Inglis backed to be Australia's next all-format keeper

Mitch Marsh believes Josh Inglis could one day take the gloves for Australia in all formats as the star wicketkeeper prepares for a small taste of international cricket when white-ball powerhouses Western Australia and NSW lock horns on Sunday.

Up to 12 players with international experience could feature in the Marsh One-Day Cup final, which will see a mouth-watering battle between Blues' Test calibre attack led by Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon and a host of exciting WA batting stars.

Inglis has been the most damaging player in domestic cricket across all formats this summer and will face arguably the best attack he has ever seen in his career in the season's penultimate game at Sydney's Bankstown Oval.

The 26-year-old's rapid development this summer may have surprised many; he’s crashed three Sheffield Shield centuries, settled seamlessly into a new middle-order role in the KFC BBL for beaten finalists, the Perth Scorchers, and a 57-ball 91 against Victoria last month highlighted his finishing prowess in 50-over cricket.

Inglis' improvement has not, however, surprised his state skipper.

"I think he's an outstanding talent for Australian cricket," Marsh told cricket.com.au. "I certainly think he could be the next wicketkeeper for Australia in all formats.

"He showed a lot of talent over the last couple of years, but this year has been the first one where he's been able to put a really great season together – three hundreds in first-class cricket, he's dominated the one-day scene and kept beautifully.

"I think he's got a huge future.

"He's a great player for our team, he's an emerging leader as a young guy and he's the sort of guy you want to have in your team and play with.

"He's got all the attributes to have a great career and hopefully he's got one more (good performance) for us tomorrow."

In a T20 World Cup year, Inglis has put his name forward to be in the national frame for a limited-overs berth, but faces competition from the likes of fellow keepers Alex Carey, Matthew Wade and WA teammate, Josh Philippe.

His supreme red-ball form this summer may even see him challenge Carey to be Tim Paine's successor at Test level, although Carey too has been impressive in the BBL and in limited Shield appearances this summer.

Given the variety of roles Inglis has had this season, including moving down the order with aplomb for the Scorchers despite having a strong BBL|09 as an opener, Marsh has been particularly impressed by his versatility.

"I'm actually not too sure yet (what his best format is)," said Marsh.

"We've seen how dynamic he can be – there's not too many people who can open the batting and bat in the middle order in T20 cricket. He's done that this year.

"He's batted at seven in one-day cricket, he's opened in one-day cricket, he's batting five now through the middle and he's obviously made the three Shield hundreds this year.

"It's been a fair summer for him and hopefully it's the start of big things to come."

NSW's stand-in captain Kurtis Patterson, who will lead the state in the finals of both the one-day and Shield finals in the coming days, is relishing the fierce bowling attack at his disposal, including fringe Australia quick Sean Abbott, who has recovered from a hand injury.

A handful of Blues players had become ill after their recent Shield match against Queensland in Wollongong, but Patterson said they had recovered and none were in doubt for Sunday's clash.

Sydney Thunder breakout star Tanveer Sangha and one-time Australia T20 squad member Ben Dwarshuis are also in the Blues’ squad.

The Blues’ batting, on the other hand, has been decimated by departures for the Indian Premier League, with Steve Smith, David Warner and Moises Henriques all missing for the final.

The absence of Smith and Warner, who have scored 42 per cent of the Blues' Marsh Cup runs this season, could be telling.

Conversely, WA's top eight from their bonus-point win over Tasmania earlier this week featured only two players (Inglis and their leading run scorer this season, Sam Whiteman) who have not batted in the top seven of an Australian white-ball side.

But Patterson pointed to the form of opener Daniel Hughes, whose career List A average of 56.84 puts him among the leading Australian one-day domestic batters ever, after his century against Queensland last month sealed a home final.

"(Smith and Warner) are two world-class players and, when they’ve played for us this year (they've performed well)," said Patterson.

"They’ve both been fantastic, but at the same time it presents opportunities for other players.

"It was really satisfying to see Dan Hughes go out there the other day and get back to what we know he can do in one-day cricket.

"I thought he was flawless the other night.

"Him, along with the other six of us in the top seven, it’s really our job to go out there and replace them.

"How that looks for each player is going to be individual, but everyone is really looking forward to the challenge."

2021 Marsh Cup Final

NSW Blues v Western Australia at Bankstown Oval, Sunday April 11, 9.30am AEST

NSW squad: Kurtis Patterson (c), Sean Abbott, Oliver Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Matthew Gilkes, Liam Hatcher, Josh Hazlewood, Daniel Hughes, Nick Larkin, Nathan Lyon, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Mitchell Starc

WA squad: Mitch Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Cameron Green, Liam Guthrie, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, David Moody, Lance Morris, Josh Philippe, D’Arcy Short, Ashton Turner, Sam Whiteman

The 2021 Marsh Cup Final will be broadcast LIVE in Australia on Fox Cricket & Kayo Sports and live streamed for free globally on cricket.com.au & the CA Live app. ABC Grandstand's live radio coverage will also be available on cricket.com.au & the CA Live app