Fall-out: How does the Australian T20 Line-Up look in 2 years time after a dismal campaign?

23rd of June 2024, the Australian cricket team is stunned. On the 23rd of June 2024, Australia bungled out of the 2024 T20 world cup. On the 23rd of June 2024 Afghanistan pulled out all of the stops. The openers made a combined 111 runs, Naib claimed 4 scalps, ul-haq; 3 scalps. The Australians had absolutely no answers to this team whatsoever. How had the reigning champions reduced themselves to this. In the Semi Final, Afghanistan made just 56 runs. This wasn’t an embarrassment to Afghanistan; this was an embarrassment to the Australian cricket team. What needs to be done?

32.5, this is the average age of the team that played on the 23rd of June. 31.6 is the average age of the squad Australia sent over. And the only reason that number was better is because of Cameron Green who is 25. Take him out and the average is back up around 32 years as the average age. England and India’s average age throughout their lineups are 31. Australia is old. And its not just the age that is impacting this downfall, it’s the form and performances of some of Australia’s players. Let’s go through it shall we. Its not negative for all the players but for some it really is bad.

Travis Head: Quite good form, named in Cricket.com.au’s team of the tournament. Terrific IPL form as well.

David Warner: Has retired now, so form doesn’t matter as much. Should he have played the tournament?

Mitchell Marsh: Not a very good tournament for the skipper. Was horrendous in the field too.

Glenn Maxwell: Started badly but was one of the best performers in the loss to Afghanistan.

Marcus Stoinis: Australia’s player of the tournament for sure. Was a shining light.

Tim David: Barely popped up, barely did anything. Was not excellent in the last edition of the Big Bash either.

Matthew Wade: Barely popped up as well. Is 36. Pretty much finished.

Pat Cummins: Proved to be a good death bowler, took wickets.

Mitchell Starc: Was dropped in the last match. A mediocre tournament.

Ashton Agar: Played twice, 1 wicket. Bad fielding.

Nathan Ellis: Was good when given a chance.

Adam Zampa: Leading wicket taker. Another good international tournament.

Josh Hazelwood: Lowest economy rate of the bowlers. But another mediocre tournament.

Looking at these comments we can start to gather a list of players who should play the next T20 world cup in 2 years’ time. Underlined means certain, crossed out means no, italics means dependent on form.

Travis Head

David Warner

Mitchell Marsh

Glenn Maxwell

Marcus Stoinis

Tim David

Matthew Wade

Pat Cummins

Mitchell Starc

Ashton Agar

Nathan Ellis

Adam Zampa

Josh Hazelwood

Cameron Green

Josh Inglis

A few crosses, a few maybes. There will 100% be some changes to the next t20 world cup squad. But who should these players be? We must note that some of the players who are listed as maybes will be 2 years older by the next t20 world cup. For example, Maxwell will be 37, these players will be old and possibly not up for international cricket anymore.

Jake Fraser-McGurk is a certainty to be in that squad. The Rooster has had an amazing BBL and IPL and is backed by David Warner himself to be his replacement in the Australian international cricket set up. Some other names that could be thrown in the ring to replace some aging players would be Matt Short, off of a few years now of good Big Bash form for the Adelaide strikers. Aaron Hardie has to be nearly a certainty as well with great domestic form. He will have the next 2 years to prove he has a place in the international set up.

Bowling wise there are also some good contenders in Lance Morris and Spencer Johnson, two younger bowlers who are doing well domestically and even overseas in Johnson’s case. Those 2 should be on the plane to the next T20 world cup.

Against what many people would think, especially after the research and facts I have covered in this writing, it is not all doom and gloom for T20 cricket selection and players in Australia, with much more to play out before the next world cup. We have the pieces and we also have the people, but its about how the selectors and coaches put it in place. Next time around, Australia must take their opportunities and avenge what has resulted in a wasteful tournament. Especially wasteful in the fielding department. As eager fans would easily recall, the energy in the field just wasn’t there as important catches were dropped at precarious times throughout the tournament. The Aussies have to do better. There are many good countries at cricket, especially in the always developing short-format of the game, as shown by countries like Afghanistan who have shown an ability to punch above their weight in international tournaments such as last years ODI world cup as well as reaching the semi final this year, ultimately to get shown up by South Africa.

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Am I on the money? Let me know in the comments below, or suggest other players that could be in line for the next T20 World Cup.