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Australia T20 form guide: Allrounders

Captain Smith has a host of all-round talent to call upon in his current T20 squad

The infrequency of international Twenty20 cricket often provides an air of uncertainty when two nations collide in the game's shortest format.

For some players it could be hours between fixtures, for others it could be years. But with the emergence of domestic tournaments scattered across the globe, there is often no shortage of T20 cricket available to those who are keen, and have the necessary skills. 

In order to take some of the guess work out of what to expect from Australia in their three-match T20 international series against South Africa, which starts on Friday in Durban, here's a rundown of Australia's allrounders, with bowlers to follow tomorrow.

James Faulkner


ICC T20I batting ranking: N/A


ICC T20 batting ranking: 54th

Image Id: ~/media/85BBC08CA84346878EB32EFBE41E92AF

Last 10 matches

29/01/16 – 10 (7b, 1x6); 0-35 (3), Australia v India, MCG

26/01/16 – 10 (7b, 1x6); 1-43 (4), Australia v India, Adelaide Oval

06/01/16 – DNB; 0-11 (1), Stars v Hurricanes, MCG

02/01/16 – DNB; 0-26 (3), Stars v Renegades, MCG

27/12/15 – 0 (1b); 0-13 (1), Stars v Sixers, SCG

20/12/15 – 45no (36b, 2x4); 0-49 (4), Stars v Thunder, MCG

18/12/15 – 10no (10b, 1x4); 2-21 (4), Stars v Strikers, Adelaide Oval

29/08/15 – 5 (3b, 1x4); 2-25 (4), Lancashire v Northampton, Edgbaston

29/08/15 – 20no (14b, 2x6); 3-29 (3.5), Lancashire v Hampshire, Edgbaston

15/08/15 – 4no (3b); 2-28 (4), Lancashire v Kent, Canterbury

Batting ave: 26; bowling ave: 31

Best match: 20no & 3-29, Lancashire v Hampshire, Edgbaston

Faulkner has been Australia's lynch pin in their one-day side during the past two years, contributing frugal overs armed with a variety of slower balls and finishing off games because, well, he's the 'Finisher'. India got a hold of him in January, picking his variations which had little impact on the roads in Melbourne and Adelaide. But the pitches on the subcontinent will suit Faulkner, whose repertoire of seamers, cutters and off-speed deliveries will grip on the slow surfaces. With no Mitchell Starc or Mitchell Johnson, Faulkner's left-arm angle is a point of difference in a diverse bowling attack.

John Hastings


ICC T20I batting ranking: N/A


ICC T20I bowling ranking: N/A

Image Id: ~/media/63FE4A68445645FCB1FC14DAAD7463CD

Last 10 matches

29/01/16 – 4 (6b); 0-35 (3), Australia v India, MCG

09/01/16 – DNB; 0-46 (4), Stars v Renegades, Docklands

06/01/16 – DNB; 1-23 (4), Stars v Hurricanes, MCG

02/01/16 – DNB; 4-29 (4), Stars v Renegades, MCG

20/12/15 – DNB; 2-32 (4), Stars v Thunder, MCG

18/12/15 – 15no (8b, 1x4, 1x6); 1-40 (4), Stars v Strikers, Adelaide Oval

17/07/15 – 42 (22b, 4x4, 2x6); 1-37 (4), Durham v Nottingham, Chester-le-Street

10/07/15 – 43no (12b, 5x4, 3x6); 2-25 (3), Durham v Yorkshire, Leeds

05/07/15 – 0 (6b); 0-36 (4), Durham v Worcestershire, New Road

03/07/15 – DNB; 3-10 (3.5), Durham v Leicestershire, Chester-le-Street

Batting ave: 35; bowling ave: 22

Best match: 43no & 2-25, Durham v Worcestershire, New Road

'The Duke' continues to deliver whenever he puts on an Australian uniform. Charging in like a front-row forward, Hastings has a vast array of options with the ball, making him a handful for opposition batsmen in the dying stages. While he had another solid season for the Melbourne Stars, it's his one-day form that has led to his inclusion. In his last eight matches in ODI cricket, Hastings has conceded just 4.75 runs per over while taking 16 wickets at 22.43. 

WATCH: Hastings takes career-best ODI haul

That white-ball form alone would warrant a spot in the squad, but it's his lusty hitting that makes him such a promising package. Powerfully built with long levers, Hastings makes even the biggest grounds look small. His ability to clear the rope is balanced with his cool head under pressure, as was seen when he guided Australia to victory in concert with Mitchell Marsh in Wellington last month.

Mitchell Marsh


ICC T20I batting ranking: N/A


ICC T20I bowling ranking: N/A

Image Id: ~/media/8BDD84615BE34161AC4E80E3CC4442C7

Last 10 matches

21/12/15 – 1 (2b); 0-16 (2), Scorchers v Strikers, WACA Ground

31/08/15 – 13 (13b, 1x4); 0-21 (2), Australia v England, Cardiff

30/09/14 – 63no (38b, 7x4, 3x6); 2-12 (3), Scorchers v Lahore, Bangalore

27/09/14 – 19 (26b, 2x4); DNB, Scorchers v Chennai, Bangalore

24/09/14 – 4 (10b); DNB, Scorchers v Kolkata, Hyderabad

20/09/14 – 40no (26b, 3x4, 2x6); 0-21 (3), Scorchers v Dolphins, Chandigarh

07/02/14 – 37 (12b, 2x4, 4x6); DNB, Scorchers v Hurricanes, WACA Ground

05/02/14 – 3 (4b); DNB, Scorchers v Sixers, SCG

27/01/14 – 15 (14b, 3x4); DNB, Scorchers v Stars, MCG

16/01/14 – 7 (8b); 0-30 (2), Scorchers v Strikers, WACA Ground

Batting ave: 25; bowling ave: 50

Best match: 63no; 2-12, Scorchers v Lahore, Bangalore

While Hastings' form in 50-over cricket booked his ticket to India, Marsh has been picked from a touch of his Test output with the ball mixed with a pinch of one-day deeds with the bat. The allrounder could hold his own as a five-day fast bowler, taking regular wickets while cranking up the speed gun to 145kph at certain times across the summer. Only Nathan Coulter-Nile and Marsh can claim to be in the express pace category, so that extra zip could be vital. 

WATCH: Marsh, Hastings steer Australia home

The 24-year-old has also had a breakthrough couple of months in the ODI arena, posting his maiden century at the SCG in January, and leading Australia to victory, with Hastings by his side against the Black Caps. His T20 form has been scattered between home and abroad, but his destructive hitting makes him a daunting prospect.

Glenn Maxwell


ICC T20I batting ranking: 57th


ICC T20I bowling ranking: 33rd

Image Id: ~/media/CA4E03A992164C62BC5B57DC5955DB22

Last 10 matches


31/01/16 – 3 (5b); 0-10 (1), Australia v India, SCG

29/01/16 – 1 (2b); 1-17 (2), Australia v India, MCG

06/01/16 – 56no (32b, 3x4, 3x6); 1-25 (3), Stars v Hurricanes, MCG

02/01/16 – 44 (18b, 1x6); DNB, Stars v Renegades, MCG

27/12/15 – 50 (36b, 5x4); 1-35 (4), Stars v Renegades, MCG

20/12/15 – 2 (8b); 2-28 (4), Stars v Thunder, MCG

18/12/15 – 21 (12b, 2x4, 1x6); DNB, Stars v Strikers, Adelaide Oval

31/08/15 – 44 (32b, 6x4, 1x6); 0-12 (2), Australia v England, Cardiff

17/07/15 – 17 (13b, 1x4, 1x6); 0-10 (1), Yorkshire v Northampton, Northampton

14/07/15 – 0 (1b); 0-21 (2), Yorkshire v Worcestershire, Leeds

Batting ave: 24; bowling ave: 32

Best match: 56no; 1-25, Stars v Hurricanes, MCG

Maxwell has had a lean T20 run since the last edition of the World T20 in Bangladesh two years ago – a best of 44 with three single-figure scores. What is encouraging are his performances on the big stage; Maxwell was Australia's best in Bangladesh and was named in the official ICC 2015 Cricket World Cup Team of the Tournament a year ago. 

Quick Single: Maxwell looking to deliver on the big stage

He puts his poor T20I form down to the scarcity of consecutive international fixtures, but when he does get in a rhythm, he's a handful to stop. With an endless supply of shots, the Victorian can be a nightmare to set a field to. A former Indian Premier League MVP, Maxwell's experience in India, his proficiency against the turning ball and his underrated off-spin will be vital to Australia.

Shane Watson


ICC T20I batting ranking: 11th


ICC T20I bowling ranking: 24th

Image Id: ~/media/95133AE742D1499190F4E5FD57CC4151

Last 10 matches

05/02/16 – 28 (31b, 4x4); 1-37 (4), Islamabad v Peshawar, Dubai

04/02/16 – 15 (27b, 1x4); 0-13 (2), Islamabad v Quetta, Dubai

31/01/16 – 124no (71b, 10x4, 6x6); 1-30 (4), Australia v India, SCG

29/01/16 – 15 (11b, 2x4); 0-17 (3), Australia v India, MCG

26/01/16 – 12 (8b, 1x6); 2-24 (4), Australia v India, Adelaide Oval

24/01/16 – 6 (7b); 2-17 (3), Thunder v Stars, MCG

21/01/16 – 7 (8b, 1x4); 2-28 (4), Thunder v Strikers, Adelaide Oval

16/01/16 – 66 (41b, 7x4, 3x6); 0-22 (2), Thunder v Sixers, SCG

11/01/16 – 62 (43b, 3x4, 4x6); 0-36 (3.2), Thunder v Renegades, Homebush

07/01/16 – 18 (17b, 3x4); 0-38 (4), Thunder v Scorchers, Homebush

Batting ave: 39; bowling ave: 33

Best match: 124no; 1-30, Australia v India, SCG

Shane Watson is Australia's greatest T20 player. The allrounder is Australia's leading wicket-taker in the format, owns the second-highest score, and is a former World T20 Player of the Tournament. Numbers suggest Watson must open the batting, and his sparkling century against India in Sydney supports that notion.

WATCH: Watson makes stunning 124no

While he's known for his savage stroke play, his subtle swing and deft variations with the ball make him hard to get away, conceding 7.64 runs per over. The veteran is also a two-time IPL MVP, whose experience on the subcontinent will be counted on.