Masters of the Matador Cup

As the dust settles on what was a hugely-entertaining Matador One-Day Cup, here is cricket.com.au’s team of the tournament.

Usman Khawaja – myFootDr Queensland Bulls

A man who typifies what it means to be a ‘classy’ left-hander had another big one-day domestic tournament at the top of the Queensland batting line-up.

Khawaja averaged 74.71 across seven innings for last year’s champions, including an amazing 166 off 110 balls to see the Bulls chase down the Tasmanian Tigers’ Ben Dunk-inspired 398 at North Sydney Oval.

Chris Hartley – myFootDr Queensland Bulls

The other half of Queensland’s record-breaking opening partnership, Hartley struck a 120-ball 142 in that same epic against Tasmania to add a century to his three 50s.

Hartley’s 403 runs at 57.57 were excellent for the Bulls, but it’s his chemistry with Khawaja at the top of the order that really cements his place in the best XI. His dependable wicketkeeping is an added bonus.

Ben Dunk – Tasmanian Tigers

Tasmania’s left-handed powerhouse was the story of the 2014 Matador One-Day Cup, smashing a record 229 not out and earning selection to the Australia Twenty20 squad to take on South Africa in November.

If you take that innings out of the equation Dunk averaged just 29 this tournament – but that record-breaking innings gives the Queensland product the edge over his big-hitting rivals.

Callum Ferguson – West End Redbacks

With nearly a decade of consistent run-scoring behind him, a couple of big scores with the bat could have seen Ferguson’s name thrown into World Cup calculations.

As it was, the South Australian product fell just short of three figures on three occasions, scoring 82, 82 and 98 for the bottom-placed Redbacks. His average of 48.16 and fifth position in the run-scorers list allowed him to seal second drop in our Best XI.

Cameron White – Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers

White won his second consecutive one-day domestic Player of the Tournament award this year, with his two centuries and average of 59 seeing him take out the top gong.

The Victorian also earned selection to the national T20 side and will be hoping his form in New South Wales and Queensland translates to big scores around the country.

Adam Voges – Alcohol.Think Again Western Warriors

The wise old head in the WA side again proved his worth in yellow, tallying 255 runs at an average of 42.5 as well picking up a couple of wickets – including that of NSW captain Peter Nevill in the final.

With a young top order, Voges’ steadying influence in the middle order was a huge factor in the Warriors’ championship run.

Moises Henriques – NSW Blues

Henriques broke through for his first one-day domestic century in 70 List A innings to lead NSW past Victoria at North Sydney Oval and was solid throughout in the Blues’ middle order, averaging a shade over 43.

While injury prevented him from having a huge impact with the ball, his ability to roll deliveries back into right-handed batsmen makes him a difficult prospect on the kinds of ageing wickets served up throughout this year’s tournament.

Nathan Coulter-Nile – Alcohol.Think Again Western Warriors

With young guns Jason Behrendorff and Joel Paris dominating with the new ball in his absence, Coulter-Nile returned to the WA lineup with a point to prove – and boy did he deliver.

The athletic quick collected 14 wickets at an incredible average of just over 10 in five matches and was the Warriors’ destroyer in the latter overs when the ball was reversing.

Coulter-Nile also hauled in a couple of spectacular catches in the final to further cement his position in cricket.com.au’s Best XI.

Adam Zampa – West End Redbacks

Zampa’s constantly improving leg-spin proved more than a handful for opposition batsmen this tournament, despite the competition’s flat wickets and short boundaries, with the right-armer collecting 10 wickets at an average of 26.

The 22-year-old didn’t mind it when the ropes were pushed back a bit either mind you; his 4-18 against Western Australia at the Gabba was a highlight of a strong tournament.

Joel Paris – Alcohol.Think Again Western Warriors

The 21-year-old left-armer announced himself on the domestic scene this Matador One-Day Cup with 14 wickets at an average of 12.92.

Paris’ combination of pace, bounce and late swing proved virtually unplayable in the early going with figures of 3-34, 4-13 and 3-50 in his first three matches setting the tone for what would be a dominant Western Australian pace battery.

Josh Hazlewood – NSW Blues

Nicknamed ‘The Ooze’, there was nothing sluggish about Hazlewood’s tournament, with the big quick finishing second on the competition wicket-takers list behind team-mate Gurinder Sandhu.

While Hazlewood didn’t match the feats of his opening-game 7-36 against South Australia in the competition’s remaining fixtures, his ability to stay injury-free throughout saw his stocks receive a boost ahead of what promises to be a gruelling summer of domestic and international cricket.

12th Man: Jason Behrendorff – Alcohol.Think Again Western Warriors

Behrendorff was very unlucky to miss out on a starting berth after taking 11 wickets at an average of 16 in six matches – including 5-27 in the final.

But in a side that already featured two WA quicks, and another left-armer in Joel Paris, variety won out and, unfortunately for him, Behrendorff is left carrying the drinks.

Honourable mention: Guriner Sandhu – NSW Blues

It isn’t often that the tournament’s leading wicket-taker doesn’t make the best XII, but in a competition brimming with explosive fast-bowling talent, Sandhu’s runs per over (5.01) and the lack of one big haul (his best was 3-37) doesn’t quite match up to the other quicks selected.