Former Australian coach Justin Langer labelled Marcus Stoinis “crucial” for Australia’s T20 World Cup hopes after the veteran slugger was confirmed in the squad which will head to the tournament in the USA and Caribbean without batting dynamo Jake Fraser-McGurk.
National selection chief George Bailey said the red-hot 22-year-old, who has lit up the Indian Premier League where he is the third leading run-scorer among Australians, was part of “long conversations” but behind experienced players like Stoinis and veteran Matthew Wade who can play crucial middle order roles.
But Bailey also left the door left open for changes before the final deadline on May 25.
Depth in top-order batters, including Travis Head, player of the match in last year’s ODI World Cup final and the top Aussie currently in India, counted against Fraser-McGurk who hasn’t played a single T20 international.
Despite veteran opener David Warner carrying a finger injury in to what looms as his final international event, and Mitch Marsh, who was confirmed as captain, overcoming a hamstring complaint, selectors opted not to change the plan they have had in train for some time despite a push for Fraser-McGurk from two former Australian captains in Aaron Finch and Tim Paine.
Steve Smith is also not among the 11 members of the squad that claimed the T20 World Cup in 2021 who get a chance to shoot for glory.
When reports emerged Fraser-McGurk was set to be snubbed, Finch wrote on Twitter: “Has there been a player that’s had a bigger impact in their first 5 games of IPL than Jake Fraser-McGurk? Three scores above 50, striking over 200. The kid is a superstar!”
Bailey admitted it had been tough.
“Steve Smith, Matt Short, Jason Behrendorff, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett were all part of long conversations, along with several others, including Jake Fraser-McGurk who is yet to play T20 International cricket but continues to impress and is developing rapidly,” Bailey said.
“Being constrained to a squad of 15 for World Cups is always a challenge given the different scenarios and options we’d like to cover.
“We will continue monitoring several players who have missed out on this preliminary squad and note that if we wish to change this squad, we have the option to do so over the coming weeks in accordance with ICC regulations.
“Ultimately the balance of the final 15 needs to provide the best chance of being successful in this campaign.”
Stoinis, 34, who lost both his Cricket Australia contract and his place in the ODI team after the emergence of Fraser McGurk and Matt Short, has made 186 runs in his past three IPL innings to make his World Cup case.
Following his maiden century with a four-ball duck, before then swatting a match winning 62 off 45 balls to cement his place as a middle-order powerhouse for the Aussies and garnered strong support from his Lucknow Super Giants coach Langer.
“He has been a real matchwinner,” Langer said after Stoinis guided his team home to a win over the Mumbai Indians.
“In T20, in big tournaments, match winners are crucial if you are going to keep progressing. He’s showing that presence at the top of the order. He took a good catch too. He’s playing well.”
Head is the leading Aussie run scorer at the IPL having belted 338 runs in eight games including a century. Stoinis is next on the list with 316, and then comes Fraser-McGurk with 259.
Of those picked in the World Cup squad, Tim David has 217 runs, Warner 167 from an injury-hit campaign, Cameron Green 111 runs from eight matches, Glenn Maxwell only 32 runs having dropped himself midway through the tournament before making a return, and Wade has played just the single game.
Ashton Agar regained his place as a second spinner along with No.1 Adam Zampa, while Nathan Ellis will back-up first choice fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, who has struggled in the IPL, and Josh Hazlewood who missed the Indian tournament for the birth of his first child.
Marsh, who has captained Australia with success in the T20 format, said he was honoured to have been named skipper of the side.
“It’s been an immense privilege to play for my country and now an even greater honour to lead the squad to a World Cup,” he said.
“I am extremely grateful to have such a good group of people in our players and staff. We have had some strong success in recent times and I am hopeful that will continue in what looks like a wide-open tournament.
“We take a very experienced group to the West Indies, I very much look forward to the challenge and working alongside Andrew (McDonald), the coaches, players and staff.”
Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird described Marsh as an “exemplary player and leader within the group for a long period of time”.
“He has developed his captaincy in state and BBL cricket and now extends this leadership to international level. The Board looks forward to watching the team in the West Indies and wish them every success,” he said.
AUSTRALIAN T20 WORLD CUP SQUAD
Mitchell Marsh (c) Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc,
Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa