Super seven in line for Aus T20 berth

With the Australia Test squad assembling in India ahead of a four-Test series, the door has opened for some of this season’s KFC Big Bash League blue-chip performers to gain national honours next month.

Australia are scheduled to contest a three-match series against Sri Lanka, with the fixtures to be played in in Melbourne (February 17), Geelong (February 19) and Adelaide (February 22).

The first Test of Australia’s series against India will be staged in Pune from February 23, meaning a number of big name players – including David Warner, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell – will be unavailable for the T20 series.

While Aaron Finch, Chris Lynn (if he recovers from a neck complaint) and Pat Cummins will be among those at the forefront of selectors’ minds for the matches against Sri Lanka, others have put their names up in lights during BBL|06.

Here are seven players who could be in line for an international call-up.

Ben Dunk

M: 8 | Runs: 364 | Ave: 52.00 | 50s: 3 | HS: 85

The consistent left-hander passed 30 in seven of his eight innings during BBL|06 – a fine return in the game’s shortest format. While the Adelaide Strikers won’t qualify for finals, Dunk has been a standout, posting knocks of 85, 79 not out and 65. He sits at the top of the competition run-scorer charts – and is unlikely to overtaken – after returning 364 runs from eight innings at a handsome strike rate of 163.96. Dunk was also the leading run-scorer in BBL|03 and played three T20 internationals against South Africa in November 2014. After the third ever trade deal in BBL history was struck, Dunk crossed from the Hobart Hurricanes to Adelaide Strikers during the off-season – and it appears that was a wise move. The 29-year-old averages 25.29 from 70 T20 appearances, smashed the Australian List A record high-score of 229 not out in the 2014-15 Matador Cup and was the most prolific Sheffield Shield batsman last summer.

Michael Klinger

M: 7 | Runs: 227 | Ave: 32.42 | 50s: 2 | HS: 81

Few are as reliable as the 36-year-old Perth Scorchers batsman. Klinger has not represented his country in any of the three formats despite consistent performances at state level for several seasons. Klinger is the leading run-scorer in BBL history with 1501 runs from 48 matches – putting him narrowly ahead of Aaron Finch (1490) and Chris Lynn (1412) – and has punched out one century and 10 half-centuries for the Scorchers. This summer he has delivered knocks of 81 against the Brisbane Heat and 72 against the Melbourne Renegades and has failed to reach double figures just twice in seven innings. Klinger boasts ample experience in the T20 format, playing more than 130 matches and making 4118 runs at an impressive average of 38.38.

Tim Paine

M: 7 | Runs: 222 | Ave: 31.71 | 50s: 2 | HS: 91

The Hobart Hurricanes skipper started BBL|06 in a blaze of glory, thumping 63 against the Sydney Sixers and 91 against the Melbourne Stars. While Paine has recorded only one score above 14 in five innings since, his early form suggests his hopes of adding to his five T20 international appearances are not over. The 32-year-old last represented Australia in a T20 fixture six years ago with a serious finger injury curtailing his progress. While Tasmania has opted for the up-and-coming wicketkeeper-batsman Jake Doran in their Sheffield Shield side, Paine still has plenty to offer in the shorter formats. He is also the eighth leading run-scorer in BBL history, compiling 1105 runs at 29.86 from 40 matches. Paine has represented Australia in all three formats, his last appearance coming in an ODI against Bangladesh in April, 2011.

Rob Quiney

M: 5 | Runs: 192 | Ave: 38.40 | 50s: 2 | HS: 75

Melbourne Stars batsman Rob Quiney has been a consistent performer this season, and he also has one of the best strike rates in the competition, at 168.42.  Quiney has found himself in and out of the Stars’ much-vaunted line-up in previous seasons but he has demanded selection in BBL|06. The 34-year-old left-hander has passed 30 in four of his six innings, with his best knocks being 75 against the Hobart Hurricanes and 51 against cross-town rival Melbourne Renegades. Quiney played two Tests for Australia against South Africa in 2012 and is yet to don national colours in the T20 format. Could he achieve this in the twilight years of his career?

Sean Abbott

M: 7 | W: 15 | Ave: 14.60 | BB: 5-16

The Sydney Sixers paceman is four clear at the top of the wicket-taking charts with an impressive 15 victims from seven outings, putting him ahead of Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Ben Hilfenhaus, Sunil Narine and Scott Boland, who all have 11 wickets to their names. Abbott produced a stunning display in the New Year’s Eve fixture against the Adelaide Strikers, grabbing 5-16 and becoming just the sixth man in BBL history to collect a five-wicket haul (Strikers import Ish Sodhi has since added his name to that list). The 24-year-old’s performance was made all the more meritorious by the fact he was smacked around Adelaide Oval by Travis Head in the corresponding fixture in BBL|05. Abbott has collected at least two wickets in five of seven matches and has only failed to strike on one occasion. Throw in his ability as a hard-hitting lower-order batsman, and he is an attractive package.

Mark Steketee

M: 7 | W: 11 | Ave: 18.81 | BB: 3-32

With skipper Brendon McCullum, Chris Lynn and Samuel Badree absent for Tuesday night’s top-of-the-table clash against the Melbourne Stars, the Brisbane Heat were searching for a spark. Paceman Mark Steketee answered the call, removing the Stars’ two leading run-scorers – Rob Quiney and Kevin Pietersen – with consecutive deliveries in the first over of the match to leave the home team on the back foot. While Steketee narrowly missed out on the man-of-the-match award – that went to leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson – he again produced the goods for the Heat, finishing with 2-20 from four overs and sending down 12 dot balls. The 23-year-old has gone wicketless just once from seven games in BBL|06, has a respectable economy rate of 7.66 and has been a model of consistency as Brisbane chases their first title since BBL|02. Steketee’s overall T20 record – 23 wickets from 20 games – and the fact he is the second highest wicket-taker in this season’s tournament suggest he is a player to watch. He also earned selection for the Cricket Australia XI against Pakistan in Cairns last year, finishing with five wickets for the match.

Ben Laughlin

M: 7 | W: 9 | Ave: 14.88 | BB: 3-19

Six players sit above him on the BBL|06 wicket-taking charts, but the Adelaide Strikers’ paceman’s consistency, subtle variations and ability to stem the flow of runs make him a valuable contributor to any T20 team. The 34-year-old Laughlin has represented Australia three times in T20 internationals – the last coming against Sri Lanka in January 2013 – and has collected two wickets. Laughlin has an economy rate of 7.61 from 97 T20 matches, but he has gone at just 6.09 in BBL|06, underlining his unquestionable ability. Laughlin is also the most successful bowler in BBL history, grabbing 69 wickets from 50 matches, leaving him well clear of Brad Hogg (53), Shaun Tait and Clint McKay (both 46).

Justin Langer will steer Australia in the series against Sri Lanka because of Darren Lehmann’s commitments with the Test side, while Ricky Ponting and Jason Gillespie have been appointed as assistants.

Australia are placed sixth on the ICC Twenty20 rankings, having never won a major T20 tournament.

New Zealand, India and South Africa are the top-three ranked nations.