NEWS
Follow UsAustralia have three gun and experienced pacers in their squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will begin soon in the United States of America and West Indies: Josh Hazelwood, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc.
However, on ESPN’s Around the Wicket show, discussing how Australia should plan for the World Cup, former Test skipper Tim Paine backed his Tasmania teammate Nathan Ellis because of the variety he adds to the Australian pace attack.
Ellis is not as tall as the other three Australian quicks and has a very different trajectory, which allows his deliveries to skid a lot more, making it hard to get away. Paine cited these reasons while backing him as the third seamer of the side.
“I think Australia have a great opportunity, and I hope they take it in this World Cup, which 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 think some variety in the attack will be essential to win this World Cup,” Paine said.
Ellis has a better economy than Cummins in the power play in T20s. Meanwhile, his economy at the death is the same as Starc's, who has the best economy in the phase amongst the three experienced pacers in the side. Overall, Ellis has taken 166 wickets in 134 T20 games at an average of 23.5 and an economy of 8.1.
Paine banked on these numbers and Ellis’s skills with the ball in multiple phases of the game to advocate his selection ahead of either Cummins or Hazelwood as the third seamer.
“I know you are going to ask me straightaway who aren't you playing…Mitchell Starc is my out and out number one quick, I'm picking him. [I’m] obviously going with Adam Zampa, and I'm doing to decide between Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins,” Paine said.
“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 [Cummins and Hazlewood] are not the best couple of bowlers in the country, they are outstanding bowlers, and will continue to be. I think Nathan Ellis complements the rest of that attack really, really well,” Paine added.
Ellis took 1 for 17 in Australia’s first warm up game against Namibia. Australia will face Oman in their first game of the tournament on June 06.
If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out — big time. Play Fantasy on Cricket.com NOW! Download the App here.
