Australia’s first T20 international since the failed World Cup campaign in the West Indies has appeared almost out of nowhere and will provide a glimpse of the team’s future.
Nathan Ellis will lead the Australian attack in Scotland. Picture: Randy Brooks / AFP
The Grange Club in Edinburgh will on Wednesday night host the clash between Scotland and an Australian side set to feature young guns Jake Fraser-McGurk and Cooper Connolly with a pace attack spearheaded by Nathan Ellis and Riley Meredith.
There will be no Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood or Pat Cummins for the three clashes, all being played at the same venue against one of the five teams Australia defeated at the T20 World Cup, without progressing to the final four, which signalled the end of the road for David Warner.
His retirement has opened the door for 22-year-old batting dynamo Fraser-McGurk to open for Australia in what looms as his T20 debut, having burst on to the international scene with an 18-ball innings of 41 in his second ODI against the West Indies in February.
Critics suggested not picking Fraser-McGurk, who blasted 330 runs in nine games after being drafted into the Indian Premier League for the first time, hindered Australia’s chances.
But he didn’t fare as well in the Major League Cricket T20 tournament in the US, failing to pass 20 in any of seven innings playing for the Washington Freedom.
He has been earmarked as the man most likely to open the batting with Travis Head in both the T20 and ODI sides and now gets an off-Broadway T20 debut having been picked in the squads for back-to-back series against first Scotland then England.
While light on for experience in the bowling ranks for the Scotland games, after Hazlewood was forced to withdraw due to a calf injury, Mitch Marsh, Head, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinis are seasoned players.
Ellis and Meredith, with 22 T20s between them, will have back-up from breakthrough fast bowler Xavier Bartlett.
Ellis said they had thrived in the Australian team environment.
“The ‘big three’ have been the stalwarts over a long period of time,” Ellis told cricket.com’s Unplayable podcast.
“The big positive of the Australian cricket team and the Australian environment at the moment is whether you’ve played 100 games or zero games, you come in and you’re really prompted to be yourself.
“Everyone’s very inclusive, calm, relaxed and happy, so I think it speaks volumes of the environment that ‘Ronnie’ (head coach Andrew McDonald) and Mitch (Marsh) have put together.
“You’ve got fresh faces coming in and they’re calm and comfortable.
“I still feel like a fresh face, but I’ve been around a little bit now and I’m just really excited to keep putting on the Aussie jersey and playing with the (other) fresh faces now.
“Hopefully, we form some new partnerships and combinations and throw our hats in the ring for future games and future tournaments.”
AUSTRALIA T20 SERIES V SCOTLAND
September 4: The Grange, Edinburgh, 11pm AEST
September 6: The Grange, Edinburgh, 11pm AEST
September 7: The Grange, Edinburgh, 11pm AEST
