3 Australia players who should've been a part of World XI to face Asia XI

On Tuesday, Bangladesh Cricket Board announced the squads for the World XI vs Asia XI T20I series that is slated to begin in the second half of the March. This tournament is organized to commemorate the 100th anniversary of their founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. It consists of two teams that will lock horns at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.

One team is formed picking the players from Asia that will come face to face against the World XI team that will consist of players from across the globe. There is no doubt about the fact that it is going to be a mind-wobbling two-match T20I series with too many high-profile players taking part in it.

BCB have picked players like Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Rashid Khan for Asia XI whereas they have picked an equally balanced squad for World XI that has players like Sheldon Cottrell, Alex Hales, Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis.

Both sides look amazing on paper but one thing that was missing was the absence of many prominent Australia players. It is always treated to watch the Aussie players in the shorter format. And, it would have been an amazing experience to watch a player like David Warner opening the innings alongside the ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle.

Let’s see which three players should’ve been part of World XI side:

1. David Warner

David Warner, the left-handed opener is currently one of the in-form and most dangerous batsmen operating across the globe. Fans go crazy after watching his power-hitting in the shorter format, as he looks like a pocket-sized dynamo planted in the cricket field. Even the bowlers fear to bowl against him when he is in full flow with the bat.

He is one of the Aussie players, who should have been part of the World XI side as he is one of the best T20I batters across the globe. The left-hander has scored 2,150 runs in his 78 T20Is with the help of 16 half-centuries and one ton.

It would have been a rare sight for the fans to watch Warner opening the innings with Chris Gayle as they are the two explosive batsmen of the shorter format. However, the fans missed the chance as he has not been picked in the World XI squad.

2. Steve Smith

Steve Smith, the former Aussie skipper is one of the high profile players in cricket. If one player, who should be a perfect pick in World XI squad then it is none other than Smith, who has turned himself into a vital part for his national team. He usually comes out to bat at number three and ends up scoring bucketloads of runs by the end of his inning on the majority of the occasions.

Moreover, the fans would have got to watch a fearsome rivalry between Virat Kohli and Steve Smith once again on the field that might have given a much-needed hype to this two-game series. In 38 T20Is he has managed to gather 651 runs with four half-centuries and a career-best of 90.

He also plays for many teams in several T20 leagues that are held across the globe. Unlike other T20 specialist batsmen, he is not known for sublime hitting. But it is his mindset that makes him a perfectly tuned player for the shorter format. He knows his negatives that he cannot smack big sixes. On the other hand, he is well aware of the fact that he can score boundaries whenever needed.

3. Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc, the left-handed speed gun from Australia is arguably one of the deadliest bowlers in international cricket. And, when the game is going to be players between Asia XI and World XI then his name should have been listed out in the squad. His toe crushing yorkers and 150+ kph deliveries make him a different league bowler from his compatriots.

So far, he has donned national jersey in 30 T20I games in which he has managed to grab 40 wickets on a good economy rate of 6.86. It would have been a treat to watch KL Rahul and Virat Kohli facing the tall heightened bowler in such a high profile series. There are very rare moments when these players come face to face as Starc doesn’t take part in IPL.

So, the fans only get to watch them in a competition during the bilateral series that reaches its extreme heights. His presence would have given a much-needed strength to the bowling unit of World XI that looks on backfoot in terms of their wicket-taking abilities.