury since he picked up a side issue against New Zealand in early September.

The 33-year-old featured in all three of Australia's recent matches against England, with Finch revealing the right-armer didn't bowl in the final game of the series due to the quick turnaround in games.

"The reason he wasn’t available to bowl yesterday was prior injury history," Finch said.

"Every time he has tried to come back and bowl in back-to-back games coming off this same injury he has struggled and got a niggle on the back of it.

"So we went with the conservative route there."

Finch said he does not expect it to be an issue during the T20 World Cup and Stoinis should be available with the ball during all five of Australia's Super 12 matches.

ICC
 
AUSTRALIA AIMING TO BECOME FIRST TEAM TO RETAIN MEN'S T20 WORLD CUP


This time a year ago, few were tipping Australia to win their first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Unfamiliar and unfavourable conditions in UAE and Oman didn’t augur well for a nation whose fortunes in the shortest form have waxed and waned.

But Aaron Finch’s men delivered compelling cricket when it mattered and with the most settled squad in the tournament, will now defend their title on home soil.

2022 prospects

Australia have made only one change to the squad that emerged victorious in 2021 and will aim to become the first team to retain the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

That brings Tim David into the fray, a burly Singapore-born batter who hit 16 of the 86 balls he faced in the IPL in 2022 for six.

Finch has largely used him at six in the early days of his T20 international career, marking a subtle shift in orthodoxy that has seen power hitters traditionally placed high in the order.

There is no place for all-rounder Cameron Green, a selection call that has raised eyebrows, with Australia placing faith in some of the world’s greatest multi-format players.

They rightly sit among the favourites to win the whole thing with conditions suiting them down to the ground and home crowds squarely behind them.

T20 World Cup history

Australia didn’t start well at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. As reigning Men’s Cricket World Cup champions, their first game ended in five-wicket defeat to Zimbabwe.

They recovered to make the semi-finals and their turbulent relationship with T20 continued with a group-stage exit in 2009.

Australia were well beaten by rivals England in the 2010 final and reached the semi-finals in 2012, always in contention but never quite managing to produce the complete knockout performance.

It looked like they had been left behind by the rest of the world when they failed to navigate the Super 10 in both 2014 and 2016 but a rousing run to the final last year wiped the slate clean.

Best batters

Why not start with David Warner, whose three half-centuries and 289 runs were pivotal to the 2021 triumph.

This month Warner smacked 75 against West Indies and 73 against England to suggest he is rounding into form once again.

The batting order is finely balanced between power and poise, with skipper Finch offering a steady hand on the tiller and Matthew Wade one of the finest finishers in the game.

They will hope to see an upturn in fortunes for Glenn Maxwell and that David comes off on major event debut.

Best bowlers

Australia’s gun pace attack have reinvented themselves in the T20 format with the outstanding Pat Cummins capable of taking the ball in any given situation.

Josh Hazelwood and Mitchell Starc combine to form a peerless battery that will make merry on fast, bouncy surfaces.

Concerns remain over the spin bowling department and an over-reliance on Adam Zampa. Finch’s plans will be tested if teams manage to hit the leg-spinner out of the attack.
 
A freak injury while playing golf has ruled Australia’s backup wicketkeeper Josh Inglis out of cricket’s Twenty20 World Cup.

Inglis cut his right hand when the shaft of his club — a six iron — snapped as he swung at the ball during a social round at a Sydney course on Wednesday.

“An incredibly freak accident,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald told the SEN radio network Thursday, two days before Australia opens its title defense against New Zealand. “As he made contact with the ground, the shaft snapped around the grip area and cut into (the) palm of his right hand.”

Cricket Australia is yet to confirm a replacement. Alex Carey could potentially join the squad as a like-for-like replacement as a backup wicketkeeper and batter for Matthew Wade, although the Australians could opt for allrounder Cameron Green and risk going without a spare specialist gloveman.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...lis-out-of-t20-world-cup-101666237795795.html
 
Australia have been forced to re-shuffle their squad just days out from their first match at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 following news that back-up wicketkeeper Josh Inglis is out of the tournament through injury.
Inglis hurt his hand while playing golf in Sydney on Wednesday and the reigning T20 World Cup champions have decided to take no risks with the 27-year-old and have removed him from their 15-player squad.

The loss of Inglis opens the door for Cameron Green to continue his meteoric recent rise in international cricket, with the 23-year-old joining the squad after impressing at the top of the order during Australia's T20I series in India last month.

Green hit two half-centuries for Australia when filling in for veteran opener David Warner at the top of the order and the tournament hosts may look to utilise the right-hander in a similar role at the T20 World Cup should the opportunity arise.

While Inglis is a capable batter, his primary role in the Australia squad was as a back-up wicketkeeper to Matthew Wade and he may not have featured during the tournament unless Wade picked up an injury.

Warner has kept wickets previously for Australia at the Test level, with the 35-year-old filling in admirably for regular keeper Brad Haddin during a Test match against Pakistan in 2014.

Australia’s first match at the T20 World Cup is against trans-Tasman rival New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday night.

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.

ICC
 
The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 has approved Cameron Green as a replacement for Josh Inglis in the Australia squad.

Green who has played seven T20Is, was named as a replacement after Inglis was ruled out due to a right hand injury which has required surgery.

The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad.

The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 consists of Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager - Cricket (Chair); Chris Tetley, ICC Head of Events; Peter Roach, Cricket Australia, Shane Doyle, Men’s T20 World Cup Local Organising Committee; Shaun Pollock (Independent) and Ian Bishop (Independent).
 
Arguably strengthens our squad. Very vulnerable to a wk injury now though.
 
BRETT LEE: HOW THE CHAMPS ARE SHAPING UP ON HOME SOIL

If ever you were wondering how much to read into form in the build-up to a major tournament like the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, then last year’s competition was instructive – very little.

Turn the clock back 12 months and Australia looked like they were heading into a World Cup bereft of form and struggling to find answers.

Flying under the radar throughout, Aaron Finch and his men won the whole thing but you can be sure they won’t be able to claim underdog status this time around. There are a number of teams who can justifiably argue that they are the most likely side to lift the trophy, and Australia are certainly one of them.

The series defeat to England will have hurt, they always do, but from a batting perspective, there is not too much to worry about. Glenn Maxwell could do with some runs, but he showed in the UAE that he is the man for the big occasion when he saved his best performance for the final.

The fact that Tim David is the new face in the team is an indication of the stability of the defending champions, and a big reason why I think they could do it again and go back-to-back.

If they are going to do that, the bowlers will probably need to pick it up after the big guns struggled in Canberra, but write off Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood at your peril. Those guys have done it time and again on the big stage, and will thrive in the Aussie conditions.

I’ve been really impressed by Marcus Stoinis over the last 12 months. He impressed when called upon in the last World Cup, but only bowled in one game and batted in four of the seven. This time around, there is a chance that we might see more of him with both bat and ball and his form has been great.

Of course, if David Warner can produce the sort of fireworks we saw at the top of the order in the UAE, then maybe those all-rounders will not be needed that much after all.

You never need any motivation going into a World Cup and the fact it is a rematch of the last final will only serve to sharpen the minds.

The Kiwis will be desperate for revenge and when you consider that England are also in that group for the Super 12, a slow start would be a disaster.

The last thing you want is to find yourself playing catch-up after the opening game. We saw that happen to India last time, and I had my own experience of it back in 2009. Then it was Chris Gayle and the West Indies who put us behind the eight ball, an outing at the Oval I’d rather forget!

So the key will be to hit the ground running in that opener and then to play with a bit more freedom thereafter.

This will be the first time the teams have met in this format since the Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 final but Australia did get the better of New Zealand in a one-day series earlier this year.

It would obviously be a little hypocritical to write off any Australian struggles in the build-up but try to place huge importance on a series win in a different format. Still, a couple of those games involved coming from pretty dire positions to take the win, and psychologically that can only help.

Between their experience and the talent with both bat and ball, there is no reason why Australia should not be right in the mix at the business end of the tournament.

And considering this is the first time the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is being played in Australia, expect it to be an amazing event with the crowds cheering on Aaron Finch and the guys – starting with an electric atmosphere at the SCG

ICC
 
Commentator and former New Zealand international Simon Doull has insisted on Kane Richardson's selection in the Australian T20 World Cup team, breaking up the bowling attack that struggled to make inroads in match one of the Super 12 stage in Sydney.

Australia conceded an even 200 with the ball at the SCG on Saturday, taking just three wickets in a New Zealand onslaught.

Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins both went wicketless in the encounter and Doull believes the latter should make way for Kane Richardson in the playing XI.

"I think Australia would be concerned, I'd be concerned with some of the parts of the bowling," Doull told Zainab Abbas on the Digital Daily in the aftermath of Australia's loss.

"I said the other night in the warm-up match, I feel personally that Pat Cummins shouldn't be playing in this T20 side.

"I think Kane Richardson should be playing. I feel that he offers them a few variations that they just don't have. It's same-same. It's pace on, pace on, pace on. Starc, (Josh) Hazlewood, Cummins - they don't have a really good change-up bowler.

"We saw from Tim Southee tonight (Saturday) with some of those change-ups that that certainly played a part from New Zealand's point of view. So I feel that Richardson should be in the side (though) it's a big call though to drop."

Richardson was a squad member in Australia's victorious campaign last year, though did not feature in the playing XI at any stage in the UAE. The side instead stuck to their guns on the bowling side, with Ashton Agar only coming in for one match at the expense of Mitchell Marsh.

Australia's heavy loss puts them in a hole when factoring net run rate, and Doull believes the result is a double defeat of sorts, knowing the side are now susceptible to go down on a tie-breaker should they be level on points with other teams in the semi-final race.

"That's a drubbing, that is a proper win and it really hurts Australia's net run rate for the future in the tournament, and it just helps New Zealand enormously," he said.

"I gave them about an 80/20 chance of winning, or a 20 percent chance basically, but they surprised me."

All the news from New Zealand's victory
In spite of the negatives, Doull lauded the work of the New Zealand side, who took the game away from the hosts inside their batting Powerplay.

Domestic team-mates Devon Conway and Finn Allen put on 56 for the first wicket in just 4.1 overs, with Allen making 42 off just 16 balls.

"I think sometimes we look too much at poor performances and don't pay enough credit to the opposition," Doull said.

"I think Finn Allen took it away from them in that early stanza he stood up, and the one thing about Finn Allen, he doesn't have any of that hangover from last year because he wasn't there, he didn't bat in that game."

Conway by contrast played his part to perfection, finishing with 92 at a strike rate of 158.62, though was facilitated by the aggressiveness of his partner as they took the match by the scruff of the neck.

"The way Devon plays and the way that Kane Williamson plays is allowed in that case because of Finn Allen as well," Doull said.

"He's (Conway) a typical sort of opening batter that just has an array of shots that allows him to be good enough in the T20 format, and that cover drive is as pure as most in the world at the moment."

"He anchored that innings beautifully."

ICC
 
It is nature of the tournament. One bad day and bye bye.

Really hard for Aus to come back after run rate hit. Eng game now critical
 
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh said Monday that defending champions Australia were confident of bouncing back from their opening defeat at the T20 World Cup declaring: "Our best is the best in the world". The hosts suffered a crushing loss by 89 runs to New Zealand in the tournament opener on Saturday and face Sri Lanka, who won their first match of the Super 12, in Perth on Tuesday. Marsh said Australia would keep faith with the same eleven to turn their fortunes around. "I think that we've got a lot of confidence in our group that once we get on a roll we're going to be very hard to stop," Marsh told reporters.

"Obviously we didn't start well the other night, but we've got great self-belief.

"We know our best is the best in the world. So hopefully, we can turn it around against Sri Lanka.

"(It's) the nature of the tournament. You lose one game, your back is up against the wall. Hopefully we play well, get past that. Then we move on to England."

The Perth-born Marsh said conditions on his home ground would give Australia an edge over Sri Lanka, who are largely dependent on their spin attack.

"We know these conditions very well. And the stadium should suit us more than them," said Marsh.

Marsh backed the team's quick bowlers Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, who were expensive against New Zealand, to come good at Perth.

"We'll certainly have an aggressive approach. I think certainly after the other night we'll see a big response from them," Marsh predicted.

Sri Lankan spinners Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga played a key part in the team's opening nine-wicket cruise past Ireland on Sunday.

The pair troubled the Australians when they toured Sri Lanka in June but conditions are likely to be different in Australia.

"Hopefully spin doesn't play a huge factor in Perth and we can look to really attack them," said Marsh.

"They're two key bowlers and if we can get on top of them then I think we'll be ahead of the game."

Theekshana said Sri Lanka are oozing confidence after their thumping win over Ireland but were wary of the wounded hosts.

"They lost to New Zealand and we won, so we have got the confidence more than the Australian team," Theekshana, who returned impressive figures of 2-19 on Sunday, told reporters.

"Always nice to win a game and our hope is always to go for the four teams, so we have to beat them.

"They have very good fast bowlers and spinners also. They are last year's champions, so they have to bounce back if they want to be in the tournament."

NDTV
 
I am not worried about who is worthy or not.I want to see hard fought matches,not one sided matches.In this format the better teams can lose to poorer teams.Any team can beat any other team on the day.I don’t take this format seriously but must admit it can very entertaining.
 
Steve Smith option ruled out for Australia

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...h/news-story/6262430877e2e7d74b3270380e305585

Going “hitter-heavy” deep in the batting order remains the best way forward for Australia despite a wobbly opening to its T20 World Cup defence and growing calls for Steve Smith to find his way into the team.

All-rounder Mitch Marsh dismissed any suggestion confidence among the reigning champions had been rattled in last Saturday’s thrashing by New Zealand that he conceded had put Australia’s “backs against the wall”.

Critics have come hard at the Australians for not picking Smith, given his peers as the world’s best batters, India’s Virat Kohli and New Zealand star Kane Williamson, are key men in their respective line-ups.

The value of having matchwinning class was evident in Melbourne on Sunday night when Kohli’s brilliance guided his team to what seemed an improbable victory over Pakistan.

Marsh conceded Smith would be a “walk-up start” in most teams, but backed the Australian XI without him to take down Sri Lanka in Perth on Tuesday night and “get our World Cup going”.

“If you look down at our team, we have a pretty incredible batting line-up for a T20 side,” Marsh said.

“With Tim David coming into the side we’ve gone hitter-heavy, which will become really important if we can get off to a good start on the Australian grounds.

“(Smith) has been fantastic, for someone who has literally done everything in the game, has so much experience and in any other side in the world would be a walk-up start.

“We’re early on in the tournament, things can change, but for now we have a set XI and one that I truly believe in.”

Marsh, who was the man of the match in last year’s World Cup final, was adamant that once Australia got on a roll they’d be “hard to stop”.

“I think that we have a lot of confidence that once we get on a roll we’re going to be very hard to stop,” he said.

“We had so much cricket in the lead-up to the game, we had guys in and out, it was all about building to the World Cup.

“We didn’t start well but we have great self-belief. We know our best is the best in the world.”

Marsh said he was ready to rejoin Australia’s bowling battery, which was put to the sword by the Kiwis.

Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in particular gave up 87 runs from their four overs, with all five bowlers used going for nine runs an over or more.

But returning to Perth, with expectations for a fast and bouncy wicket, Marsh said the Aussie quicks could have the perfect platform to shock the Sri Lankans.

“We’ll have an aggressive approach. The big three fast bowlers, when they get going, they are hard to stop, and after the other night, we’ll see a big response from them,” Marsh said.

“All the best players in the world bounce back, but that was only a minor setback.

“All the best fast bowlers in the world love bowling here, fast bouncy wicket, hopefully they will be fired up and ready to go.”
 
This WC is going to be a lot closer than previous editions.

Pak, India, Aus, England, NZ, SL, SA all are flawed sides. We’ve seen Australia lose to NZ and Pak almost beat India who is a top 3 favorite.

Anyone can do this. Depends on who peaks at the right time.
 
T20 World Cup 2022: Why Steve Smith can’t be compared to Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli may have destroyed Pakistan but hidden in the rubble lay many lessons for a creaky Australian team trying to defend their World Cup.

Australia was still reeling in dismay over its woeful innings of 111 against New Zealand on Saturday when Kohli stepped out at the MCG against Pakistan for the greatest white ball innings of his career, 82 not out off 53 balls.

Everything Australia lacked on Saturday Kohli produced 24 hours later and while the pressure on the Australian batsmen was greater due the fact they were chasing 41 more for victory than India there was much to learn from the master’s finest work.

First came the way he patiently slipped into the fight, absorbing some high class bowling.

No shot he played in his first 23 balls produced more than two runs as he lobbed along in first gear.

Kohli paced himself beautifully. It was a reminder to Australia’s batsmen, as they resume their Cup campaign against Sri Lanka in Perth on Tuesday, to use their gears. These high pressure games are not all fire and brimstone.

After Kohli’s innings there were calls to recall Steve Smith because like Kohli, he has the class and skills to adjust to the tempo required and isn’t simply consumed with hitting a ball from Perth to Fremantle.

It sounds good in theory except Smith in white ball cricket is not Kohli. Smith has four gears. Kohli has five or six.

If you want to argue that Smith should return to the Australian team you can compare his measured style to Kane Williamson – but Kohli is next level.

Then there was the way Kohli proved you don’t have to throw away the text book and become the King of Funk to score runs at a furious pace.

Even when the run chase was more than two runs a ball Kohli never lost his “shape.’

His most vicious work is often surprisingly orthodox.

His footwork is electric but he is not a big one for ramp shots or switch hits or extravagant movements of the Glenn Maxwell variety.

When India needed 48 of 18 balls Kohli whittled down the target with some power packed pull shots and thumps down the ground where his head stayed still and his balance was superb.

Another lesson to Australia was the importance of swing bowling in this tournament. Swing may be one of cricket’s most old-fashioned skills but it felt as modern as a microchip over the weekend.

New Zealand’s bowlers are fine exponents of it and Indian duo Bhuveneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh had the ball hooping around so well Pakistan could barely lay bat on ball in the opening overs.

It was a reminder to Australian captain Aaron Finch of the great challenge that awaits him if Australia and India meet in the finals but that is a still a long way off for an Australian team who may find that defending their title is harder than winning it in the first place.

UNFORGETTABLE’ KOHLI IGNITES WORLD CUP

It took just one night of pure passion to prove why this is the greatest cricket show on earth – and its greatest tragedy.

Virat Kohli delivered India a stunning win over Pakistan with one of the greatest innings of his career in one of the most memorable games of this or any era.

Kohli started in first gear, poking along at less than a run a ball pace like your family car stuck in traffic.

Then he hit the open road for a while with some scattered boundaries before pulling back into the left lane for a few overs as the run rate soared beyond two a ball which four overs left.

And the, he took us back in time by opening the garage door and wheeling out the Ferrari and roaring off to help snatch a dam-busting 31 off the last 12 and 16 off the last over which he managed amid huge drama as Pakistan crumbled under pressure with India winning off the last ball.

It’s all cream now for the men in blue in this tournament – after just one game.

In many of their fans eyes, they have a pass mark for the tournament already by beating their loathed rivals in a match which engaged one fifth of the world’s population and was watched by one of the biggest television audiences in history.

When the two teams left the ground there was a feeling that the greatest match, moment, memory of the tournament may have already been delivered. It was that good. An instant classic. Unforgettable. The World Cup is officially ablaze.

In time the tournament winner’s name may be a head scratcher but India fans will never forget the night they took down Pakistan at the MCG. These matches sit in history like iconic Test matches.

Greg Chappell once said India versus Pakistan was the Ashes by a multiple of 100. If anything, he may he may have undersold it.

This fabulous contest only served to enhance the lingering sadness that these two magnificent rivals, entrenched in a long-running cold war which seems to get frostier by the decade, no longer meet in bilateral series.

In a dollar-driven cricket world filled with so many meaningless games, this was like a crown jewel being cut before our very eyes such was the passion and consequences of it.

If only it could happen more often. The game desperately needs more India-Pakistan games to remind the cricket world what these matches really mean.

In India on Sunday there were 80 million searches for the term “Melbourne weather.’’ Not Kohli. Not Rohit ... the weather.

Certainly the quiet, studied, serenity of the Ashes seemed a world away from the crazy-eyed intensity of this contest.

India and Pakistan were like two heavyweight boxers with blood dripping off them slugging it out in the 12th round simply refusing to lose.

First Pakistan stumbled badly against the swinging ball which wobbled early like a soap sud. They looked gone. Then they rose from the grave to the mediocrity of 8-159. Then India where eyebrow deep in quicksand at 4-31. Suddenly Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli started hitting sixes and fours.

The game seemed to have a new favourite every two overs. Every ball seemed an event.

The sellout figure of 90,293 was reached in less than half an hour of sales, raising the question of how many tickets would have been sold with unlimited restriction – 200,000 maybe? – and what on earth that figure would it be in say, Mumbai.

People came not simply from interstate but from both competing nations for three hours of entertainment.

Indian Ravi Ashwin, the Mankad specialist who is both controversial and contrary, ignited a social media storm when he appeared to claim an outfield catch for a ball which bounced just before he scooped it up. As the storm raged around him Ashwin looked unfazed. It’s not the first drama he’s weathered and won’t be the last.

The thought of this match not going ahead was too much to bear. In some ways it didn’t matter who won. It happened. That was all it had to do. The drama looked after itself.
 
With Australia’s backs to the wall after defeat in their opening T20 World Cup meeting with New Zealand, legends Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist have weighed in on what Aaron Finch’s men need to do to stay alive in their home campaign.

While the pair enjoyed glittering success across multiple World Cup campaigns, there were certainly tense moments where the Aussies dug deep to ensure their group basked in the glory atop the winner's dais.

The duo were both part of the winning 1999 Cricket World Cup campaign, where the Aussies had early struggles, losing to New Zealand and Pakistan in matches two and three of the campaign.

Not only did the Aussies need to triumph in their remaining group games, the side needed to win all their matches in the Super Six phase, having no points carried over from their stage campaign.

The team managed to win seven consecutive matches after the two defeats to steal the trophy at Lord’s, and Gilchrist, speaking on the Big Time Preview ahead of a now do-or-die clash for Australia against Sri Lanka, pinpoints the turning point his side had to turn things around.

“It’s not the ideal situation the Australians find themselves in, a lot to think about, a lot to ponder on that opening performance, and it’s win at all costs to stay alive," Gilchrist said.

“We had a very big open heart-to-heart meeting (in 1999), there’d been a bit of build up at that time, and it came to a head where we had to really identify a few issues, a few things off-field out within the team dynamic."

Gilchrist feels the side of 2022 now have their own situation to deal with and stresses the need to sit down and ensure there is nothing left unsaid that could benefit the team.

“Honesty: I guess that’s the key thing, making sure if there are any little off-field issues, of which there are a few now for the Australians, they’ve got a bit to identify and work out," he said.

"And maybe it’s not affecting them at all, but they just need to make sure they have clear heads as they lead into this next game.”

When asked how Australia will execute their plans on the field against Sri Lanka at Perth Stadium on Tuesday, Ponting feels the quick bowling artillery must make the most of the local conditions.

“I think it’s fair to say that the Sri Lankans probably can expect their fair share of shorter-pitched balls over there," Ponting noted.

“It’s a very lively wicket there, we know that, the bounce there is probably unlike everywhere else in the world. Maybe if you go across the road to the WACA where it’s been that way for 50 or 60 years."

Ponting went further to suggest that short-pitched bowling across T20 cricket could be better harnessed no matter the conditions, as a means to disrupt the flow of opposition batters satisfied to sit and wait for fuller deliveries.

"I actually think it's an underused ball full stop in T20 cricket. If you’ve got enough pace, use your one an over," Ponting added.

"It’s a wicket-taking delivery, if not, more often than not it’s a dot ball anyway and it’s a way to just get the batsman thinking about, not lobbing onto the front foot and thinking they can just smack you back down the ground.

“It’ll be a tactic I think for the Australians right through this tournament with (Mitchell) Starc, (Pat) Cummins, (Josh) Hazlewood, (Marus) Stoinis and even Marsh, and if (Cameron) Green plays, I reckon you’ll see all those guys use pretty much their quota of short balls right the way through.”

Ponting admits the Aussies won't have it all their way in the west though, with Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka slowly building into their campaign.

Despite an opening defeat to Namibia, Dasun Shanaka's side topped Group A on net run rate, and the skipper is one of three key men for a potential tournament-derailing Aussie upset.

“I think the two most dangerous players are (Bhanuka) Rajapaksa and Shanaka," Ponting declared.

“I saw Rajapaksa up close and personal in the IPL, and did some pretty amazing things there. He’s a dangerous striker of the ball.

"Dasun Shanaka has had his best six or eight months at the international level leading into this event, through the Asia Cup.

“And they’re both batting in those sort of five and six slots which I think are going to be really important in Australia, those finishing roles now in the T20 game are going to be crucial."

With the ball, MRF Tyres third-ranked T20I bowler and fifth-ranked all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga is a clear threat in the eyes of Ponting.

“He’s quickly becoming the leading spin bowlers in the world in the short form game and even though the wickets in Australia don’t spin much," Ponting said.

"The little bit of movement he gets either way, a little bit like Rashid Khan, I think he’ll be a handful for any opposition.”

ICC
 
Australia wicketkeeper Matthew Wade has tested positive for Covid-19 on the eve of the crucial World Cup match v England.
 
Oof.

We'd look really silly if we didn't have a second keeper in the squa... Oh crap...
 
On paper they have a gun team just like England. But their performances in the recent past has left much to be desired. They lost an odi against ZIM, lost the t20 series in India and almost got white washed in the t20 series against England. To top it up they were demolished by NZ in the opener. But having said that they came back strongly againstSL and cannot be written off especially when they are playing at home in a world cup.
 
They can still qualify for semi-final and win the trophy. But, they are not being as good as expected.

That loss against New Zealand was shocking.
 
Australia skipper Aaron Finch suffered an injury scare when he sustained a hamstring strain en route to his scintillating fifty that set up the defending champion's 42-run win over Ireland in the T20 World Cup, in Brisbane on Monday. Finch slammed a 44-ball 63 but looked to be struggling while running between the wickets in the later part of his sensational knock as Australia posted 179 for 5. The 35-year-old, who had suffered a hamstring injury in 2016 as well, left the field early during Ireland's chase, which ended at 137 all out in 18.1 overs.

"Really a hammy twinge I think, I will get a scan tomorrow, I have a history of them. It doesn't look bad at the moment but let's see how it goes after the scan," said Finch during the post-match presentation.
 
But it's the hamstring issue to Finch that is of most worry to Australia, with the 35-year-old set to have scans on Tuesday to reveal the extent of the injury.

"Little hammy twinge I think," Finch said after the win on Monday.

"I'll get a scan tomorrow. Unfortunately, I've had a history with them so we'll see how it goes.

"It doesn't feel too bad at the moment but generally overnight they can stiffen up.

"We'll get a scan and get the full results, but I am very hopeful (of playing against Afghanistan) but we'll know more (Tuesday)."

If Finch does fail in his bid to recover in time to take on Afghanistan then Australia have a few decent choices to include as his replacement.

Veteran batter Steve Smith hasn't been used so far this tournament, while young all-rounder Cameron Green is another option that could be utilised.
 
Starc versatility vital in Australia's T20 World Cup defence

Tearaway left-arm quick Mitchell Starc is happy to play whatever role he can to give Australia his best in their ICC Men's T20 World Cup defence.

Not taking the first over for just the fifth time across 58 T20Is, fans and pundits may have been scratching their heads at the change of tactic, only for the 32-year-old to deliver later in the Powerplay.

Starc came on as the fourth bowler in as many overs in Australia’s defence of 179, dismissing Curtis Campher and George Dockrell inside his first six balls, beating them with a mix of pace and swing to make a mess of the stumps on both occasions.

The double blow left Ireland in an irrecoverable position at 25/5, with a late fightback from wicket-keeper batter Lorcan Tucker (71* from 48 balls) not enough to steal what would have been a miraculous victory.

Starc would prefer the first crack at opposition line-ups, though insists he’s willing to do whatever it takes for Australia to press on in their title defence.

“It‘s obviously something new. Yeah, I generally obviously take the first over and see if it’s swinging,” he said after the victory.

“So, yeah, that seems to be my role at the moment, and I’ll just keep developing that and hopefully keep playing that role throughout the tournament.”

Australia are blessed with world-class bowling and a level of versatility across roles, with Starc’s team-mates Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood revered for their three-format skillsets.

For Starc, he sees the positives in bowling in tandem with spinners Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell, with the mix of pace providing headaches for opponents either at the backend of the Powerplay, or through the middle overs.

“Obviously we’ve got Josh and Pat who were fantastic across formats with the new ball as well," he said.

“I think that’s a positive that we’ve got plenty of options that it may not be my only role. It may not be Josh and Pat’s only role.

“We could change, as I said before, with different conditions, different opponents, whatever the match-ups may be."

Perhaps belying the talk surrounding the length of time the white-ball swings, Starc was able to generate prodigious movement in the air to beat Campher and Dockrell.

Despite this, the left-armer feels his plans may have to change to emulate the success, or even bring down his economy after being targeted by Tucker, conceding 43 runs in the three overs after his double-wicket maiden.

“I don’t think that the role changes in terms of trying to take wickets. It’s probably through a different sequencing of how the matchups are seen through the power play and through the middle,” he said.

“The lengths probably have to change, and it’s probably not going to swing outside those couple of overs. I still feel like the role is to take wickets, just at different times and through different partnerships with different match-ups, I guess.”

Australia take on Afghanistan in their next game, needing to win to continue their event comeback, with a defeat to New Zealand pushing backs to the wall.

The side are sweating on the fitness of skipper Aaron Finch, Tim David and Marcus Stoinis ahead of their next game, and they would likely still be on the wrong side of net run rate tiebreakers if England were to beat New Zealand on Thursday.

“For us, it’s just trying to win these games, first and foremost, because if you don’t win, it doesn’t matter, does it?” Starc reiterated.

“We brought that run rate back a bit, and we’ll see how we place in 24 hours (after England’s match with New Zealand.”

ICC
 
sweep_shot said:
They can still qualify for semi-final and win the trophy. But, they are not being as good as expected.

That loss against New Zealand was shocking.
Click to expand...


Any team can win on a given day. Australia /NZ/SA/England/India. But the thing is Australia/NZ/England they all cannot qualify. One of them is going home. We just have to wait and see if it is England or OZ.
 
Australia are sweating on the scan results for the three walking wounded from last night's T20 World Cup win over Ireland, with the immediate playing futures of skipper Aaron Finch, allrounder Marcus Stoinis and power-hitter Tim David to be known tomorrow.

All three spent stints off the field with hamstring soreness as the reigning champions closed out a 42-run win at the Gabba on Monday to keep alive their tournament finals aspirations, and underwent scans in Brisbane this morning.

The results of those investigations, and the impact they hold for the host nation's hopes of defending the T20 title they won in the UAE last year, are expected to be revealed as they gather for training in Adelaide tomorrow morning ahead of their final Super 12s match against Afghanistan on Friday.

Finch appeared the most badly inconvenienced while fielding in the early overs of Ireland's innings after top-scoring for Australia with 63 (off 44 balls), and despite describing the injury as a 'twinge" he conceded he has a history of hamstring issues.

Stoinis and David also spent significant time off the field on Monday evening, although it is unknown whether that came about due to the severity of their problems or out of an abundance of caution as teams enter the final fortnight of the tournament.

Steve Smith, who with all-rounder Cameron Green looms as a potential replacement in Australia's top-order should injury-related vacancies open up, said today he was unaware of the prognosis for the hampered trio but remained hopeful the scans revealed no serious damage.

"I haven't heard anything at this stage," Smith told reporters in Brisbane before the team flew to Adelaide.

"Fingers crossed the guys who are having their scans can get some good news and be okay."

Smith also revealed his stint as a substitute fielder for most of Australia's bowling innings last night left him feeling "tightness" in his hamstrings, and wondered if the Gabba surface was "maybe a bit sandy or a bit heavy underfoot".

However, he added he would be fine to play in Friday's vital Super 12s game at Adelaide Oval if required and noted he felt in good form even though he has been surplus to requirements in Australia's 15-man squad since the World Cup began.

"Like any sort of tournament, I'm always preparing to play," Smith said.

"I haven't had an opportunity so far, but I feel like I'm batting quite well in the nets so if that opportunity does arise, I'll look to take it with both hands.

"There's obviously a few different ways the team could play, and I'm sure they'll talk about in the strategy (meetings) and talk about match-ups and things like that.

"I'm open to batting anywhere.

"I've batted pretty much in every position – I don't think I've opened in T20 internationals, but I did it a couple of times in the IPL and did it pretty well.

"And I've batted down to six or seven, where I've done okay at the back-end on occasions as well.

"So I'm pretty open to whatever happens, we'll just see.

"Let's keep our fingers crossed for the guys getting scans."

Smith confirmed his absence from Australia's starting XI throughout the tournament to date was the result of strategic decisions made at selection, with an eye to in-game match ups and batters who were best suited to specific conditions.

But he cited the example of another former Test captain, India's Virat Kohli whose match-winning innings against Pakistan at the MCG arose from circumstances where opposition bowlers were on top after a clatter of early wickets and a salvage job was required before he was able to go for broke.

"Some of the wickets have done quite a bit, and you haven't seen those really big scores," Smith said of the World Cup conditions to date.

"So guys like Virat in that game at the MCG, he just batted and then took it on later on.

"That's the way I like to go about it, if things are difficult early.

"I play Test cricket, I play one-day cricket so I've got that sort of game to play in those sorts of difficult circumstances, if the wickets are doing a bit.

"That's the role I see that I can play, but we've gone for a pretty power-heavy side so far throughout this tournament, and we've played some pretty good cricket outside of the (opening) New Zealand game.

"So we'll see where the next game lands in terms of how guys are injury-wise, and the way the strategy and selectors want to go."

Should Finch be sidelined from the Afghanistan game, and potentially even longer in the tournament assuming Australia progress, Smith believes keeper Matthew Wade would continue in the captaincy role he assumed for much of Ireland's batting innings last night.

In addition to the six T20Is in which he's led his country, Wade boasts extensive leadership experience with both Victoria and Tasmania and Smith sees his berth behind the stumps as an ideal vantage point for observing and driving the game.

And having captained Australia eight times in T20s himself, in addition to his vast experience at Test and ODI level, Smith will happily lend the stand-in skipper whatever assistance he can provide should Finch find himself facing an extended absence.

"I'm there to help in any way I can," Smith said.

"I've obviously got a lot of experience, (currently) vice-captain of the Test side and have captained before.

"But (Wade) has a great knowledge of the game, and I think keeping as well, you get good angles and they're important inT20 cricket.

"So I'm sure he'd do a terrific job."

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/ham...ustralia-afghanistan-t20-world-cup/2022-11-01
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The hosts, the reigning champions and many people's favourites, Australia crash out of the tournament <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/lZYT9Ev6HM">pic.twitter.com/lZYT9Ev6HM</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1588855742609920001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">No team has ever retained the T20 World Cup. <br><br>The list of winners:<br><br>2007 India<br>2009 Pakistan<br>2010 England<br>2012 West Indies<br>2014 Sri Lanka<br>2016 West Indies<br>2021 Australia<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1588854187395534849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Finn Allen’s assault on Aussies in 1st 4 overs ultimately knocked them out

History will always remember that 1st four overs at SCG witnessed arguably one of the greatest power hitting on opening super 12 round stage against defending champions. It blew them off so badly that Aussies never ever recovered from the shock.

Sport and psychology are inter linked.

It is history repetition. Back in 1992 opening day
It was Martin Crowe’s blitz which Rocked Sir Allan Border’s title defense hopes.

You really need to give credit to Michael clarke for his 2015 leadership heroics.

Where Sir Allan Border 1992
Aron Finch 2022

Sir Michael Clarke 2015 triumphed.

Playing home world cup is always tough mentally.
 
Sarwar89 said:
History will always remember that 1st four overs at SCG witnessed arguably one of the greatest power hitting on opening super 12 round stage against defending champions. It blew them off so badly that Aussies never ever recovered from the shock.

Sport and psychology are inter linked.

It is history repetition. Back in 1992 opening day
It was Martin Crowe’s blitz which Rocked Sir Allan Border’s title defense hopes.

You really need to give credit to Michael clarke for his 2015 leadership heroics.

Where Sir Allan Border 1992
Aron Finch 2022

Sir Michael Clarke 2015 triumphed.

Playing home world cup is always tough mentally.
Click to expand...

Indeed. He has been brilliant for a while.

But, to be honest, he should've been out earlier (Aussie game). Australia dropped a catch and allowed Finn to take the game away.

Australia's fielding was quite poor in this tournament. Dropped multiple catches.
 
this world cup format is terrible

playing all these games before the world cup and wasting time and then not scheduling quarter finals and semi finals...

this means you are purposely not allowing good teams to have an opportunity

Pakistan and Australia have not been THAT horrible in this world cup

some of the games have been affected by rain

again, simple 6 team group then 4 team each group the QF --> SF --> FINAL

whats wrong with that?
 
Loyalty can reward teams but can also costly when players are simply past their best. Finch had been struggling for a while and in this case it cost them.
 
Utterly mediocre campaign. Couldn't even get to next round at home ground. I know they are not a good T20 side. But their ruthlessness is missing. Generally it comes from the top. Finch is a meek captain. They better go back to Warner until he retires.
 
The first match vs new zealand did it for aus...better luck next time..
 
arif_2021 said:
this world cup format is terrible

playing all these games before the world cup and wasting time and then not scheduling quarter finals and semi finals...

this means you are purposely not allowing good teams to have an opportunity

Pakistan and Australia have not been THAT horrible in this world cup

some of the games have been affected by rain

again, simple 6 team group then 4 team each group the QF --> SF --> FINAL

whats wrong with that?
Click to expand...

That format is dull and boring as hell. Basically every test playing team is guaranteed a place in the quarters

This format is far more exciting. Only 2 teams from each group - makes every game very important. Which makes the whole tournament very thrilling !

Australia had 1 bad game and knocked out. England lost to Ireland and almost paid heavy price. Pakistan lost to Zimbabwe - which will be the reason for their likely elimination
 
Australia had really bad lucky. That fluky win of NZ against them had done the damage along with rain. They could easily be no. 1 in the group.
 
Shafi said:
Australia had really bad lucky. That fluky win of NZ against them had done the damage along with rain. They could easily be no. 1 in the group.
Click to expand...

They almost lost against the Afghans. Won by 4 runs.

I think Aussies have been ordinary (by their standard) in this tournament.
 
Shafi said:
Australia had really bad lucky. That fluky win of NZ against them had done the damage along with rain. They could easily be no. 1 in the group.
Click to expand...

You can't call a win a fluke when they beat you by close to 100 runs in T20. That is like beating someone by 200 runs in the ODIs. They are just a rubbish T20 side. They bullied Srilanka. England match rained out. Almost botched against Afghanistan
 
arif_2021 said:
this world cup format is terrible

playing all these games before the world cup and wasting time and then not scheduling quarter finals and semi finals...

this means you are purposely not allowing good teams to have an opportunity

Pakistan and Australia have not been THAT horrible in this world cup

some of the games have been affected by rain

again, simple 6 team group then 4 team each group the QF --> SF --> FINAL

whats wrong with that?
Click to expand...

Cricket is not played by many teams in the world, having that in mind
super 6 would have been better before for this WT20

ICC bringing back super 6 in 2027 ODI WC and have 14 teams.

In 50 over WC they need to shorten the number of teams because associate and lower ranked teams wont fare against even mid ranked teams , the format is as such to last 100 overs which needs skill , fitness and technique

2019 format of playing against each other and then 4 semifinalists is the best way..
 
Australia bow out of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 knowing that they have not once put together a ‘complete’ performance.

England’s win over Sri Lanka on Saturday consigned Australia to a group-stage exit as their title defence petered out.

And batter Glenn Maxwell says the contrast between the team's performances in this year’s tournament and during the run to the title in 2021 have been strikingly different.

“We probably haven’t put the complete game together.

“There was a couple of games last year during the World Cup where we probably did I think – Bangladesh, West Indies and Sri Lanka we played the complete game, almost back-to-back. They were clinical performances, we did the game quickly and were just pretty sharp in all areas of the game.

“We’ve probably missed a few opportunities this year. A couple of batters have got starts but haven’t gone big.

“I don’t think we’ve got any batters in the top five or six or ten run scorers. We haven’t probably got the higher wicket takers either, it feels like we’ve just been chipping away, bits and pieces here and there.”

Australia’s enormous margin of defeat to New Zealand in the first game of the Super 12 stage had hamstrung their campaign right from the off, leaving them with a net run rate deficit that proved pivotal as England finished level on points but above on NRR.

Questions had been raised over whether the preparation for the tournament was wrong from Australia, but Maxwell said it was more just a case of an opponent executing their game right on the day, with Finn Allen getting New Zealand off to a flier with 42 from 16 balls inside the first few overs.

“I think we were so excited to get the tournament underway. It had been probably the longest lead-in that we’ve ever had, 15 games in all sorts of places in some pretty average conditions," Maxwell said.

“Once that fifteenth game was finished against India at the Gabba, the feeling around the group was almost a sigh of relief, now we can start the tournament.

“We were excited, we were fresh, we were pumped up and ready to go. They just had a player who was better on the day.

“Pretty much everything we did they counteracted in the first four overs. That can be all it takes in a T20 game, we saw (Marcus) Stoinis do it against Sri Lanka, take the game away in three overs.”

Why did Australia leave out Mitchell Starc? Coach explains call against Afghanistan
A combination of that loss to New Zealand, results elsewhere, and the washout fixture against England has ended Australia’s home World Cup without the hosts ever really sparking into life.

Maxwell and Co. will now turn their attention to the 50-over format and hope that they can find the illusive ‘complete game’ when the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup kicks off in India next October.

ICC
 
They were poor in all T20I bilateral series before last world cup and after last world cup.
Just managed to win 2 critical tosses in last year world cup.
 
Opening shocker to Warner woe: how Australia's World Cup defence crumbled

Adelaide (Australia) (AFP) – Australia's Twenty20 Word Cup defence was over on Saturday after old rivals England pipped the hosts to a place in the semi-finals.

The departing champions won three, lost one and had one game washed out as they finished third behind New Zealand and England in a tight Group 1.

AFP Sports looks at where it went wrong for the side that were touted as pre-tournament favourites along with England.

Opening shocker

Australia never really recovered from being thrashed by 89 runs by New Zealand in their opening match. It was the worst start possible.

The hosts' bowlers took a pasting as Devon Conway's unbeaten 92 powered the Black Caps to 200-3 and avenged their loss to their neighbours in last year's final. The hosts were bundled out for a paltry 111.

The big margin of defeat came back to haunt Australia. They bowed out of the tournament despite being level on seven points with England and New Zealand -- their far inferior net run rate cost them a final-four spot.

Finch flounders

Skipper Aaron Finch came into the tournament under pressure because of his poor form with the bat.

He scored 13 in the first match and then a laboured unbeaten 31 in the next against Sri Lanka that nearly cost the team a win, but for a Marcus Stoinis blitz.

Finch later called his 41-ball struggle in Perth a "one-off" and soon struck form in his team's win over Ireland with an attacking 63, but the knock arrived late.

He missed the final match with a hamstring injury as Australia survived a late scare by Afghanistan in a tense four-run win.

Warner flops

David Warner was Australia's leading batsman with 289 runs in their maiden T20 World Cup triumph last year in the United Arab Emirates, but he inexplicably failed to fire on home conditions.

His scores of 5, 11, 3 and 25 reflected on the team's totals with the highest being 179 against rank-outsiders Ireland.

The left-handed opener was bowled by Afghanistan pace bowler Naveen-ul-Haq after he attempted a switch hit and was trolled by England's Barmy Army, who tweeted: "David Warner batting left-handed batting right-handed getting cleaned up."

The Barmy Army were gloating again on Saturday, tweeting: "Let the tears commence."

Losing gambles

If keeping Glenn Maxwell floating between five and six was not enough, Australia's decision-making shocked even the opposition in Adelaide by not picking pace bowler Mitchell Starc in the XI.

They needed to win against Afghanistan by a huge margin for a shot at the semis and Starc's replacement Kane Richardson leaked 48 runs from his four overs.

Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott said they were "surprised" at Starc's omission and former Test captain Michael Clarke said: "I don't get it."

Maxwell, who hit a match-winning 54 against Afghanistan, would not be drawn on Starc but said that the hosts "just missed big moments probably too many times".

"Starting the first game of the tournament not that well probably hurt us as well," he added. "Goes probably without saying."

https://www.france24.com/en/live-ne...oe-how-australia-s-world-cup-defence-crumbled
 
NishanKonar said:
That format is dull and boring as hell. Basically every test playing team is guaranteed a place in the quarters

This format is far more exciting. Only 2 teams from each group - makes every game very important. Which makes the whole tournament very thrilling !

Australia had 1 bad game and knocked out. England lost to Ireland and almost paid heavy price. Pakistan lost to Zimbabwe - which will be the reason for their likely elimination
Click to expand...

I dont think so. QF adds more knockout games.

How can that be more boring than playing a whole week of games to qualify for 8 teams to go to 12?

They should have just picked 16 teams, had 4 groups of 4 each and then top 2 enter quarter finals.

End of story

Thats how FIFA does it.
 
Went out of their own tournament before the knockout stages, bit embarrassing.
 
Aussie coach reflects on 'failed' Cup campaign
Andrew McDonald flags an overhaul of Australia's T20 squad, but with no matches for another nine months, is not rushing anything

Australia men's team coach Andrew McDonald has labelled his team's World Cup defence a "failed campaign" but noted he and his fellow selectors have time to reflect on potential personnel changes given their next T20 international assignment is nine months away.

The reigning champions hopes of sneaking through to the finals of this tournament vapourised on Saturday night when England claimed a last-over win against Sri Lanka, ensuring the host nation finished third in their group.

As the players flew out of Adelaide this morning, McDonald claimed the squad had been left "feeling a little numb" about the events of the preceding 24 hours and added the team was bitterly disappointed about their inability to reach the playoff games.

And he said that in addition to the heavy first-up loss to New Zealand that inflicted mortal damage to their net run rate, it was late innings hitting by Ireland's Lorcan Tucker and Afghanistan's Rashid Khan in the final Super 12s matches that further hampered Australia's hopes.

While scrutiny has fallen on several selection decisions, most notably the call to drop pace bowler Mitchell Starc in favour of fellow seamer Kane Richardson for Friday's match against Afghanistan, McDonald reiterated it was a tactical decision based on Richardson's death-bowling credentials.

"We were looking to reinforce the back end with Kane Richardson, so we put a premium on death bowling – that was the decision in a nutshell really," McDonald said today.

"And any time you leave out a player the stature of Mitchell Starc it's always going to create significant attention to that selection.

"The reality is we've got 15 players that arguably could be in the eleven, and those that miss out are going to be genuinely stiff."

He also said the decision to go with essentially a Test fast bowling attack in T20 cricket was based on knowledge of home conditions in which this World Cup is being played, and indicated that thinking might change with the next tournament to be played on vastly different surfaces.

Leg spinner Adam Zampa and seamer Josh Hazlewood finished the Super 12s phase as Australia's most successful bowlers with five wickets apiece, while Test spearheads Starc and Cummins ended up with three each.

In the batting, Marcus Stoinis was the most productive with 126 runs from his four games followed by fellow allrounder Glenn Maxwell (118) and skipper Aaron Finch (107).

"For this World Cup, we felt those three bowlers – Mitch Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood – were the best suited to be part of the squad to navigate through the World Cup," McDonald said.

"I think it will be case by case (in the future).

"We've seen Nathan Ellis build in some depth, he was really impressive in the lead-in and Kane Richardson has been impressive in his own right.

"Riley Meredith is another one who's been exposed a couple of years back now in New Zealand, so we feel as though we're building some depth to that bowling department.

"It's just who we choose for what conditions and when."

McDonald dismissed suggestions Australia's elongated lead-in to the tournament had left players feeling fatigued, which had been cited as a possible reason for their poor start to the tournament with an 89-run loss to New Zealand.

In the wake of Friday night's loss to Afghanistan, Maxwell cited the schedule of 10 preparatory matches across the month prior to the NZ game as "probably the longest lead-in we've ever had" and added players breathed a sigh of relief when they were finished and the tournament proper began.

But McDonald claimed the lengthy preparation gave Australia a chance to get some game time into players who were returning from injury, and felt it provided "some positives" for trialling different playing combinations and scenarios.

"I think the scheduling is always a debate and a question, but that's no excuse for our performance throughout the World Cup," he said.

"I look at the positive around those games, that allowed some people to get up to speed, that were coming off injuries … and we played different structures at different times.

"You saw Cameron Green go up the top of the order and that played out at the end of the World Cup.

"We didn't take a lot of our players to Perth (for a preparatory match against England) for those reasons, we knew we were going back there a week later.

"We felt we navigated through that the best we could (but) each player will have an individual story around that."

McDonald indicated the Australia T20 squad – essentially the same outfit that secured the trophy in the UAE last year, with the addition of power hitter Tim David for leg spinner Mitchell Swepson – would likely undergo significant change for next T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA in June 2024.

Of the current line-up, it is unclear whether Finch (aged 35), David Warner (35) and Matthew Wade (34) will be part of the set-up, while both Stoinis and Maxwell will be aged 34 and 35 respectively when the next World Cup gets underway.

But as McDonald observed, there is no pressing rush to reshuffle Australia's T20 player pool given there is no international 20-over cricket on the team's horizon until a scheduled series against South Africa in August next year.

"The short turnaround (from last year's World Cup) lent itself to a similar squad," McDonald said.

"We saw Tim David come in for Mitch Swepson – we felt that was the right play coming into the tournament and as I sit here right now, I still think it was the right play.

"But we'll go through what that looks like in terms of building towards the World Cup in 2024.

"There will be some natural turnover because of the gap, and also the age profile of our team so there will be some people who get their opportunities albeit next August when we play our next T20 game."

Finch's future as captain and opener is part of that potential turnover given he was unavailable for Australia's crucial final game with an injured hamstring, and has already called time on his career in the ODI format.

"I haven't really put much thought or time into that," McDonald said when asked if Finch had potentially played his final game in Australia colours.

"It's still a little bit raw on the back of a World Cup, but he's got some time to think about that.

"The Big Bash will determine probably his future, how he goes there, his performances, how his body is holding up.

"His body has failed him here, in terms of the hamstring strain that put him out of the World Cup and the next game's not until August next year so that gives him a lot of time to repair it if he's willing to go on.

"If not, then I'm sure over the next couple of weeks he'll have a think about that and call it, a bit similar to what he did with the one-day internationals."

With a replacement opener required at the top of Australia's batting order for the upcoming Dettol ODI Series against England later this month, as focus turns to next year's 50-over World Cup in India, McDonald said Test batter Travis Head is in the frame for that role.

Head dominated at the top of order in Warner's absence during a three-match ODI series in Pakistan earlier this year, and returned to the opening role for South Australia in yesterday's Marsh One Day Cup game against New South Wales where he scored 55 off 62 balls.

"I think Travis Head will get some opportunities with the retirement of Aaron Finch," McDonald said, adding further details will be known when Australia's ODI squad for the England games is named in coming days.

"We're excited to see what he can do in one-day cricket.

"We saw how he went in Pakistan against a world-class attack, he was able to take them on and his one-day domestic record is second to none.

"He's got big hundreds, and double hundreds."

As white-ball planning now turns to the ICC ODI World Cup next year, McDonald indicated Australia would name a near-full strength squad for the upcoming England series even though it will be played shortly before the NRMA Insurance Tests against West Indies begin at month's end.

"I think any time you get to play, it's with as full-strength squad as you can," he said.

"We saw that with the NZ series up north earlier, we were really keen to see what it would look like with as close to full strength as possible.

"We've got a little bit of a gap now because we've obviously exited (the World Cup) early so that allows us to play players that potentially – if we had have gone deep into this tournament – we wouldn't have.

"So I think you'll see a very strong side named in the coming days."

Cricket Australia
 
The defending champions never recovered from a disappointing display against New Zealand in their tournament opener and failed to make it through to the semi-finals of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Most runs – Marcus Stoinis (126)
Most wickets – Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa (5)


What went right

You have to look long and hard to find the positives from Australia's campaign, although they will be happy to have finally got some cricket into powerful all-rounder Tim David.

While David only managed to get two hits (11 against New Zealand and 15* against Ireland), his first appearance at a major tournament should be a healthy boost for the squad in years to come.

Other highlights were few and far between, with Marcus Stoinis' quickfire half-century against Sri Lanka in Perth the standout individual performance during what was a disappointing tournament for the hosts.

Stoinis smashed an unbeaten 58 from just 18 deliveries to guide his side to victory in that contest, while Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch also scored half-centuries at different stages.

The bowlers toiled away hard as a group, with Adam Zampa's 2/19 against Ireland and Mitchell Starc's two wickets in an over from the same match among the best efforts.


What went wrong

There's a long list of things that went wrong for the Aussies as they tried to defend their T20 World Cup crown on home soil and it started before the tournament even started with a host of key players battling injury concerns.

All-rounders Mitch Marsh and Stoinis weren't able to bowl during much of the lead-up, while a freak injury to back-up keeper Josh Inglis and a niggle to David Warner on the eve of the tournament made things worse heading into their tournament opener against New Zealand.

That match against the Kiwis was poor from start to finish and further injuries to David and Finch during the penultimate match of the Super 12 stage only added to Australia's suffering.

While the Aussies were able to produce an improved performance in their final match of the Super 12s and defeat Afghanistan narrowly, the damage from the loss to New Zealand was too much as they missed out on the semi-finals on net run rate.


What does the future hold?

We already know that skipper Aaron Finch has retired from ODI cricket and the experienced right-hander may follow suit in the T20I arena given the next T20 World Cup is still a couple of years away.

Some of his fellow veterans may try and make it to the 2024 event in the West Indies and USA, with David Warner and Matthew Wade among the team's older players that may choose to press on and try and feature at another T20 World Cup.

The likes of Cameron Green, David and Inglis will likely receive more white-ball opportunities over the next couple of years, while selectors may provide a handful of younger players more chances too.

Seamer Nathan Ellis has shown enough to suggest he has a solid future in T20I cricket, while top-order batter Josh Philippe and speedster Riley Meredith are among the players likely to be given more games at international level.

ICC
 
SYDNEY: Australia selectors have at all times been ruthless relating to shaking up squads for main tournaments and the Twenty20 facet is primed for an overhaul following their exit from the World Cup on residence soil, former opener Matthew Hayden stated on Tuesday.

Australia’s title defence wilted on the Tremendous 12 stage with Aaron Finch’s staff lacking out on the semi-finals after ending behind New Zealand and England in Group 1.

Hayden stated selectors wanted to make robust selections, like they did with the one-day squad forward of the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

“There needs to be some freshness,” Hayden, who’s working as batting guide with the Pakistan staff, advised a information convention.

“One of many nice strengths of Australian cricket has been its capacity to have the ability to recognise when to make that gear become a special enjoying roster.

“A bit bit like Mark Waugh giving technique to somebody like myself after World Cup campaigns, it is at all times been fairly ruthless in getting ready for the following World Cup.”

Australia’s 15-man squad contained 9 gamers of their 30s, with each Finch (35) and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade (34) unlikely to be round for the following T20 World Cup co-hosted by West Indies and the USA in 2024.

“Actually from an Australian cricket viewpoint, there needs to be planning heading in the direction of World Cups,” Hayden stated.

“They’re the premium occasions. They’re the occasions that everybody the world over plans for and Australia, sadly, simply did not get it proper.”
 
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