Australia’s domestic summer has drawn a line under the BBL and nudged the selectors towards their final T20 World Cup squad. Performances were mixed: Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis cruised, Glenn Maxwell crawled, and a handful of Test regulars opted for a spell on the sofa rather than another flight. Below is a quick stock-take before the squad is nailed down.
Mitchell Marsh
BBL: 12 matches; 360 runs at 30.00; strike-rate 132.35
Perth’s title was built on Marsh’s mid-season rush. A lean first fortnight (25 runs in four knocks) dissolved into 102 from 58 against Hobart and 88 from 51 against Adelaide. He finished the job in the final as well. The captain has all but parked his bowling – “I’m desperate to play, not desperate to bowl,” he reminded reporters – yet there is no serious call for him to do more with the ball.
Travis Head
Did not play
Fresh from the Ashes, Head sat the BBL out and talked openly about workload. “There’s only so much fuel in the tank,” he said last week, hinting at selective rest later in the year. He will partner Marsh at the top of the order in the Caribbean unless a late rethink occurs.
Cameron Green
Did not play
Scorchers left a list spot free in case Green fancied a late cameo; he chose ice-baths instead. His pace-bowling option and athleticism keep him close to undroppable, although his white-ball batting numbers remain a work in progress.
Josh Inglis
BBL: 5 matches; 87 runs at 21.75; strike-rate 120.83
Two Tests in the Ashes limited his BBL minutes but he made them count. A 23-ball 42 in Perth’s 232 for 4 against Adelaide was followed by the title-sealing six in the final. “That one felt sweet,” he smiled afterwards. He will be the spare keeper, yet Australia like shuffling their deck and Inglis is often first cab off the rank.
Tim David
BBL: 4 matches; 98 runs at 49.00; strike-rate 134.24
The Hurricanes’ finisher tweaked a hamstring while muscling an unbeaten 42 off 28 against the Scorchers. Rehab is on track, though the medical staff remain cagey. If fit, he is inked in for the middle overs.
Marcus Stoinis
BBL: 11 matches; 273 runs at 54.60, strike-rate 135.82; 15 wickets at 15.53, economy 7.43
One of the competition’s form men. Only once in eight innings did he fail to reach double figures, beginning with 62 from 31 balls on opening night. Just as valuable were his 15 wickets – most of them at the death. “I’m clearer on my role than I’ve ever been,” he told Channel Seven. Australia could hardly ask for a better all-round report.
Glenn Maxwell*
BBL: 11 matches; 76 runs at 15.20, strike-rate 120.63; 2 wickets, economy 7.72
A summer Maxwell will want to file and forget. Two double-figure scores, plenty of airy drives, and just two wickets. Australia back him – his record in big tournaments is gold-plated – but he needs runs, quickly. “I’m striking them well in the nets; I’ve just got to take that out in the middle,” he said, half-grimace, half-grin.
Where does this leave the selectors?
• Marsh, Head, Green and Stoinis pick themselves.
• Inglis and David should travel, assuming the latter’s hamstring behaves.
• Maxwell remains in the XI on reputation, yet the safety net is thinner than it was.
The Steven Smith question still lingers. He peeled off runs for fun in the Shield and is fully fit, yet squeezing him into an already top-heavy line-up would require someone to slide. For now, the conversation stays hypothetical – but it is not going away.
Australia name their provisional squad next month, leaving one final BBL-sized sample on the table. Form is only part of the equation, of course, but those heading to the Caribbean will prefer to board the plane with a few low-risk boundaries – and not too many demons – in the carry-on.
