In the run-up to the 2024 T20 World Cup, former Australia captain Tim Paine has some intriguing recommendations for Mitchell Marsh and his team. In place of the standard trio of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins, he has recommended that Australia select Nathan Ellis as one of their fast bowlers in the starting XI. Regardless of the format, all three of these pacers have participated in the last few World Cups.
But Paine wants Ellis to be selected and one of Cummins or Hazlewood to start in the starting lineup for the World Cup. Ellis has shown himself when given the opportunity, even if he hasn’t been a fixture in Australia’s T20I team. The 29-year-old has taken 24 wickets in his first 14 Twenty20 Internationals. He participated in Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup run as a reserve player, but the following year, at home in the major tournament, he was not selected.
In his interaction with ESPNCRICINFO Tim paine said, “Picking Nathan Ellis is a tremendous opportunity that Australia has, and I hope they take it in the World Cup. My third quick would be him. I believe that he simply enhances the other players incredibly well. He has a unique skill set, approaches the game from a different perspective, and is a different height. I also believe that having some variation in the attack will be crucial to winning this World Cup. I am aware that you will ask me right away who isn’t playing.Mitchell Starc is my clear favorite, so I’m going with him. Adam Zampa is also a given, but I’m still trying to decide between Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.”
Remarkably, Starc and the Kolkata Knight Riders won the Indian Premier League (IPL) last week. Throughout the season, Starc claimed 17 wickets, including two performances that earned him player of the match honors in the Qualifier 1 and the Final. While Josh Hazlewood is one of Australia’s top bowlers, particularly with the new ball, Cummins was also among the wickets while leading Sunrisers Hyderabad to the championship. In the practice match against Namibia a few days ago, he hit three straight maidens.
Australia squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa. Reserves – Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matt Short