T20 World Cup 2024 – Tim Paine: Nathan Ellis should be in Australia’s first T20 attack.

Ellis, 29, has struggled to get a run in Australia’s T20 side despite returning well in the 14 matches he has played – only one home run. He was a substitute in the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE when Australia won the title and did not play for the home team in 2022.

“I think Australia have a great opportunity, and I hope they take it at this World Cup, and that’s to pick Nathan Ellis. He’ll be third straight away,” Paine, who played for Ellis’ state Tasmania, told ESPN’s. Around The Wicket. “I think he fits well with the other guys, he has a different skill, he comes from a different angle, a different height, and I think the attack will be very important to win this world cup.”

“I know you will immediately ask me who is not playing … I will go for Mitchell Starc, [he] he’s my first out and out, I’m picking him, I’m obviously going with Adam Zampa, and I’m deciding between Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

“I’ll pick one of them and I’ll go with Nathan Ellis’ ability to play all round, his ability to bowl every powerplay, I think his balls are slow, he’s smart. His international record is the opportunities he’s been given to be outstanding and I think now’s the right time…it doesn’t mean they [Cummins and Hazlewood] they’re not the best pitchers in the country, they’re the best bowlers, and they’ll continue to be, I think Nathan Ellis fits this offense, really well.”

Starc ended the IPL in excellent form with a back-to-back man of the match awards for champions Kolkata Knight Riders, Cummins was very consistent for the Sunrisers Hyderabad he captained and Hazlewood has put together some outstanding T20 performances when his schedule has allowed, including 3. of 16 in the 2021 final.

However, Ellis’ numbers compete well with them and he has been particularly strong in two difficult phases of the innings: the powerplay and the death. In all T20s since 2020 (domestic and international), Ellis has the second best economy of those selected in the World Cup squad behind Hazlewood at the time of his death, where he made his name, he is the best player in Australia by some. the margin is higher in that category than others.

Ellis made just one appearance for Punjab Kings in this season’s IPL and took 1 for 24 in a rare win for the second-placed side. In Australia’s first warm-up match against Namibia he took 1 for 17 in his four overs.

There is still an opportunity for Australia to try a combination of bowling attacks in the group stage where they will face Oman, England, Namibia and Scotland. Starc and Cummins only arrived in the Caribbean at the weekend when the team traveled to Barbados.