Within a space of 13 months, Pat Cummins has won the World Test Championship, Ashes, and ODI World Cup. Yet his former skipper, Tim Paine, isn’t sure about having Cummins in Australia’s T20 World Cup starting XI. The right arm pacer doesn’t have the best T20I record and hasn’t been an immediate starter in the past, but his recent success with the Sunrisers Hyderabad has led to calls for him to be named T20I skipper.
What stands Ellis apart?
But Paine wants Nathan Ellis ahead of him. Why? Because he brings variety. Unlike his taller teammates, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins, his shorter height brings something new. He’s got great variations and is a death-over specialist. Talking on ESPN’s Around the Wicket show, he said:
“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 I think some variety in the attack will be really important to win this World Cup (T20).“
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Paine also provided the reasoning why he has decided to pick Ellis and let one of their best pacers (Hazlewood and Cummins) over the last decade sit on the bench in T20 World Cup. He further added:
“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 doing to decide between Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
“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. His international record for the opportunities that he’s been given is outstanding, and I think now is the right time. That’s not to say they 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.”
Australia squad for T20 World Cup 2024
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.
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