As Australia seeks to keep alive its hopes of claiming the current T20 series underway in India early on Saturday morning (AEDT), the final two matches are set to provide national selectors with some critical information for next year’s World Cup.
While the ‘Big Show’ Glenn Maxwell and the majority of Australia’s recent ODI World Cup-winning side has returned home, there is much to be gained from the next two outings in Raipur and Bengaluru on Tuesday morning in a series India leads 2-1.
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This is particularly the case for the four reinforcements who arrived this week to replace their fatigued compatriots, with the quartet now holding an opportunity to bolster fringe claims of winning a spot in the squad for the World Cup in the USA and West Indies.
Ben McDermott, Josh Phillipe, and Ben Dwarshuis have all represented Australia in short-form cricket, while recently-appointed Sydney Thunder captain Chris Green also has the chance to impress after building extensive experience in domestic competitions around the world.
Every series, no matter the significance or format, offers selectors a guide to the future. As stand-in Australian coach Andre Borovec said prior to Steve Smith’s departure from India, there was a reason the selectors wanted the former captain to stay on after the World Cup.
“One of the things we had in our planning coming into this series was to have a look at Steve up the top and we’ve had a chance to do that now,” Borovec said.
With a view to the next World Cup in June and July in mind, foxsports.com.au assesses the recent form and prospects of the reserves called up to duty in India.
CHRIS GREEN
Chris Green has built an excellent reputation in the shorter formats of cricket, having played in competitions in India, Pakistan, the Caribbean , England and also in Canada during a 190-game T20 career.
The New South Welshman, who has also impressed for his state in Sheffield Shield over the past two season, now has the chance to influence Australian selectors with a view to the 2024 World Cup, though he has some ground to make up on the first-choice options.
After a terrific World Cup, Adam Zampa is clearly the No.1 spin bowling option in shorter-form cricket. Ashton Agar was unfortunate to miss the tour due to an untimely calf complaint.
After taking four wickets against South Africa in a match in September, Tanveer Sangha is yet to excel in India, having gone wicketless in the past two matches while compiling figures of 2-123 from his 12 overs in the current series.
A handy batter who has shown the temperament needed to perform in first class cricket, Green’s ability with the bat in the lower order could prove important in what has been a competitive series.
BEN MCDERMOTT
It is almost 20 months since Ben McDermott suggested on his last trip to the subcontinent for Australia that he might become a permanent fixture in the nation’s T20 and ODI sides.
After Travis Head and Aaron Finch were out for ducks in an ODI against Pakistan, McDermott batted with resolve at No.3 in Lahore to score 36 from 50 balls. It followed a fine century in the format for his country in an earlier game.
A couple of days later in the same city in April, 2022, he steered Australia to a three-wicket T20 win when unbeaten on 22 from 19 runs while batting at No.7.
The 28-year-old, who is a handy keeper, scored 143 runs from 112 balls last month for Queensland against Tasmania in Mackay and has the chance to impress in India.
But the challenge for McDermott is to make enough runs to put his name into the equation given the credentials of rapid scorers including Mitch Marsh, David Warner, Maxwell, Matthew Wade, Josh Inglis and Tim David, not to mention all-rounders Cameron Green and Aaron Hardie.
JOSH PHILLIPE
National selectors have kept a close eye on Josh Phillipe, who scored a century for Australia A against New Zealand A during a first class match in Mackay in early September.
It is now more than two years since the talented wicketkeeper-batter stepped out for his nation in T20 and ODI matches, with Phillipe struggling to make an impact in those outings.
He scored 10 when opening against the West Indies in his most recent ODI in Bridgetown in July, 2021, and made the same tally against Bangladesh in a T20 outing the following month.
The 26-year-old has not fired in recent innings for his state but did make 61 against New South Wales at the start of November.
Similarly to McDermott, Phillipe will need to produce something remarkable, if given the chance over the next two matches, to move ahead of more-established compatriots.
BEN DWARSHUIS
The next week offers New South Welshmen Ben Dwarshuis an opportunity to highlight what he can offer the national side after a brief experience with Australia last year.
The left-arm quick made a one-off appearance for his nation in a T20 against Pakistan last April but was expensive when conceding 42 runs from his three overs.
His fellow T20 debutants in that match, Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green, were members of the recent successful ODI World Cup winning team.
The 29-year-old represented Australia A in Mackay in September and has endured a busy domestic season to date, with his best effort
five wickets against Victoria in October.
After another strong World Cup, Mitchell Starc is clearly the first-choice option when it comes to left-arm quicks. There are high hopes for Spencer Johnson as well, with the South Australian taking 2-33 in a clash against South Africa in Durban in August.
But the next two matches gives Dwarshuis, if selected, an opportunity to ensure his name remains in the minds of selectors as a reserve.
JOEL DAVIES — A CONTENDER FOR THE FUTURE?
Joining the reinforcements on the flight to India was former Australian under-19 captain Joel Davies, who shapes as an all-rounder of considerable promise.
Not only can Davies bat and bowl, he already sits among the best fielders in the country according to his older brother Ollie Davies, who impressed again with New South Wales this week during their Sheffield Shield victory over Tasmania.
The importance of exceptional fielding was underscored during the World Cup triumph, Warner andLabuschagne at the forefront of a brilliant overall effort.
Davies showed exceptional skill in the field in two Big Bash outings with the Sydney Thunder last summer and will step out for the Sydney Sixers in the 2023/2024 series.
It is his second visit to the subcontinent in the past three months, with the New South Welshman also travelling to India as part of the MRF Academy in August, and it is expected he may well gain experience as a replacement fielder while serving as a net bowler over the next week.
