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The 'intriguing' storyline surrounding Australia's T20 World Cup squad
Nicholas Quinlan • October 31st, 2025 2:49 pm
With the men’s T20 World Cup just months away from getting underway, Code Sports’ Dan Cherny has given his thoughts on the ongoing T20 series between India and Australia taking place.
The five-match series between the World No. 1s (India) and World No. 2s in Australia has already gotten underway, with the First T20 in Canberra on Wednesday getting called off due to rain.
For both sides, this will serve as one of their last opportunities to get ready for tournament which takes place in India and Sri Lanka from Feburary.
“It’s an important series in the context of you’ve got a T20 World Cup just around the corner,” Cherny explained on SEN’s Sportsday.
“And everyone is talking about The Ashes as they do in Australia with Test Cricket.
“But the T20 World Cup is not far away, (there are) still guys playing for spots, teams gearing up.
“Those teams will feel each other out; they could potentially meet at the pointy end of the World Cup, so plenty of interesting subplots.”
One of the storylines that Cherney is interested in throughout the series for Australia is regarding the performance of batsman/wicketkeeper Josh Phillipee.
The Western Australian turned NSW representative has made his return to the international T20 side for the first time since 2023.
And Cherny believes that he can make a serious case for selection if he performs well.
“I’m intrigued to see Josh Philippe,” he elaborated.
“He can play a bit of cricket and get a good run in the series with some of the injuries around, particularly to Matt Short.
“Could he push to be the backup keeper in that touring party in the World Cup?
“Because they’ve got a bit of a conundrum there with the back-up keeper. They had two there with Inglis and Wade for the last two T20 World Cups.
“Obviously, Wade has retired from international Cricket. They had a look at Jake Fraser-McGurk, who hasn’t gone well enough to warrant selection. Alex Carey was briefly trialled in the absence of Inglis in New Zealand; he probably didn’t do quite enough.
“Ben McDermott is around the squad and Phillippe; he’s a really good player.
“Ben McDermott is around the squad and Phillippe; he’s a really good player.
“He had a really good A Tour of India in four-day cricket, he’s got a chance to stake a claim (to make the T20 World Cup side).
Australia will play India in the Second T20 on October 31 at a packed-out MCG despite rain being expected during the match.
SEN will have live coverage of the match with Gerard Whateley, Bryce McGain and Bharat Sundaresan behind the mic from 7pm AEDT.
