Scorchers trio set for Australia T20 debuts against Sri Lanka

AT long last, Michael Klinger will have a chance to strut his stuff at international level.

The 36-year-old is the standout inclusion in Australia’s Twenty20 squad for the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka.

Also in line for international debuts are two of his Big Bash League-winning Perth Scorchers teammates – paceman Jhye Richardson and allrounder Ashton Turner.

Andrew Tye will get another shot on the big stage after an indifferent stint in the Aussie side early last year, while Hobart Hurricanes skipper Tim Paine will take the gloves after six years in the wilderness.

Billy Stanlake is on the roster as well after making his One Day International debut in the recent home series against Pakistan.

Were it not for the upcoming Test tour of India, none of those guys would be getting a run.

Aaron Finch will captain in the absence of Steve Smith, David Warner, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc and the other long-form stars who have flown to the UAE for intensive pre-series training.

Trevor Hohns, the interim head of selectors, spun it as an opportunity to blood youngsters for the World Twenty20 in 2020 while giving some well-travelled campaigners a chance to prove their worth at international level.

“With Australia currently ranked number six in this format and with a number of our frontline players preparing for the India Test series, we have chosen a squad with a good blend of experience combined with several younger players in an effort to improve our performance and therefore our ICC T20 ranking,” told reporters when the squad was announced last week.

“The influence of younger players in this squad also gives us the opportunity to look forward to the ICC World T20, which is being hosted here in Australia in 2020.

“The overall standards being set in the BBL are very high and many of these players are making a good impression, but consistency was key for the selectors on this occasion.”

Klinger’s absence from the international stage has confounded punters and pundits alike over the last decade.

He has performed to a high standard in first-class cricket throughout his career and, as the all-time leading scorer in the T20 Big Bash League, is a certified star against the white ball.

Hohns said the Victorian native’s call-up was just reward for years of consistent output at domestic level.

“On Michael Klinger’s selection, he has been a very good player in this form of the game for some time now,” he continued.

“He has a history of strong performances in T20 competitions in the UK and in the BBL, including the match-winning innings for the Perth Scorchers to secure this year’s BBL title.”

Paine has not featured for Australia since the 2011 ODI tour of Bangladesh, but the veteran wicketkeeper’s batting form for the Hurricanes in Big Bash 2016-17 was hard to ignore.

“Tim Paine has been included as the batsman-wicketkeeper, adding to the more experienced players like captain Finch, Henriques, Faulkner and Tye, all of whom have consistent success across multiple summers of the BBL, as well as experience on the international stage,” Hohns said.

Despite all the vacancies, there was no space for the two most prolific performers in BBL06.

Ben Dunk smashed 364 runs at 52.0 for the Adelaide Strikers and Sean Abbott snagged 20 wickets at a lethal 11.1 strike rate for the Sydney Sixers, yet neither was awarded a recall.

The selectors have instead opted for the likes of Travis Head and the injury-plagued Chris Lynn with the bat, while the presence of James Faulkner, Pat Cummins, et al has not helped Abbott’s cause.

“Both Travis Head and Chris Lynn were exceptional with the bat this summer and Chris’s selection will depend on his fitness,” Hohns added.

“He is due to see a specialist later this week and we will take into account that advice ahead of this series.

“Ashton Turner, Adam Zampa, Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson and Billy Stanlake round off the bowlers in the squad, all maintaining a balance of excellent economy and wickets in this format, which is essential for a winning side.”

Sri Lanka will be missing their star skipper, Angelo Mathews, who is out of action through injury.

The series kicks off on Friday, February 17 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before heading down the Princes Highway to Geelong, which has never before hosted an international cricket fixture.

Australia T20 squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Pat Cummins, James Faulkner, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Michael Klinger, Chris Lynn, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

2017 Australia vs. Sri Lanka T20 fixtures

First T20
7:40pm local time
Friday, February 17, 2017
Melbourne Cricket Ground

Second T20
7:20pm local time
Sunday, February 19, 2017
Simonds Stadium, Geelong

Third T20
7:20pm local time
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Adelaide Oval