Sydney: Some impressive performances against New Zealand means Australian selectors have plenty to ponder when choosing their 15-player squad for this year's T20 World Cup.
Australia veteran Matthew Wade has admitted there are going to be some unlucky players on his side that miss selection for this year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
Australia finalised their preparations for June's tournament with a 3-0 series whitewash over New Zealand on Sunday and some strong performances from a host of fringe players mean selectors will have a difficult time on settling on their 15-player squad for the 20-over showcase in the USA and Caribbean.
All-rounder Matthew Short picked up the Player of the Match award in the series finale in Auckland to boost his credentials, while pacers Spencer Johnson (1/10) and Nathan Ellis (0/11) showed enough to suggest they could play a role should they win selection.
Wade believes having so many players in good form just months out from the start of the T20 World Cup was a major advantage for the 2021 champions, although he knows there will be some big names that do miss out on making the final cut, an ICC report said.
"It's going to be tight for those last few spots, I don't envy George's (chief selector George Bailey) position," Wade said.
"I wouldn't want to be picking the 15, there's going to be a couple of unlucky players," he said.
"But as I said there's always injury around, guys that are outside the 15 may get opportunities as well so we're happy we've got so much depth," Wade said.
Australia's top-order looks reasonably well set with Travis Head and David Warner likely to continue their formidable opening partnership and skipper Mitch Marsh the best option at No.3 following his Player of the Series heroics against the Kiwis.
White-ball specialists Glenn Maxwell and Tim David are all but certain to feature at the T20 World Cup, while Marcus Stoinis, Steve Smith and Short are among the other players in contention to play a role in a strong top six.
"Heady's got the X-factor, you saw in the 50-over World Cup, he can turn games so quickly and we're exciting to have him at the top of the order along with Davey (Warner) who's going to be there," Wade said.
"And then we can load up with Stoinis and David and Maxwell, and all these guys with extreme power," he said.
"It's an exciting time to be in the T20 squad, and I can't wait to get started at the World Cup to be honest," Wade said.
Wade himself is seemingly locked in a battle with fellow keeper Josh Inglis for one position and to occupy the vital No.7 position in the batting order, while first-choice spinner Adam Zampa is likely to be partnered by a pace line-up that includes experienced trio Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
It means that there is going to be a host of in-form players that could easily miss selection in the final 15-player squad and Wade admits a player in the ilk of Smith may be one of the unlucky ones.
"It's going to be tough to squeeze in that 15, whoever you are," Wade said.
"Obviously Smithy hasn't played a heap of T20 cricket in the last little bit for Australia and there will be chats around those final few positions in the 15," he said.
"Fingers crossed he makes it, but there's always going to be someone that's unlucky and I'm not sure who that's going to be this time," Wade added.
(Photo: ICC)
