JLT Cup stars making Aussie World Cup push

[Hogg]

With Australia's World Cup defence less than eight months away, time is running out for national selectors to finalise their best team for a crack at a sixth title in the UK next year.

And given Australia have won just two of their past 16 ODIs in a run of form that has seen them drop to sixth in the world, competition for spots is heating up.

While many of Australia's leading players are on Test duty in the UAE, those chasing higher honours have been given the perfect audition in the form of the JLT One-Day Cup.

And with an ODI assignment against South Africa just a month away, these are the players who have surged into contention for that series with the Proteas.

The batsmen

Chris Lynn (Queensland)

M: 6 | Runs: 437 | Ave: 87.40 | SR: 118.10 | 100s: 2 | 50s: 3 | HS: 135

In his first one-day cup in five years, Lynn has justified the long-held belief that he can be Australia's x-factor for their World Cup defence. One of the most dynamic T20 batsmen in the world, Lynn has shown an impressive ability to adapt his power game to 50-over cricket, notably in his century against NSW when he took 10 deliveries to get off the mark and brought up fifty from a sedate 61 balls before exploding late in his innings. If he can continue to win the biggest battle of all - against his own body - he appears certain to feature in the one-day squad next month.

D'Arcy Short (Western Australia)

M: 4 | Runs: 360 | Ave: 90.00 | SR: 145.74 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 1 | HS: 257

After some solid returns on his first ODI tour in the UK and the 'A' series in India that followed, Short has sent a reminder that he remains one of the most devastating batsmen in Australia when he's in good touch. His barely-believable score of 257 against Queensland broke all sorts of records and a continuation of that form will have him well-placed to hold onto his spot for the South African series. And the fact he's a solid fielder and a handy bowling option could get him the nod in a tight call against those in the chasing pack.

Ben McDermott (Tasmania)

M: 5 | Runs: 379 | Ave: 94.75 | SR: 91.32 | 100s: 2 | 50s: 2 | HS: 117

Four years after making his state debut for Queensland, McDermott has finally capitalised on his enormous potential with his most consistent campaign at domestic level. Scores of 56, 117, 28, 102* and 76 were crucial in Tasmania's top-two finish and has put him in the discussion for higher honours. Whether or not he's done enough to unseat the ODI incumbents and beat out the likes of Lynn and Short remains to be seen, but this tournament has been a huge step forward for the talented right-hander.

Jake Weatherald (South Australia)

M: 6 | Runs: 261 | Ave: 52.20 | SR: 103.98 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 2 | HS: 106*

After a preseason in which he said consistency was one of his main focal points, the fact Weatherald has combined knocks of a century and two fifties with three scores of less than five would be of great frustration for the left-hander. But what isn't in doubt is his immense talent and the fact the 23-year-old appears destined for higher honours at some stage in his career. A match-winning century first-up against NSW, a team top-score of 79 against Tasmania and a quickfire 69 against the Bulls have been the highlights of his campaign and while it might not be enough for ODI selection just yet, he's definitely in the discussion.