BENGALURU:

Fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis says the competition will be fierce to fill the void left by Mitchell Starc’s retirement from Twenty20 internationals, as a clutch of Australian pacers jostle for a rare opening in the national team’s attack.

Starc, Australia’s third-highest wicket-taker with 759 wickets across all ‌formats, behind only Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, retired from T20 internationals in September last year. His departure has offered up a place in an Australian fast-bowling group long dominated by Starc alongside fellow pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

Dwarshuis, who made his international debut in 2022, has featured in only six one-day internationals and 15 T20Is, competing for selection with fellow pace bowlers such as Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett and Spencer ⁠Johnson. He noted that the competition is not only about raw pace but also fitness, consistency, and the ability to perform under pressure.

“There’s a whole heap of Australian bowlers who have sort of sat behind Mitch Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins, who have just done amazing things for Australian cricket and haven’t really opened the door for anyone else to sort of take their spot,” Dwarshuis told Reuters.

“Mitch retiring obviously opens up a spot. There’s a whole handful of guys that are trying to get into that spot. Competition’s fierce, but knowing that there is a spot available means a potential avenue there if you perform.” He also emphasized that building strong partnerships with other bowlers and backing the team strategy is crucial for securing a regular place in the national setup.

Dwarshuis, who was signed by Indian Premier League side Punjab Kings for a whopping 44 million Indian rupees ($472,462), said franchise leagues have become an increasingly important shop window for players chasing international ‌selection. The ⁠31-year-old is the second-highest wicket-taker in the history of the Big Bash League with 164.

“Anytime you take the field and have an opportunity to perform, there’s always going to be eyes watching, whether it’s from Australia or other leagues,” Dwarshuis said. “With the viewership these competitions get, it’s very easy to have a couple of good years and everyone’s talking about you. But then ⁠if you’re not performing well, that sort of viewership leads to maybe less opportunities there.”

Punjab, currently fifth in the IPL standings, opened their campaign with a three-wicket win over Gujarat Titans, a match in which Dwarshuis was not selected. He acknowledged the squad’s ⁠depth, with New Zealand quick Lockie Ferguson yet to join, but said he is “a three-phase bowler and can bowl anytime throughout the 20 overs.”

Asked what would be his prized wicket this season, Dwarshuis singled out India great ⁠Virat Kohli and said that dismissing top-order batsmen consistently would greatly enhance his chances of becoming a regular member of the Australian squad, especially in high-stakes T20 matches.