T20 to light up the 鈥楪

The Australian team is expected to include Melbourne Renegades skipper Aaron Finch, who was recently named the KFC Big Bash League’s player of the tournament, along with Melbourne Stars trio Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade and James Faulkner.

While Finch was surprisingly overlooked for last year’s World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, the 26-year-old has not put a foot wrong in his three Twenty20 Internationals thus far, averaging 104 at a strike rate of 148.57 including scores of 15* (14), 53* (35) and 36 (33).

The national selectors have rewarded a handful of players for their BBL form with Shaun Marsh, Adam Voges, Ben Cutting, Ben Laughlin and Faulkner all receiving call-ups alongside Finch.

“Their performances have been compelling and we anticipate they will take this momentum into the two fixtures,” Australian chairman of selectors John Inverarity said.

“Aaron Finch was the player of the tournament in the KFC T20 Big Bash League, while Shaun Marsh finished as the highest run-scorer with 412 runs.

“Ben Laughlin bowled cleverly to take the most number of wickets, 14, while Ben Cutting was second highest wicket-taker with 13 at a very good economy rate.”

With Sri Lanka currently topping the world rankings in the Twenty20 format, a series whitewash to Australia will see them plummet three places to number four, while the hosts would rise to equal sixth from eighth.

To purchase tickets to the second KFC T20 International at the MCG on Monday, September 28, click here.

Australian Twenty20 squad: George Bailey (capt), Ben Cutting, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Ben Laughlin, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, Matthew Wade and David Warner.