The Australian cricket team led by Mitchell Marsh will be hoping to win its second ICC T20 World Cup 2024 title. Australia, who are a global force when it comes to ICC tournaments, last won the coveted T20 World Cup trophy in 2021. They head into the 2024 T20 World Cup, having won the 50-over event in India last year. Most of Australia’s white-ball stars form the crux of the 20-over team.

Australia are waiting on the progress of Marsh, who had to leave the IPL 2024 season following a hamstring tendon injury. He is recovering and is expected to be fit. Australia will want the best from their skipper, who would be raring to have a crack. David Warner also suffered an injury in the IPL and had to sit out of several games. But he is fine now and in what will be his last tournament in national colours, expect the southpaw to come good. Australia have a powerful squad with superb balance and are one of the favourites.

Australia have been one-time runners-up at the event in addition to winning one title and reaching two semi-finals. They have been ousted in R1 once and R2 on three occasions. At the 2024 event, Australia are paired alongside the likes of England, Namibia, Scotland and Oman. They will use these games to tune in for the Super 8s and flex their muscles after that.

Here, we analyze the Australian squad for the T20 World Cup.

A look at Australia’s 15-member squad

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.

Travelling Reserves: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matt Short

Travis Head can be the trump card for Australia

Travis Head had the license to kill in the Indian Premier League 2024 season at Sunrisers Hyderabad. He had a dream tournament before misfiring in the playoffs. Smh lost the final to KKR but Head was one of the tournament giants. Head scored 567 runs in the IPL 2024 season at a strike rate worth 191.55. He smashed a ton and four fifties at 40.50. Australia would be wanting to utilise his firepower and hand him the freedom to be aggressive upfront.

Strengths of the Australian cricket team

The pace-bowling unit of Australia is well sorted. IPL’s two most expensive signings ever in, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins can form a superb combination. Starc started the IPL 2024 season on a poor note but grew in stature as the tournament progressed. He delivered when it mattered most and put in match-winning performances in the playoffs. He was adjudged the Player of the Match in the final. KKR pacer Starc claimed 17 wickets on his IPL return. Starc can be menacing in the power play, and he claimed 11 scalps in IPL 2024 during this phase.

Cummins led SRH to the final before suffering a defeat. He was solid in the tourney and made his presence felt with 18 wickets. Cummins will hope to utilize his pace and extract bounce. The confidence in leading SRH can work wonders.

Josh Hazlewood will support the duo. With his nagging length and lines, Hazlewood is a traditional force. With his Test match-like approach, he can make things count in the shortest format. He will hit those hard lengths.

Nathan Ellis will lend his voice from the bench. He has a lot of pedigree and experience. With 167 scalps in T20s at 23.62, Ellis is an able performer.

Australia are blessed with able all-rounders in the side. Marsh can fit in as the fourth seamer if required. He will also be keen to play his aggressive brand of cricket in that top order. In Marcus Stoinis, Australia get a fifth option in bowling. Stoinis owns 127 T20 scalps at 26.72. Cameron Green can provide impetus with both bat and ball. His medium pace is another bonus for the side. Australia’s options are far too many and that’s a blessing.

Glenn Maxwell is another option with some handy spin on offer. He can chip in as the second spinner. Then there is Ashton Agar, who is relatively smart with his all-round exploits. His left-arm spin is valuable.

Adam Zampa will spearhead Australia’s spin department. The star leg-spinner is one shy of 300 T20 wickets. He averages a neat 22.71 in T20s.

Head and Warner will lead the batting department. Warner can stick through, allowing both Head and Marsh to play aggressively. This can hand Australia a good platform. In the middle, there is Green and Maxwell. Both players can send the ball out of the park effortlessly and can bat at several positions. Matthew Wade will keep and can provide the finishing touches with Stoinis there alongside. Australia also have a solid cover in the versatile Josh Inglis. The reputed white-ball specialist can cover up for Warner or Marsh when needed.

Weaknesses of the South Africa cricket team

Australia don’t have that many weaknesses as all bases are covered well. However, the form of certain key players is questionable. Marsh struggled in IPL 2024 before heading home. If he doesn’t recover fully, Australia have an issue. So one between Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short will come in.

Warner struggled as well and was short of runs. The injury bothered him as well. So, it remains to be seen how he turns up in his farewell tournament. A poor run of form can see Inglis come in for the legend.

Maxwell suffered big time in IPL 2024. He averages less than six and registered four ducks. He also took a short break in between owing to mental health. Australia need a ready Maxwell and there cannot be any lapses. If his batting doesn’t improve, this will hurt the side.

Author’s view: Australia are the tournament favourites

Australia have what it takes to win major tournaments and the ICC 2023 World Cup was the latest testament. They always find a way to peak at the right time. With Starc, Cummins, and Head firing in IPL 2024, the confidence will be upbeat. These are all big-game players and know how to get the best out of themselves. Australia are spoilt for options and the more the merrier. They can rotate and mix things around. Australia can bat up to number eight and will have at least eight bowling options in the playing XI. That’s a massive ploy.

Players to watch out for

Mitchell Starc: The experienced left-arm quick showed why he is the best in business by flooring SRH in Qualifier 1 and then in the final. Starc was at his absolute best when it mattered. He got swung and bowled with a lot of pace, forcing mistakes. Starc owns 188 T20 scalps at a splendid 20.31. Starc owns 27 wickets at the T20 World Cup at 24.44.

Adam Zampa: The right-arm spinner is one of the best in business. Zampa is a wicket-taking bowler like Yuzvendra Chahal of India. He is Australia’s top wicket-taker in T20Is. Zampa has 92 scalps at 22.63. His economy rate of 7.28 is highly impressive as well. Zampa has an excellent record at the T20 World Cup. He has 23 scalps at just 13.30. His economy rate is 6.12.

Australia’s schedule for the T20 World Cup

June 6, Australia vs Oman – Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados (6:00 AM IST)

June 8, Australia vs England – Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados (10:30  PM IST)

June 12, Australia vs Namibia – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua (6:00 AM IST)

June 16, Australia vs Scotland – Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia (6:00 AM IST)

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