Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade in Aussie dilemma ahead of T20 World Cup

Australia are facing a dilemma ahead of the T20 World Cup in June with the roles of both Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade coming under question. Stoinis was rested for the final T20 clash against the West Indies on Tuesday night as Australia lost by 37 runs as Andre Russell punished Adam Zampa.

Despite not featuring, Stoinis had been enjoying a rollercoaster series having struggled with the bat in the opening two games. Stoinis scored nine and 16 in his appearances for Australia in Hobart and Adelaide.

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The allrounder took five wickets across the two matches and was an important option for the bowling attack on pitches that favoured the batters. However, Stoinis has struggled in recent times with the bat and fans are asking questions.

Stoinis has been consistent in T20's for Australia since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic having scored more runs than any teammate at international level. Though big scores are coming harder to come by and his recent form shows it.

Stoinis has only scored one half-century in his last 50 matches in all formats for his nation. In the T20 arena, the allrounder has now only passed 50 once for Australia since the beginning of 2022. This was against Sri Lanka in October 2022.

Travis Head is expected to make a return for the World Cup squad, while Steve Smith is also in line. Matthew Short and young sensation Jake Fraser-McGurk are also waiting for their chance to crack into the team, which will place Stoinis on notice. The selectors may favour the allrounder due to his contribution with the ball, but he is no certainty to hold onto his starting Xi role. And with Mitch Marsh and Glenn Maxwell all but certain to find a position in the team, there is a real battle for the remaining positions.

Head was rested for the series but will most likely return for this month's three-match T20 tour of New Zealand, starting on February 21. Marsh moved up to open with David Warner for one innings in the T20 series. Although he does not believe he will remain in the position going forward.

"I've opened a little bit over the last 12 months and loved it, but I think I'll be back at three," Marsh said. "Heady will come back in (to open with David Warner), and we've seen how dominant they can be at the top of the order."

Josh Inglis poses questions for Matthew Wade

Matthew Wade captained Australia to the series win against the West Indies, but the 36-year-old has come under fire for his role behind the stumps. Josh Inglis has been waiting to become Australia's full-time wicketkeeper in the T20 format.

Wade has been a stellar performer for his country, but his glove work has come under fire in the recent series with a number of regulation misses costing Australia runs. Recently, Aussie cricket great Adam Gilchrist claimed Inglis was currently the better wicketkeeper in the squad.

Inglis also pushed his case with the bat having combined with David Warner for a 93-run partnership at the top of the order in the second T20 match in Hobart. However, scores of four and one in the following matches once again leaves doubts over whether Inglis has done enough to overtake Wade in the starting XI.

Mike Hussey is adamant Inglis will be in the World Cup squad heading overseas, but questions remain on who will get the main role behind the stumps. “(Wade) has done a fantastic job for Australia down the order,” Hussey said on Fox Cricket. “Inglis is the future, no question about that, and he’s so versatile, you can bat him anywhere. I’d have him in the squad, definitely. Wade, they really rate him highly, the role that he plays down the order. He’s got experience.”

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