Former Australia captain Tim Paine has offered some riveting advice to Mitchell Marsh and his team as they prepare for the T20 World Cup 2024. Paine believes that Australia should integrate Nathan Ellis into their pace attack, potentially replacing one of the established trio of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins. Historically, these three pace bowlers have been key figures in Australia’s World Cup campaigns across formats, but Paine insists that Ellis could provide the much-needed diversity and versatility to their lineup.
Nathan Ellis, at 29 years old, has had limited appearances for Australia in T20 Internationals. Despite not being a regular fixture in the squad, Ellis has been impressive in the opportunities he has received. He has played 14 T20Is, amassing 24 wickets, and has proven that he can rise to the occasion. Ellis was a reserve player during Australia’s title-winning run in the T20 World Cup 2021 but was not selected for the subsequent tournament on home soil in 2022.
Expressing his thoughts on the matter, Paine told ESPNCricinfo, “I think Australia have a great opportunity, and I hope they take it in this World Cup, and that is to pick Nathan Ellis. He would be my third quick. I think he just complements the other guys really well, he’s got a different skillset, comes from a different angle, different height, and some variety in the attack will be really important to win this World Cup. I know you are going to ask me straightaway who aren’t you playing…I’m going to go Mitchell Starc, [he] is my out and out number one quick, I’m picking him, obviously going with Adam Zampa, and I’m deciding between Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.”
Interestingly, Mitchell Starc recently clinched the Indian Premier League (IPL) title with Kolkata Knight Riders, taking an impressive 17 wickets in the season, including two standout player-of-the-match performances during the Qualifier 1 and the final. Pat Cummins also performed admirably, leading Sunrisers Hyderabad to the final. Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood remains one of Australia’s top bowlers, especially potent with the new ball, as evidenced by his three consecutive maiden overs in a warm-up game against Namibia just a few days ago.
Despite the stellar records of Hazlewood and Cummins, Paine believes Nathan Ellis offers something unique.
. “I’m going to pick one of them and I’m going to go with Nathan Ellis’ all-round skills, his ability to bowl all through the powerplay, I think his slower balls, he’s clever,” Paine added. “His international record given the opportunities he’s had is outstanding and I think now is the right time…that’s not to say they [Cummins and Hazlewood] are not the best couple of bowlers in the country, they are outstanding bowlers, and will continue to be, I just think Nathan Ellis complements the rest of that attack really, really well.”
The conversation around the selection comes at a critical time for Australia as they aim to clinch another T20 World Cup title. The inclusion of a bowler with Ellis’s distinctive skillset could indeed prove to be a game-changer, offering balance and unpredictability to the Australian attack.
Australia’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 is formidable, featuring Mitchell Marsh as captain and a blend of experienced players and emerging talents. The complete squad comprises: 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, and Adam Zampa. The reserves include Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short.
As the tournament approaches, all eyes will be on the final team selection and how it will reflect Paine’s suggestions. Fans and critics alike are eager to see if Nathan Ellis will secure a spot in the team and how his inclusion might influence Australia’s performance in the World Cup.
In related news, other cricket stories are capturing public attention. For instance, India’s team, led by Rohit Sharma, enters the T20 World Cup 2024 as the top-ranked team, with West Indies making it to the top four after a long hiatus. Additionally, a humorous encounter occurred during England’s series when a fan humorously questioned Shadab Khan about his bowling.
The cricket world eagerly anticipates the T20 World Cup 2024, with Tim Paine’s recommendations adding another layer of intrigue to the upcoming tournament. Will Australia heed Paine’s advice and give Nathan Ellis his much-deserved chance? Only time will tell.
