Dwarshuis eyes off T20I spot vacated by Starc retirement

[p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]"[b]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,[/b]" Dwarshuis told Reuters.[/p][p]"Mitch retiring obviously opens up a spot. There's a whole ​handful of guys that are trying to get into that spot.[/p][p]"[b]Competition's fierce, but knowing that there is a spot available means a potential avenue there ⁠if you perform.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="acc6d75a-3118-4dbe-897c-2cc41a748564" url="https://x.com/7Cricket/status/1868620831351345551" social-type="twitter" /][p]Dwarshuis, who was ​signed by Indian Premier League side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/punjab-kings/juzL6jnm/"]Punjab Kings[/a] for a whopping 44 million Indian rupees (US$472,462), said franchise leagues have become an increasingly important shop window for players chasing international selection.[/p][p]The 31-year-old is the second-highest wicket-taker in the history of ‌the Big Bash League with 164.[/p][p]"[b]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[/b]," Dwarshuis said.[/p][p]"With the viewership these competitions get, it's very easy to have a couple of good years and everyone's talking about you.[/p][p]"[b]But then if you're not performing well, that sort of viewership leads to maybe less opportunities there.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="36141efc-83be-4850-bc2e-06d00109bec4" url="https://x.com/rushiii_12/status/2036728223397216570" social-type="twitter" /][p]Punjab, currently fifth in the IPL standings, opened their campaign with a three-wicket win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/gujarat-titans/WxbsgtO5/"]Gujarat Titans[/a], a match in ‌which Dwarshuis was not selected.[/p][p]He acknowledged the squad's depth, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/G6PWlrQB/"]New Zealand[/a] ​quick Lockie Ferguson yet to join, but said he is "[b]a three-phase bowler ‌and can bowl anytime throughout the 20 overs.[/b]"[/p][p]Asked what would be his prized wicket this season, Dwarshuis singled out [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mumbai-indians/2eZPzJH2/"]India[/a] great Virat Kohli.[/p][p]"[b]There are probably six or seven Indian players I could rattle off,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]"[b]But it's tough to go past taking Virat Kohli's wicket, whether it's ⁠at home or down in Bangalore. ⁠He would certainly be one ‌I'd be happy to take.[/b]"[/p]