PAST and present Tasmanian coaches are confident that long-time state captain George Bailey will bounce back from a second World Cup snub in as many years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A year after leading his nation into a home 50-over World Cup and then getting dropped for the rest of the tournament, the former South Launceston batsman has been overlooked for the World T20.
Tigers coach Dan Marsh and his predecessor Tim Coyle both felt Bailey could count himself extremely unfortunate to miss out on next month's tournament in India.
"I think he's very unlucky, particularly after the form he showed in the Big Bash when I thought he was really good," Coyle said.
Marsh added: "I'm really disappointed for George because I think he could do a really good job over there, but knowing him I think he will bounce back and keep scoring runs."
Omission from Australia's T20 squad was the latest dip in a roller-coaster run for Bailey who stood down from the team's captaincy and then had to deny media reports that he had retired from the format altogether.
"There's a World Cup looming around the corner, and I'd love to be a part of it," Bailey said in January.
"I'm pretty sure the selectors know I'm not retired now, so that's a step in the right direction.
"I've played a lot of T20 cricket in the subcontinent and had some experience in World Cups. So hopefully that holds me in good stead."
Coyle felt the 33-year-old was a victim of Usman Khawaja's unprecedented form spell.
"He's up against the most in-form player in the world at the moment and so can count himself pretty unlucky.
"Usman has probably taken George's spot and deserves his place. It would be very hard to keep not picking him and George is the unlucky one to make way.
"But I'm sure he'll take it on the chin. He's got other things in his life to keep him busy like a young baby and I'm sure he'll want to play an important back end of the season to turn Tasmania's fortunes around."
Bailey averages 26.11 in 28 T20 internationals, striking at 140.71 with a highest score of 63, but has not played in the format for nearly two years. He has played for the Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab in the IPL and the Melbourne Stars and Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL, hitting 240 runs at an average of 60.00 and strike-rate of 150.00 this season.
Marsh and Coyle agreed that fellow Launceston product James Faulkner merited his spot in the T20 squad and were confident the 25-year-old all-rounder would recover from the hamstring injury that forced his withdrawal from the ODI tour to New Zealand.
"He's a must selection but has a big few weeks to get his hamstring right," Marsh said.
"He's confident he will do that and will be really excited to play in another world cup. He did a terrific job in the 50-over version and has a lot of experience in Indian conditions so I expect him to go really well."
Coyle added: "One thing that we know about James Faulkner is that big tournaments and big games bring the best out of him so we can expect him to make a big impact in India.
"The conditions there suit what he does, particularly with his change of pace and his big hitting."
Faulkner averages 19.50, striking at 112.50 in his 13 T20 international appearances, taking 15 wickets at 24.80.
He averages twice that in ODIs (39.68), at a similar strike-rate, and has also taken 67 wickets at 32.40 in his 50 appearances including a player-of-the-match performance in last year's victorious World Cup final.