Aussies ponder how to fit finisher David into the XI

Power-hitter Tim David is on the cusp of an Australian debut as selectors consider how to best utilise the 26-year-old who has built a fearsome reputation on the global T20 circuit.

On Thursday Australia named their squad for the home T20 World Cup, with David's inclusion at the expense of leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson the only change they made from the group that won the title in the Dubai last November.

Where David fits into Australia's XI is the burning question for the defending champions.

Captain Aaron Finch and fellow veteran David Warner are locked in as openers, and Mitch Marsh is the first-choice first drop.

Although currently nursing a sore ankle picked up in the ODI series against Zimbabwe, Marsh will be fit for the three-game T20 tour of India next month and chair of selectors George Bailey, when asked if Marsh was a lock for the No.3 position, said: "Yeah, he is."

That leaves positions four, five, six and seven, which in Australia's successful campaign in the UAE last year were held by Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade.

Since lifting the World Cup, Smith has scored 65 runs at a strike rate of 120.37 in T20Is, Stoinis has scored 156 striking at 162.50 and Maxwell has scored 173 striking at 132.06.

Although Smith has played only five of Australia's nine T20Is since that tournament, he explained how a role change has allowed him to play with more freedom in the shortest format.

Finch confirmed David would feature in the middle order if he was selected but noted he wouldn't cause a complete shift of gameplan.

"He's become really consistent in that role which is really tough to do for a finisher-type player, a power hitter," Finch said.

"I think that would be the role. There's plenty of flexibility in our squad though.

"We're pretty settled with how we want to play and the structure of the side that we've been playing for over the last 18 months."

David has spent the past two years forging a reputation as a reliable T20 'finisher', building a strong body of work in global franchise leagues including the KFC BBL, the Indian Premier League, the Pakistan Super League and England's T20 Blast.

Having already played international cricket for Singapore, his first assignment as an Australian player will be a three-match T20I tour of India, which begins on September 20.

That will be followed by five home 20-over matches against the West Indies and England which Australia will use to finalise their strategy for the World Cup defence, which for the hosts begins on October 22 against New Zealand.

Finch says David's unique skill set makes him an exciting addition to the squad.

"Over the last two years he's shown his ability, especially at that number five, six or seven role," Finch told reporters on Thursday.

"It's a role within T20 cricket that's so sought after in the world now, there's not a huge amount of people who have that ability.

"The form that he's been in over the last couple of years has been outstanding.

"His power, first and foremost is really impressive, but he's the overall package with some with some handy off-spin overs and good in the field (too)."

Swepson falls out from the T20 squad that won the World Cup in the UAE last November, with Bailey citing different conditions as the reason for the change.

"We still really like Sweppo's skill set but it's a different strategy," Bailey told reporters on Thursday.  

"We think the three spinners in the squad, Zamps (Adam Zampa), Ash Agar and Maxi (Glenn Maxwell) cover us really well here."

Australia’s T20 fixtures prior to the World Cup:

September 20 vs. India (Mohali)

September 23 vs. India (Nagpur)

September 25 vs. India (Hyderabad)

October 5 vs. West Indies (Gold Coast)

October 7 vs. West Indies (Brisbane)

October 9 vs. England (Perth)

October 12 vs. England (Canberra)

October 14 vs. England (Canberra)

Men's T20 World Cup 2022

Australia squad: Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (vc), Tim David, Aaron Finch (c), Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

First round

Group A: Sri Lanka, Namibia, UAE, Netherlands

Group B: West Indies, Scotland, Ireland, Zimbabwe

Super 12 stage

Group 1: Australia, Afghanistan, England, New Zealand, A1, B2

Group 2: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, South Africa, B1, A2

Australia's T20 World Cup 2022 fixtures

Oct 22: v New Zealand, SCG, 6pm AEDT

Oct 25: v 1A, Optus Stadium, 10pm AEDT

Oct 28: v England, MCG, 7pm AEDT

Oct 31: v 2B, Gabba, 7pm AEDT

Nov 4: v Afghanistan, Adelaide Oval, 7pm AEDT

Click here for a full 2022 T20 World Cup fixture

Semi-finals

Nov 9: SCG, 7pm AEDT

Nov 10: Adelaide Oval, 7pm AEDT

Final

Nov 13: MCG, 7pm AEDT