Aaron Finch drops star cricketer from Australia's predicted eleven for T20 World Cup 2024

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Aaron Finch has named Australia's predicted playing eleven for their matches in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 and dropped Steve Smith from it. The former Australia captain has backed Josh Inglis in place of Smith.

Explaining the reason behind Smith's omission, Finch said that more vesatile wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis can also play the role of a finisher. Notably, Smith does not have the best T20I statistics.

The former Australia captain has managed 1,079 runs at an average of 25.69 and a strike rate of over 125, with five half-centuries. The 34-year-old went unsold in the IPL 2024 auction.

"I probably do not have him (Smith) in the 11 at the moment and the reason for that is I think there is enough batting firepower right there in the list... Josh Inglis, he's so versatile that he can almost play the role that Steve Smith plays but also a finisher as well," Finch said in an ESPNcricinfo video.

In 15 T20Is, Inglis has scored 387 runs at an average of 29.76, with a strike rate of over 158, with a century. His best score is 110. Further, Finch picked David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Glen Maxwell to feature in the top-order.

Only two specialist pacers in Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc have found place in FInch's Australia eleven for the T20 World Cup 2024. He named all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Short also in the team as backup bowling options. Adam Zampa is the only specialist spin-bowling option alongside part-timers Maxwell and Head.

"I have got Marcus Stoinis and Matt Short in. In the Caribbean, the wickets can spin a lot as well. I would like to have the option of Matt Short there or Marcus Stoinis if you feel like you need that extra cover with the ball," he said. Short has played seven T20Is, scoring 156 runs at an average of 22.28 and a strike rate of over 167 with a half-century. He also has taken a wicket in the format. In 57 T20Is on the other hand, Stoinis has scored 915 runs at an average of 30.50, with a strike rate of over 145. He has two half-centuries and 24 wickets to his name as well.

Aaron Finch's T20 World Cup 11: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis/Matthew Short, Tim David, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, and Josh Hazlewood.