JLT One-Day Cup: The top performers

In an era in which performances in white-ball cricket are increasingly valued when selecting teams for red-ball clashes, there were a number of standout efforts throughout the JLT One-Day Cup that will likely have made Australia's Test selectors take notice.

We've looked at the top 10 run-scorers and wicket-takers from the tournament, as well as the wicketkeeping dismissals list, with an eye as to how these players might be viewed in the context of the upcoming Magellan Ashes.

Top 10 run-scorers

Shaun Marsh has thrown his name back into Test calculations with a tournament-high 412 runs, achieved in just six innings at an average of 82.40 and strike-rate of 87.47. The stylish left-hander hit a century and three fifties and earned the backing of his state coach Justin Langer for a return to Baggy Green. "I've known Shaun since he was a little kid, (and) I've never seen him bat as well as he's batting at the moment," Langer said. "Whether it's Shaun or Mitch (Marsh) or any of the guys around Australia, the guy who can get Test hundreds should be batting at six."

Another Test discard in Blues ace Nic Maddinson trailed Marsh closely, scoring two centuries for the tournament, while Usman Khawaja – expected to be recalled at No.3 for the first Test in Brisbane – showed he was in good touch with a century and a couple of fifties of his own.

Blues run machine Daniel Hughes continued his outstanding output of recent seasons, bettering even Michael Bevan with the brightest start to a domestic one-day batting career in Australia, and veteran trio George Bailey, Callum Ferguson and Tom Cooper all produced big runs once again, the latter pair anchoring the Redbacks' run to the final.

Bailey has of course spent considerable time in Australia's one-day outfit and shouldn't be altogether ruled out of making a return – particularly considering he struck at better than 100 and hit more sixes (15) than anyone throughout the tournament.

Warriors captain Mitch Marsh, who starred in the final with an unbeaten 80 and scored a fine century earlier in the tournament, came in at eighth spot and was dismissed just twice in the tournament, while his teammate and evergreen opener Michael Klinger churned out another couple of hundreds to show that, even at 37, his run-scoring ways show little sign of slowing down.

Rounding out the top 10 was Darwin product Jake Weatherald, who provided South Australia with a series of blazing starts with his aggressive approach at the top of the order.

Top 10 wicket-takers

Young Western Australia quick Jhye Richardson was a standout performer in a strong pace attack, claiming 13 wickets at 27.38 (economy rate 5.15) with good pace and bounce through much of the tournament. The right-armer was a T20I bolter against Sri Lanka in February and higher honours could once again be in line for him this summer, though the queue for a fast-bowling Test berth is a lengthy one.

Joe Mennie is another biding his time on that queue once again, after last summer playing one Test before being dropped back to Sheffield Shield cricket as quickly as he'd appeared in Baggy Green.

Mennie, 28, tied with Richardson on 13 wickets, but boasted a better average (22.53) and economy rate (4.66) than the Warriors quick.

Click the 'wickets' tab below to view the top 10 wicket-takers

Blues quick Sean Abbott has a happy knack of taking wickets with the white ball, having been the top wicket-taker in last summer's KFC Big Bash, and the right-armer was at it again with a dozen victims at 24.75.

Abbott was one of four bowlers to claim 12 wickets, alongside three other bowlers to have represented Australia in the short forms: Bushrangers leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed, his teammate Chris Tremain, and Redbacks paceman Daniel Worrall.

And while 35-year-old Fawad's time in green and gold might have passed him by, the other three will all be hopeful of returning to national colours this summer, particularly if they can back up their JLT Cup returns with impressive performances in the Sheffield Shield.

Tigers leggie Cameron Boyce continues to take plenty of wickets, finishing as his side's top performer with 10 at 29.70, while five bowlers finished the tournament with nine wickets apiece: Warriors quicks Simon Mackin and Andrew Tye were outstanding in claiming theirs in four matches each; Test spinner Nathan Lyon again showed his white-ball wear with nine in five matches; and Victoria's Peter Siddle and Warrior Matt Short were consistent across all seven appearances. 

Interestingly, Siddle's economy rate of 3.95 was the lowest of any bowler in the tournament to have take two or more wickets - the right-armer was miserly in his return to action and, with 62 caps to his name, remains the most experienced active Test bowler in the country.