Ben a slam Dunk for Australia: Ponting

Ricky Ponting believes BBL|06 leading run-scorer Ben Dunk has presented an irresistible case for T20I selection ahead of next month’s three-match series against Sri Lanka.

Dunk, who was also the leading run-scorer while playing for Hobart Hurricanes in BBL|03, only failed to pass 30 once through his eight innings during the Adelaide Strikers' disappointing campaign.

In all, he posted three fifties among 364 runs at a strike-rate of 163.96, producing some of the cleanest hitting in the tournament from the top of the order.

"To be honest, I actually think he's in too good form to ignore," Ponting told bigbash.com.au. "His Big Bash has been outstanding, leading run-scorer quite significantly.

"And well done to him – it was a big move to leave the Hurricanes and move to a different franchise and play the way he has.

"I'd be surprised if he wasn't included in the squad."

Dunk made the move to Adelaide in a trade with seamer Hamish Kingston, and told bigbash.com.au earlier in the season he was delighted with how it had panned out.

Incredibly, the 30-year-old looked unlikely to fit into the plans of the Hurricanes in BBL|06.

"At the end of the day, (the Hurricanes) have probably done a great thing by me, I probably wasn't going to play in their team," he said.

"They've traded me and I've gotten an opportunity to play and now I'm hitting the ball nicely and making a bit of a difference."

Dunk played three T20Is against South Africa in November 2014 but hasn't had an opportunity in green and gold since, however with Australia's Test squad in India at that time, a host of regular batsman will be unavailable, potentially opening the door for the best performers in the KFC Big Bash.

Ponting, who is set to make his international bow as an assistant coach in the Sri Lanka series, beginning February 17 in Melbourne, says he has again been impressed by the older generation in the tournament.

"Being an assistant coach only, I don't know if the selectors are thinking only about this series or if they've got an eye toward a World Cup (with who they pick)," Ponting said.

"There's certainly enough young talent around, but if you look at some of the older guys, they're the ones who are performing again.

"Hoggy's been great, George Bailey's been really good again, and Hodgey has been very good, (but) his days might have passed him by as an Australia player."

Brad Hogg and Brad Hodge were both surprise picks for Australia's ICC World T20 campaign in March 2014 and haven't played for the national side since, however 33-year-old Bailey, who was the Hurricanes' leading run-scorer with 247 at 49.40, remains a key member of the T20I middle order and looks likely to again be a senior figure in the side next month.