As we enter the final stages of BBL|11, it seems we’re all searching for purpose amidst some serious cricketing fatigue.

Indeed, suggestions that the BBL competition drags on far too long are shared by many across social media, though it's important to note that the length of the competition doesn’t detract from the potential importance that emerges from it.

In recent times we’ve seen a continued trend in the right direction from the Australian selectors in rewarding domestic form.

Whether it be Scott Boland’s surprising, cult-hero emergence during the Ashes or Josh Inglis’ rise to triple-format squad inclusions, it appears domestic performance really does matter within an arena that's traditional harboured a high level of skepticism.

So while 14 games for each team to determine a final 5 from 8 teams might seem excessive, the opportunities given to players to flourish in a strong sample size may well just influence Australian selection.

With another T20 World Cup towards the end of 2022, the selectors will certainly be looking towards the BBL now, more than ever, to build a squad capable of defending the crown the Australians won in 2021.

Here are some players that may have altered opinions of themselves throughout the course of BBL|11.

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Aaron Finch

Alright, let’s rip the band-aid off. In his last 14 T20 internationals, Finch is averaging 21.21 with just one 50. In BBL|10, the veteran averaged 13.76 for the entire tournament, which has improved considerably this season, yet inconsistency has remained a part of his game.

The 35-year-old has taken a step back from leadership roles at the Renegades and has proven to be flexible in the batting order, which is perhaps the avenue to best salvage an impressive, yet dwindling career.

Despite Australia’s success in the 2021 T20 World Cup, this was largely won on the back of individual performances – there are still issues with selecting players out of position and the expectation that batters should be able to deliver in whatever role they’re selected in.

The backend of BBL|11 has seen Finch provide the only semblance of stability to the Renegades’ middle-order, a role which could well be on the cards if he wants to continue playing for Australia.

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Ben McDermott

McDermott’s inclusion in this sort of piece is as obvious as it is completely necessary, as the 27-year-old has been a dominant force once again in the BBL this season.

Hobart’s star batter played in 5 T20s for Australia in 2021 in particularly unfavourable conditions, opening twice, batting at 4 once and at 6 twice, with only one score above 17, yet it’s encouraging to see the reward given to him for his form.

With close to 1000 runs in the past two campaigns, McDermott is an expert on Australian pitches and being a devastatingly dangerous batter at the top of the innings.

While his favourite ground, Marvel Stadium, won’t be used in the World Cup at the end of the year, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that McDermott simply must be in the T20 squad for Australia going forward, particularly if opportunities are available at the top of the order with the likelihood that David Warner needs rest and Aaron Finch being far from a lock.

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Hilton Cartwright

The 29-year-old Zimbabwe-born West Australian hasn’t represented Australia since his 2 Tests and 2 ODIs in 2017, but should certainly have played his way into international contention with another strong BBL campaign.

The beauty in Cartwright’s game isn’t necessarily the weight in numbers in which he produces for the Melbourne Stars, but rather the consistency and reliability he provides in his versatility for his team.

A genuine middle-order batter who can be damaging as damaging at the top of an innings as he can be in closing it, Cartwright has averaged at least 29.9 in each of the last three BBL campaigns and has measured as one of the Stars’ most impactful players this season according to Cricinfo’s metrics.

Again, for Australia to become a true T20 powerhouse, selecting players in comfortable roles and positions will only help and Cartwright has turned himself into one of the best middle-order players in the BBL.

It also helps that Cartwright has elevated his off-side striking to make himself a weapon all over the ground, and he has maintained his status as an elite fielder.

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Daniel Sams

Perhaps another genuine all-rounder is what the Australian national team is seeking in its top six depending on form and availability, to which Daniel Sams’ elevation for the Thunder has him right in the hunt for international opportunities.

Another player approaching 30 in 2022, Sams averaged just 8.56 with the bat through his first 37 BBL games. Since that point, he has averaged 30 with the bat while switching his bowling from being a bonafide new ball bowler, to a player with plenty of variations to try and restrict in the backend of an innings.

The BBL provides opportunities for players to transform themselves in a concentrated period of time that can change the course of their careers on a larger scale, and Sams has certainly elevated himself to a point where adding to his 4 T20 international appearances seems inevitable.

Ultimately, Australia loves versatility within an XI and in lieu of picking specialist middle order batsmen, Sams provides the best of both mindsets going forward.

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Matthew Kelly

The bowling depth for Australia is quite incredible.

The preference seems to constantly be the selection of the Test pace bowling line-up in T20 cricket, while Sean Abbott, Kane Richardson, Andrew Tye and Jhye Richardson are all heavily in the rotation, as have Nathan Ellis and Riley Meredith in recent times.

Ellis was the bolter from the BBL last time and deservedly so, Matt Kelly certainly deserves to feature in the conversation going forward.

It seems strange a player perhaps still a peripheral best XI figure for the Scorchers could be an option for the national team, but T20 can be quite a simple game at times and there’s beauty in execution, of which Kelly has proven himself more often than not.

The 27-year-old has a perfectly tidy BBL record and truthfully, his overall white-ball cricket record for in the West is particularly impressive.

Perhaps making the final World Cup squad at the end of the season is a bridge too far for Kelly, but with squad rotation expected in the next few months, Australia could do worse than pick an unassuming, yet particularly effective pace bowler that doesn’t need too many tricks to take wickets. 

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