Why Ashton Turner Is A Compelling Candidate For Australian Cricket’s T20 Captaincy

When Perth Scorchers skipper Ashton Turner was run-out after a horrendous mix-up with inexperienced batter Nick Hobson, last season’s nerve-jangling Big Bash League final titled towards underdogs Brisbane Heat.

Hobson, an accountant in his day job, appeared set to be public enemy number one for running out Turner, whose trademark composed batting was leading defending champions Scorchers towards the tough 176 target.

As he could feel the wrath from nearly 54,000 fans at Perth Stadium suffocating him, while perhaps devising an exit strategy to escape the mob in the aftermath of what appeared an inevitable Scorchers defeat, Hobson probably expected a seething Turner to give him an earful.

Turner, instead, was calm and snapped Hobson from his stupor. “When we were sitting there waiting for the decision, he said ‘mate you’re a gun, you’ll get us over the line, you’ll be absolutely fine, hit good shots’,” recalled Hobson.

“There was no resentment (over the run-out). He’s an amazing leader. He gives his players so much belief.”

Hobson, feeling better, then refocused to combine with 18-year-old Cooper Connolly against the odds.

His shift from villain to hero was complete when Hobson hit the winning runs to trigger bedlam and cement Turner’s standing as the best T20 skipper in the country.

Back in February, in the aftermath, Turner was bandied around as a possible successor to outgoing Australia T20 captain Aaron Finch. The next T20 World Cup is in the U.S. and Caribbean mid next year with auditions set in the meantime.

But Turner has seemingly been overtaken by his Scorchers teammate Mitchell Marsh, who appears to have the inside running for the permanent gig having been named as Australia’s skipper for the upcoming ODI and T20 tour of South Africa.

Even though he had a bounce back season with the bat coupled with his strong leadership, 30-year-old Turner continued to be on the outer at international level after being left out of the South Africa tour.

Selectors have preferred Tim David and Marcus Stoinis as middle-order finishers with Turner not having played for Australia in two years and sports a modest batting average of 12 from 13 T20I innings.

But an injury to Steve Smith has opened up a lifeline for Turner, who was named as his replacement for the T20 leg of the tour. It will provide an opportunity for Turner to showcase not only his big-hitting capabilities, but leadership philosophies.

He has been a key part of Western Australia/Scorchers’ incredible success where the domestic powerhouse have won a historic treble of titles for two straight seasons. Turner’s inclusive leadership and humility reflects the unparalleled success of Western Australian cricket, which prefers a low-key approach.

There have been some local journalists who have at times felt frustrated by Turner stonewalling them with deadpan responses during press conferences, but it’s on brand with giving little away publicly.

Get Turner away from the cameras and he opens up just a little. “Rarely do I make a decision by myself, I spend a lot of time consulting,” he told me earlier in the year about his leadership style.

“In T20 cricket there isn’t room for guys to be hesitant or doubt themselves. I want everyone to feel empowered to play the brand they want to play. I never want anyone to feel restricted.”

These are some of the qualities that make Turner such a compelling candidate for the T20 captaincy. But, firstly, he needs to win a spot in Australia’s stacked batting order as his international exile finally ends.