Tim David has a unique talent: Brad Hogg

Former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg wants Tim David in the starting playing XI of the defending champions- Australia for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Down Under.

David has shown his finishing ability repeatedly and in the recently concluded IPL 2022, Tim David was perhaps one of the biggest positives of Mumbai Indians' disappointing campaign this year. His hard-hitting ability was on full display during the season and he certainly impressed everyone with his power and ability to finish the games off.

Hogg believes David is the best batter at the no.6 position in the world right now. Leaving him out of selection can hurt Australia’s chances of defending the title at home. 

Hogg also went on to state that the 26-year-old Singapore-born can replace the current white ball captain Aaron Finch. Finch has not been in the greatest of form with the bat, post the T20 World Cup last year in UAE.

Talking about David's place in the side, Hogg said that Australia can open the batting with Steve Smith and bring in all-rounder Marcus Stoinis at number 5, followed by David at 6. The Australian legend feels that Australia got to utilize a "unique talent" like Tim David.

"You bring [Steve] Smith up from the lower order and open the batting with him. Stoinis comes up at No.5 and Tim David comes in at No.6. Tim David, for me around the globe, is the best No.6 that you can have. He is the only player that consistently comes in in the final four overs and finds the boundary straightaway. It is a unique talent to have and Australia have got to utilize it."

"If you look at the team in the final of the last T20 World Cup, I think Tim David can come in and replace Aaron Finch. Aaron Finch has been out of form for a long period of time and its unsustainable to keep him in. He has got to change that very quickly or he has got to be out of the team. You can't carry players when you're coming to a T20 World Cup. Finch is on notice," Hogg added.

Hogg also shared his thoughts on Cricket Australia’s "stupid" rule that prevents Tim David from being eligible to play for Australia and to be included in the T20I team for the T20 World Cup.

"The other issue, Australia have a rule that if you're not contracted with a first-class state team to represent Australia in T20Is. He doesn't have that contract. Australia have got to change that rule. You can't have a rule as stupid as that, keeping a player like him out."

The right-handed batter made his T20I debut for Singapore in July 2019 playing against Qatar but he's yet to play for Australia as the Cricket Australia contract says that the player must have a first-class contract with any of the Australian domestic teams. If Australia somehow manages to change the policy then David will come into Australia's scheme of things for the title defence at home later this year.