5 players who were selected to play for Australia based on their BBL performances

The Australian summer brings with it some exhilarating exhibition of matches. It is the time of the year in down under when the national team battles it out in the bilateral series and the T20 extravaganza Big Bash League (BBL) begins at the same time, setting the platform for the young talent to explore.

The Australian edition of the shortest format kicks off in less than a week from now at the picturesque Gabba with Brisbane Heat and the defending champions Adelaide Strikers to lock horns. The T20 tournament has facilitated for the domestic cricketers the perfect platform to press their case for international selection with their noteworthy performances.

Their renditions have made impossible for the selectors to overlook them and rather be expedited to play for the national team. The ability to remain cool and calm in the nerve-wracking and the nail-biting T20 games and thrive in it is what makes them distinctly capable of fitting into the international stage.

Here we look at the player who played for Australia after performing well in BBL:

5. Ashton Agar

The Western Australian has failed to solidified his place in the Australian team even after five years of his debut, however, has made the most of his limited chances. Playing as a frontline bowler, Agar is more than a handy lower-order batsman. Batting at No. 11, he shone in his first ever appearance in red-ball cricket, scoring 98 in the 2013 Ashes on the English soil.

Agar has been with the Perth Scorchers right from the outset. His performance with the ball had been reasonably good but he let his bat do the talking as well scoring 149 runs in seven innings at an average of just under 50. As a result, he was given a call for the Trans-Tasman T20I tri-series in 2018.

The 26-year-old hogged the limelight by taking seven wickets in as many matches, including three wickets in the final against New Zealand as Australia stormed to a series win undefeated. Undoubtedly, Agar’s form in the Big Bash League in the previous season was the gateway that gave him another crack in the international cricket.

4. Ben McDermott

Ben McDermott, the son of former World Cup winning fast bowler Craig McDermott had been one of the shining stars in the previous Australian T20 extravaganza. An explosive middle-order batsman, playing for Hobart Hurricanes had mustered 480 runs in just 15 matches with a century to his name in the last season.

His pyrotechnics had given him his maiden break at the big stage when the right-hander was included in the T20I squad against Pakistan in October 2018. However, the 24-year old had an atrocious tour of UAE against Pakistan, copping a run-out in all the three T20s.

The Queenslander, arguably had a dismal start in the international arena but still remains in the selection frame in the shortest format and will look to boost his chances further in the upcoming tournament.

3. Alex Carey

Alex Carey had become the most obvious choice to don the gloves in limited-overs cricket. With Tim Paine and Matthew Wade struggling in the shorter formats, Carey got a chance and he grabbed it with both the hands to seal his position.

Having first seen in the Big Bash League playing for Adelaide Strikers, the South Australian crunched 443 runs in just 13 matches at an average of 49. He was called up to the national team for the tri-series involving New Zealand and England in early 2018.

Although he didn’t receive enough chances with the bat, the 27-year old had been flawless behind the stumps, effecting five dismissals. He was subsequently included in the ODI squad after Tim Paine’s incompetency, having also provided the vice-captaincy in his short tenure. The left-hander has scored 199 runs in six ODIs at a reasonable average of 33.

2. Andrew Tye

Tye has been one of the best bowlers in the shortest format in the recent times. His record in BBL and in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a testament of his ability to outsmart the batsmen, thereby curbing the flow of runs.

His last season had been terrific for Perth Scorchers, taking 16 wickets in just six games at an average of 12. He was subsequently added to Australia’s squad to face England and New Zealand.

The 31-year old’s death bowling had been one of the highlights of the tournament as Australia won the T20I tri-series with Tye emerging as the leading wicket-taker with 10 scalps to his name. Tye is now a regular fixture in the shorter formats for Australia and will play a crucial role for them in the World Cup.

1. D’Arcy Short

The 28-year old attacking opening batsman was perhaps the biggest draw from the Big Bash League 2017-18. Playing for Hobart Hurricanes, D’arcy Short racked up 572 runs in the season. The Western Australian was awarded the player of tournament, having scored a century and four half-centuries.

He was fast tracked into the Australian T20I team for the Trans-Tasman tri-series and was partnered along with David Warner at the top forming the most formidable opening pair in the series. Short finished the tournament with two half-centuries, however, his performance has gone downhill as of late and will look up to the upcoming BBL season to revive his career.