Big three could be broken up to accommodate spin twins for Australia’s T20 World Cup opener in the Caribbean

The T20 World Cup for Australia begins on Thursday morning (Australian time) and to start the tournament selectors could break up the trio who have been such reliable servants across all formats, writes BEN HORNE.

Australia may be willing to break up its all-conquering “big three” as it hunts cricket’s first Triple Crown of world titles in the Caribbean.

Selectors were yet to inspect the Barbados pitch before Australia’s T20 World Cup opener against Oman on Thursday morning (AEST) but spinner Ashton Agar is well in contention to get the nod ahead of one of the prized quicks in Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.

It would be a bombshell call to leave out one of the fast-bowling superstars given the formula of picking all three delivered Australia an ODI World Cup in India last year and a T20 crown in the UAE in 2021 – both countries where spin-heavy attacks would normally be favoured.

However, the traditionally slower West Indies pitches could cause a change to that tried and true formula as Australia prepares to launch its history-making attempt to add a T20 World Cup to the ODI World Cup and World Test Championship trophies it holds.

Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc of Australia pose with the ICC Men's One-Day Cricket World Cup. Picture: Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

Spin twins Agar and Adam Zampa partnered each other on Australia’s last-white ball tour of the Caribbean in 2021 and captain Mitchell Marsh said conditions would determine the final make-up of his playing XI in this tournament.

“I think it will be conditions-based,” Marsh said before the first match to be broadcast in Australia on Prime Video. “We will be pretty flexible around that.

“The big three have been really special for us over a long period of time and if we feel the conditions suit a team where that’s our best team, it’s a pretty easy decision for us.

“But we have a squad of 15 here and we have a lot of bases covered, so I’m pretty excited by whatever conditions we come up against. We can pick a really strong team.”

Australia didn’t even have a second frontline spinner for last year’s World Cup triumph in India. Agar was injured and replaced by Marnus Labuschagne in the final 15-man squad.

The format of this T20 World Cup – Australia has three fairly comfortable matches in the group stage against Oman, Namibia and Scotland before it reaches the heavy-duty Super 8s stage – also gives selectors scope to rest, rotate and tinker with its XI and give all squad members a game.

Group B captains Richie Berrington of Scotland, Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus, England’s Jos Buttler and Australian Mitchell Marsh. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Cameron Green said it took Starc, who along with Cummins just featured in the IPL final, a staggering 60 hours to get from India to the Caribbean and his 38-hour journey was comparatively a good result.

Cummins said Australia’s go-to strategy of backing the world-class matchwinning pedigree of its quicks was not a given in the West Indies.

“Yeah, hard to know,’’ he said. “This time around we have two spinners in the squad.

“We didn’t have that for the ODI World Cup. It feels like we have all bases covered.”

Marcus Stoinis appears poised to win Australia’s other tight selection call in his battle with fellow all-rounder Green.

Green is monstering the ball in the nets after finishing the recent Indian Premier League in sublime batting form.

However, the superior T20 bowling skills of Stoinis may win out in these conditions, especially if selectors only choose two frontline quicks.

Australia might have originally been disappointed to be robbed of playing matches in New York in this tournament but perhaps less so after the Hell’s Kitchen pitch served up for the opening match between Sri Lanka and South Africa.

Ground staff work on the pitch during the interval of Sri Lanka and South Africa. Picture: Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

Batsmen struggled as Sri Lanka was bowled out for a dismal 77 and South Africa made tough work of the chase when it took 16.2 overs and finished four down.

The New York pitch was prepared in Florida by Adelaide curator Damien Hough and transported up highway on the back of trucks.

It was fiery and bouncy and blasted by Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga.

“This wicket is not good, very hard to bat, but the crowd was fantastic,” Hasaranga said.

South Africa’s Anrich Nortje hit back.

“There was nothing wrong with the wicket,” Nortje said. “Bowlers are allowed to have something in it for them, too.

“It was a great day for cricket. Doesn’t mean there needs to be 20 sixes in a game.”