Peter Siddle has lauded Strikers batsman Jon Wells’ Aussie T20 credentials and the courage of Glenn Maxwell
Adelaide Strikers finisher Jon Wells has been in scintillating form this BBL campaign. So much so that teammate Peter Siddle says he should be in T20 World Cup consideration.
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Peter Siddle has anointed Jon Wells as Australia’s World T20 fixer – spruiking the Adelaide batsman to receptive top brass including skipper Aaron Finch and deputy Alex Carey.
There is substance underpinning Wells’ case for selection in next month’s T20 series in South Africa as BBL’s all-time, sixth-highest run scorer with 1718 at 35.
Wells has 904 runs at 43 since crossing from Hobart with Siddle for the Strikers’ 2017-18 BBL triumph.
“He is definitely worth looking at, if not the starting XI then part of the squad. He has turned into a great player for us and the competition,” Siddle told The Advertiser.
Finch has listened to Siddle, praising Wells as ‘consistent for a long period of time’ while putting ‘icing on the cake’ for the Strikers.
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Only Chris Lynn (2277), Finch (2080), Michael Klinger (1947), Shaun Marsh (1884) and Glenn Maxwell (1804) have more BBL runs.
Wells has dug the second ranked Strikers out of trouble with four half-centuries and six undefeated knocks across 11 innings while posting 406 runs at a competition high average 81.2 this BBL.
“I have spoken to Finchy about it and floated his name a couple of times and there is Kez who is part of the leadership group with the Australian side,” said Siddle with Wells’ 55 from 36 balls sinking title favourite Melbourne Stars on Wednesday night.
“I brought it up in conversation with both of them.”
Wells joins Marcus Stoinis, Maxwell, Ashton Turner, Ben McDermott and Travis Head as candidates for a World Cup berth in Australia next October.
Ruthless square of the wicket, Wells routinely saves faltering innings at a brisk, risk-free strike-rate.
“He has set us up a lot especially when we have been in trouble, rescue the innings and finish it off at a decent strike rate which is hard to do. He has to be in consideration for sure,” said Siddle of Wells who has a career average of 42.39 in 30 BBL innings at No. 5
“If you look at his innings over the last couple of years he is striking at 130 to 140 while putting us in good positions.
“Even the big hitters might have games when they strike at 180 to 200 but over a three-year period aren’t striking it much better than him.”
Siddle last month retired from international cricket but is in career-best T20 form for the Strikers with 16 wickets including 4/33 against the Stars in Adelaide.
“I have worked hard at playing a role. I want to take a few more wickets and help the team in that way while doing my normal stuff, keep my economy down bowling those tough overs.,” said Siddle.
Adelaide is guaranteed a top two spot, double chance and direct route to the final by beating Perth Scorchers on Friday and Hobart on Sunday.
“It’s massive if you can get in the top two, win one and in the big game already,” he said.
Siddle credited the courage of Victorian teammate Maxwell who fronted against the Strikers despite the passing of a close friend.
“I know what is like in situations like that, you don’t want too many people getting around you. I just said the standard, ‘hope you are going OK’, check in, show him a bit of love,” said Siddle.
“He obviously struggled through and did a superb job, still playing a part in the game.”