Inglis has what we lack, so start him

SELECTORS called Josh Inglis into the World Cup squad for a reason and that reason demands he starts for Australia in Saturday’s T20 opener.

Captain Aaron Finch has already declared Matthew Wade will get first crack over Inglis as wicketkeeper but that decision needs to be revisited after the uncapped West Australian clinched Australia a warm-up win against New Zealand with the only two balls he faced.

It wasn’t so much the two boundaries Inglis confidently stroked with Australia needing eight off three balls that should change selectors’ minds – but more the reason he was out there at all – an alarming middle-order collapse of 3-1 in just six balls chasing 159.

Australia’s problems with middle- order batting in T20 cricket is nothing new. In fact it’s why selectors had the good sense to call the uncapped Inglis into the squad at the last minute in the hope he had the skills to be the finisher they so desperately need. The fact Inglis didn’t come in to bat against NZ in Abu Dhabi until No.9 shows he’s not currently in plans to start in Australia’s tournament opener against South Africa on Saturday.

But now is not the time for the Aussies to die wondering. They’re in a cut-throat group at the World Cup where they must win two of three games against the Proteas, tournament favourites England and defending champions West Indies to progress to the semi-finals.

Put simply, Justin Langer’s side can’t afford to feel its way into the tournament.

If history has taught Australia anything about why it has never won a T20 World Cup, it’s that shoehorning top-order stars into the middle order does not work as well as it looks on paper.

The selection of Inglis in the squad was an inspired choice, but not if he’s left watching from the grandstands.