JLT Cup stars making Aussie World Cup push

With Australia's World Cup defence less than eight months away, time is running out for national selectors to finalise their best team for a crack at a sixth title in the UK next year.

And given Australia have won just two of their past 16 ODIs in a run of form that has seen them drop to sixth in the world, competition for spots is heating up.

While many of Australia's leading players are on Test duty in the UAE, those chasing higher honours have been given the perfect audition in the form of the JLT One-Day Cup.

And with an ODI assignment against South Africa just a month away, these are the players who have surged into contention for that series with the Proteas.

The batsmen

Chris Lynn (Queensland)

M: 6 | Runs: 437 | Ave: 87.40 | SR: 118.10 | 100s: 2 | 50s: 3 | HS: 135

In his first one-day cup in five years, Lynn has justified the long-held belief that he can be Australia's x-factor for their World Cup defence. One of the most dynamic T20 batsmen in the world, Lynn has shown an impressive ability to adapt his power game to 50-over cricket, notably in his century against NSW when he took 10 deliveries to get off the mark and brought up fifty from a sedate 61 balls before exploding late in his innings. If he can continue to win the biggest battle of all - against his own body - he appears certain to feature in the one-day squad next month.

D'Arcy Short (Western Australia)

M: 4 | Runs: 360 | Ave: 90.00 | SR: 145.74 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 1 | HS: 257

After some solid returns on his first ODI tour in the UK and the 'A' series in India that followed, Short has sent a reminder that he remains one of the most devastating batsmen in Australia when he's in good touch. His barely-believable score of 257 against Queensland broke all sorts of records and a continuation of that form will have him well-placed to hold onto his spot for the South African series. And the fact he's a solid fielder and a handy bowling option could get him the nod in a tight call against those in the chasing pack.

Ben McDermott (Tasmania)

M: 5 | Runs: 379 | Ave: 94.75 | SR: 91.32 | 100s: 2 | 50s: 2 | HS: 117

Four years after making his state debut for Queensland, McDermott has finally capitalised on his enormous potential with his most consistent campaign at domestic level. Scores of 56, 117, 28, 102* and 76 were crucial in Tasmania's top-two finish and has put him in the discussion for higher honours. Whether or not he's done enough to unseat the ODI incumbents and beat out the likes of Lynn and Short remains to be seen, but this tournament has been a huge step forward for the talented right-hander.

Jake Weatherald (South Australia)

M: 6 | Runs: 261 | Ave: 52.20 | SR: 103.98 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 2 | HS: 106*

After a preseason in which he said consistency was one of his main focal points, the fact Weatherald has combined knocks of a century and two fifties with three scores of less than five would be of great frustration for the left-hander. But what isn't in doubt is his immense talent and the fact the 23-year-old appears destined for higher honours at some stage in his career. A match-winning century first-up against NSW, a team top-score of 79 against Tasmania and a quickfire 69 against the Bulls have been the highlights of his campaign and while it might not be enough for ODI selection just yet, he's definitely in the discussion.

The bowlers

Andrew Tye (Western Australia)

M: 5 | Wkts: 16 | Ave: 14.18 | Econ: 5.10 | 4wi: 1 | BBI: 6-46

After mixed returns in his first year in Australia's ODI side, Tye has sent a strong reminder of his quality with a standout campaign for Western Australia. Having debuted for Australia in January, Tye grabbed figures of 5-46 against England in Perth but was dropped partway through the return series in the UK after he leaked 100 runs from nine wicketless overs in a record-breaking defeat at Trent Bridge. But the right-armer's ability to take regular wickets for the Warriors puts him back near the front of the queue and his tournament economy rate of 5.1 is highly impressive for a man who bowls a lot of overs at the death.

Adam Zampa (South Australia)

M: 6 | Wkts: 12 | Ave: 25.41 | Econ: 5.08 | 4wi: 0 | BBI: 3-37

Having been axed from the national set-up earlier this year, Zampa has stormed back into contention for the World Cup as the standout spinner in the tournament so far. Australia's lack of a strike wrist-spinner was telling on their winter tours of the UK and Zimbabwe and Zampa has done himself plenty of favours with 12 wickets and an impressive economy rate of 5.08 in the middle overs for the Redbacks.

The bolter

Daniel Sams (NSW Blues)

M: 6 | Runs: 152 | Ave: 38 | SR: 116.92 | Wkts: 9 | Ave: 22.44 | Econ: 5.13

Uncontracted at the start of the tournament and uncapped at one-day domestic level, Sams has at least put his hand up for a regular spot at the Blues going forward, even if higher honours might be just beyond him at this stage. A genuine swing bowler with the new ball and a damaging lower-order hitter, Sams has been a standout performer in a side that struggled early in the tournament. He grabbed the player-of-the-match award in a heavy defeat on debut with a double of 3-46 and 62 and while he might not be in the frame for the national team just yet, he's certainly one to watch.