Australia won their maiden ICC T20 World Cup trophy in 2021. The side led by Aaron Finch won four out of their five group-stage games and outclassed Pakistan in the semi-final by five wickets. They clashed against the formidable New Zealand in the Finals on 14 November in Dubai. Chasing the target of 173 set by the Kiwis, the Aussies crossed the line with eight wickets in hand. Mitchell Marsh emerged as the best batter with his unbeaten 77 off 50 balls. Here’s looking at the players who won the debut T20 Trophy for Australia and where they are now.
1. Aaron Finch
After leading his team to the T20 World Cup title, Finch announced his retirement from One Day Internationals in 2022. The packed Australian cricket schedule thereafter meant that the T20Is were played after a significant gap. Finch, however, put a full stop to his dazzling T20I career in 2023.
2. Steven Smith
Steven Smith had a disastrous 2021 T20 World Cup. In seven innings, he mustered only 69 runs at an average of just 23 and an underwhelming strike rate of 97. He could not better his dismal form in T20Is and was left out of Australia’s 15-member squad for T20 World Cup 2024.
3. David Warner
David Warner played a key role in Australia’s World Cup win. In seven innings, he amassed 289 runs at an average of 48.16. He remained the force to be reckoned with in the T20Is. He announced his retirement from the Tests and ODIs in January 2024. He has been named in Australia’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024, possibly his last appearance for Australia.
4. Josh Inglis
Josh Inglis was named in Australia’s T20 World Cup 2021 squad on the back of a successful BBL season. But, the wicketkeeper batter could not make his debut on the international stage as Matthew Wade was the preferred gloveman. He has been named in the Aussies squad for T20 World Cup 2024. He has played 21 T20Is since he was named to the 2021 squad.
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5. Matthew Wade
Matthew Wade remains the preferred wicketkeeper-batter for Australia in T20Is. In the 2021 edition, he fetched just 74 runs and was going through a rough patch with the bat. He also captained the side as Australia played a T20I series against India in December 2024. He is part of their squad for the 2024 World Cup.
6. Dan Christian
Dan Christian entered the 2021 World Cup on the back of winning the Big Bash League twice and leading Nottingham to the T20 Blast title. He announced retirement from the T20Is in 2023. Despite playing over 400 T20s in his career, he represented Australia in the shorter format in just 23 games.
7. Mitchell Marsh
Mitchell Marsh had a lackluster 2021 World Cup outing barring a fifty against West Indies. He made up for the time lost with a match-winning 77 against New Zealand in the Finals. After three years down the line, he is leading Australia in the T20 World Cup 2024.
8. Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell’s performance in the 2021 World Cup was abysmal. In five innings, he accumulated just 68 runs. In the bowling department, he picked just two wickets. But his 2023 ODI World Cup shenanigans have seen him occupy a berth in the Australian 2024 T20 World Cup squad.
9. Daniel Sams
Daniel Sams’ 15 balls 41 against Kiwis ahead of the 2021 World Cup cemented his place as an all-round option. But with plenty of all-rounding options for Australia, he could not find his place in the playing XI. The 31-year-old could be seen in various T20 leagues around the world. He has played just 10 T20Is for Australia so far.
10. Marcus Stoinis
Marcus Stoinis was another weapon in an all-rounder-filled Australian squad for the 2021 World Cup. With the limited batting opportunity, he amassed 80 runs in the tournament. He was not utilized as a bowler either. Post 2021, due to his abysmal T20I record, he failed to fetch a place in Australia’s 2024 World Cup squad.
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11. Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins was hatching out of the eggshell as a bowler in the 2021 World Cup. He could scalp just five wickets in seven games but made an impact with an impressive economy. With a not-so-bright T20I record, he is still trusted as a bowler and a leader. He is the prime bowler for Australia in the T20 World Cup 2024.
12. Ashton Agar
Ashton Agar was overshadowed by the young spinning sensation Adam Zampa. The slow left-arm orthodox bowler played just two matches in the 2021 World Cup and picked one wicket. The 30-year-is another spinning option for Australia at the World Cup 2024.
13. Nathan Ellis
Nathan Ellis was not a first-choice pacer for Australia at the 2021 World Cup. As a result, he had to make way for Pat Cummins and fast bowling all-rounders. But he made amends with his T20I career thereafter, with an excellent yorker and superb change of pace abilities, making it to the 2024 World Cup Squad.
14. Josh Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood created waves in the 2021 World Cup by picking 11 wickets in seven games. His 3 for 24 against New Zealand in the Finals was game-changing. In Australia’s 2021 and 2023 World Cup triumphs, Hazlewood’s 27 wickets were the most by an Australian quick. Fittingly, he is the prime bowler for the side at the 2024 World Cup.
15. Kane Richardson
Kane Richardson came as a replacement for injured Jhye Richardson in the 2021 World Cup. With front-row pacers around, he could not breach the playing XI. He was inducted in the 2022 T20 World Cup and played just one game. His T20I prospects started diminishing thereafter, and he is seen playing T20 leagues around the globe and representing Melbourne Renegades in BBL.
16. Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc had a great 2021 World Cup plucking 9 wickets until the final against New Zealand. The pacer conceded 60 runs in four overs in the final. But he is in charge of Australia’s pace battery and their main man for the 2024 World Cup.
17. Mitchell Swepson
Mitchell Swepson was another pacer who was underutilized by the Aussies. It is evident in the fact that he played just three T20Is in 2021. The 30-year-old has played just eight T20Is so far for Australia and overall, just 15 games across the formats for his country. He has turned his face towards the reb-ball career and is seen representing Queensland in first-class cricket.
18. Adam Zampa
What Nathan Layon is for Australia in Tests, Zampa is for them in white-ball cricket. Zampa was their best bowler at the 2021 World Cup with 13 wickets in 7 games. He also picked a fifer against Bangladesh. He continues to be their frontline spinner and their trump card at the 2024 World Cup.
