T20 World Cup 2024: How Aussie cricketers have fared at IPL in a high stakes selection trial
With a Twenty20 World Cup to start a week after the end of this IPL season, the tournament is both crucial practice in the format and a selection trial. Here’s how Australia’s best are faring.
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For Australian audiences, the Indian Premier League can feel like an annual party to which you know you’ll never be invited.
Played largely in an ungodly time zone in months by which point the footy codes have all but monopolised sporting attention and involving teams with which most Aussies have little reason to feel connected, it can pass by even ardent cricket fans.
But if the IPL was ever going to be relevant to Australians, it is this year. With a Twenty20 World Cup to start only a week after the conclusion of this IPL season, the tournament is serving as both crucial practice in the format and as a selection trial for line ball calls. The Aussie selectors are on record saying as much.
Victory in the Caribbean and US in June would mean Australia becomes the first side to hold the world titles in all three formats simultaneously.
There is still plenty to play out, but after 32 of 70 regular season matches, certain selection queries have been straightened out, while the waters are muddying elsewhere.
Here’s a look at all the Aussies playing in India and how they’ve fared.
STOCKS RISING
Travis Head (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Five matches: 235 runs at 47.00, strike rate: 199.15
His one-day international offerings suggested Head was on the cusp of T20 stardom but he was still somewhat unproven in the format leading into this tournament.
However any questions about his T20 ability have been answered comprehensively.
Having missed selection for Hyderadbad’s opening match, Head has excelled at the top of the order playing under Australian assistant coach Daniel Vettori.
Even acknowledging scores skyrocketing across the league, Head’s 24-ball 62 against Mumbai and century off 39 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been standout knocks.
Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Six matches: Nine wickets at 21.00, economy rate 7.87
These numbers may not jump off the page but considering the quantum leaps in scoring this has been a very strong return to the IPL for the Australian Test skipper.
There had been queries as to whether Cummins is in Australia’s best T20 XI but they have been put to bed.
Particularly potent through the middle overs, he has showcased an array of variations while also captaining successfully, which should provide comfort in the event Mitch Marsh is unavailable.
Jake Fraser-McGurk (Delhi Capitals)
Two matches: 75 runs at 37.50, strike rate 166.66
It’s a very small sample size but the young gun is bounding up the global charts after being picked up as a replacement player.
A half-century on debut and quickfire 20 - including a first ball six - in the win over Gujarat, have helped Delhi find their feet in the league.
Still an outside chance for the World Cup but his odds are shortening by the week.
HOLDING STEADY
David Warner (Delhi Capitals)
Six matches: 166 runs at 27.66, strike rate 138.33
Solid if unspectacular output thus far from Warner, who made 49 against Rajasthan and 52 against Chennai before diminishing returns in his three most recent matches.
The veteran missed the win over Gujarat with a finger concern although coach Ricky Ponting has downplayed the severity of the injury.
The left-hander is still a lock in Australia’s World Cup XI.
Tim David (Mumbai Indians)
Six matches: 128 runs at 42.66, strike rate 156.09
With his side struggling, David has held up his end of the bargain in the middle order, playing the highly specialised finishing role. His showing against the West Indies and New Zealand in February shored up his spot at No. 6 in Australia’s best T20 side.
Mitchell Starc (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Six matches: Five wickets at 46.40, economy rate 10.54
These aren’t particularly flattering numbers for the left-arm speedster, especially given he arrived at KKR as a league-record signing after bypassing the tournament for the best part of a decade.
But criticism should be tempered given the sheer glut of runs being scored across the tournament, the fact Starc bowls in the power play and at the death, and an allowance for early rustiness given he hadn’t played T20 cricket in well over a year.
His importance was shown against Lucknow and Delhi.
Marcus Stoinis (Lucknow Super Giants)
Six matches: 122 runs at 20.33, strike rate 137.07, one wicket at 19, economy rate 9.50
This shaped as an important tournament for Stoinis given he recently lost his central contract and has fallen out of favour in one-day cricket.
Shuffled around the order for Justin Langer’s Lucknow, the all-rounder posted an important half-century in the low-scoring win over Gujarat to keep the wolves at bay, even if he hasn’t shot the lights out.
His useful bowling counts in his favour, while Cameron Green’s relative struggles have also eased the pressure for spots.
Spencer Johnson (Gujarat Titans)
Five matches: four wickets at 37.75, economy rate 9.43
Playing a similar role to Starc as a left-arm attacking weapon, Johnson has had his moments during his first IPL campaign. Though not dominant, he is making a reasonable case for inclusion at the World Cup, though probably remains behind the big three quicks and Nathan Ellis.
STOCKS FALLING
Glenn Maxwell (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
Six matches: 32 runs at 5.33, strike rate 94.11, four wickets at 19, economy rate 8.44
Maxwell could have made 14 ducks in a row at this tournament and still walked into Australia’s T20 side, such are his gifts and icon status in white-ball cricket.
But while there are no concerns around his spot in the Aussie team, his batting form has been woeful, to the extent that he has taken an indefinite break mid-tournament.
There’s plenty of time to turn things around and such is Maxwell’s maverick nature that he could yet fire in the back end, but it’s a space to watch.
Cameron Green (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
Five matches: 68 runs at 17, strike rate 107.93, two wickets at 52.50, economy rate 9.40
Having turned the corner in Test cricket against New Zealand, T20 is still a riddle for Green who has been dropped from the lowly RCB after limited returns to start the tournament.
A player of his all-round talents is always difficult to pass up for a World Cup but without an obvious spot in the XI his hopes are fading.
Mitch Marsh (Delhi Capitals)
Four matches: 61 runs at 15.25, strike rate 160.52, one wicket at 103.00, economy rate 12.87
Unlike Green, Marsh will definitely be at the World Cup if fit, and modest output with the bat to date is largely accepted as part of the package for such an aggressive top-order player.
But a hamstring ailment which led him to head back to Australia indefinitely is much more of a concern, especially for a player of his age, size and injury history.
Marsh has been greenlit as skipper for the World Cup but that is on the proviso of fitness.
THE REST
Jhye Richardson (Delhi Capitals): One match: 0-40 from four overs, Matthew Wade (Gujarat Titans): One match: four off six balls, Nathan Ellis (Punjab Kings): Hasn’t played, Ashton Turner (Lucknow Super Giants): Hasn’t played, Jason Behrendorff (Mumbai Indians): withdrew through injury, Adam Zampa (Rajasthan Royals) withdrew for personal reasons.
Of the others in the frame for the World Cup: Josh Hazlewood - a certain starter for the World Cup - was not retained by RCB because of the birth of his first child but will be available as a replacement player for the back end of the tournament. Steve Smith went unsigned but had an early-season commentary stint. Matt Short, Ashton Agar and Josh Inglis do not have deals.
THE VERDICT
If fit, Marsh, Warner, Head, Maxwell, David, Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and Zampa are all certainties to be in the squad, while Wade and Inglis are highly likely to head over as the twin wicketkeeping options who could also serve as specialist batters.
Stoinis’ chances have been bolstered by his superior form to that of Green, while Ellis still looks a nose ahead of Johnson for the fourth pace position.
Despite losing his CA contract Agar is well-placed to be picked as a second spin option.
The last spot could be a three-way tussle between all-time great Smith, the much-improved and versatile Short, and the surging Fraser-McGurk.
Cricket Australia is set to name a preliminary squad later this month before the final 15-man squad is unveiled in late May.
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Originally published as T20 World Cup 2024: How Aussie cricketers have fared at IPL in a high stakes selection trial
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