Josh Inglis century in India could prove pivotal in World Cup selection

With a host of guns rested in India, Josh Inglis knew it was his chance to make a big T20 World Cup push and he did that in style.

Forward thinking trumped any need to take World Cup celebrations into an extra day for Josh Inglis in India.

Having played 12 T20s without scoring a 50, and with veteran keeper Matthew Wade brought back into the side as captain and gloveman 10 months out from the T20 World Cup, Inglis was going to take every opportunity available to prove his own worth.

He did that, and then some, blasting the equal-fastest T20 century by an Australian, off just 47 balls, clearing the fences six times in an innings that showed no signs of the sort of hangover that prevented Travis Head from taking his place.

Wade said he spoke to Inglis, who didn’t keep wicket, about potentially dropping down the order but conceded that “won’t happen” after Inglis registered his first international century in game number 31, having also played 18 ODIs, and he heaped more pressure on Test incumbent Alex Carey too.

Josh Inglis has all the shots needed for T20. Picture: Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP

Having taken Carey’s place in the ODI side just two games into the World Cup, and finishing with a winner’s medal around his neck, Inglis said playing in next year’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and US demanded he step up every time he’s asked.

“There’s a T20 World Cup around the corner and it’s really important for us guys to get some T20 cricket in before that,” he said.

“There’s a lot of spots available and blokes playing for places. I wanted to make sure I gave 100 per cent and gave a good account of myself.”

Inglis was a member of the Australian squad that won the T20 World Cup in 2021 but didn’t play a game, only making his Aussie debut in February 2022. He has only played half of Australia’s 26 matches since then.

But reaching triple figures, and becoming just the fifth Aussie to do so in T20 internationals, was a big notch on his belt despite doing it in a loss as the Indians secured a thrilling final-over win.

“It’s really nice to get the first one,” Inglis, who also got to his 50 in just 29 balls, said after his knock.

“I’ve played a bit of cricket for Australia now and it’s nice to get the monkey off the back I suppose.

“It was a pretty small ground. The fact I hit seven or eight sixes will tell you that, I’m not a huge six hitter. That helped.”

Inglis has got the monkey off his back. Picture: Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP

Inglis and Steve Smith, who was never going to miss his chance to open the batting, were the only World Cup winners to back up, just four days after their triumph over India.

Smith made an impressive 52 off 41 balls as part of a 130-run stand with Inglis before being run out, making good on his quest to be a contender to open the batting permanently, a role he has performed with great success in the Big Bash.

Not many of his teammates thought Head, who celebrated the World Cup win hard, would be ready to play, with Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell also rested.

But it’s been made clear they will be expected to turn out at some stage during the five-match series, which extends their stay in India in to a third month.

The second T20 will be played on Monday morning in Thiruvananthapuram.