Former Australia captain Tim Paine advocates for Nathan Ellis to be included in Australia's primary attack for the 2024 T20 World Cup, suggesting that a choice should then be made between Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

Despite his impressive performances in the 14 T20 matches he has played, Ellis, 29, has struggled to secure a regular spot in Australia's T20 squad, with only one appearance on home soil. He was a reserve during the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, where Australia claimed the title, and did not make the squad for the 2022 tournament held in Australia.

"I think Australia have a great opportunity, and I hope they take it in this World Cup, and that is to pick Nathan Ellis. He would be my third quick," Paine, who played for Ellis' state Tasmania, told ESPN's Around The Wicket. "I think he just complements the other guys really well, he's got a different skillset, comes from a different angle, different height, and think some variety in the attack will be really important to win this World Cup."

"I know you are going to ask me straightaway who aren't you playing…I'm going to go Mitchell Starc, [he] is my out and out number one quick, I'm picking him, obviously going with Adam Zampa, and I'm doing to decide between Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

Paine continued, "I'm going to pick one of them and I'm going to go with Nathan Ellis' all-round skills, his ability to bowl all through the powerplay, I think his slower balls, he's clever. His international record for the opportunities that he's been given is outstanding and I think now is the right time…that's not to say they [Cummins and Hazlewood] are not the best couple of bowlers in the country, they are outstanding bowlers, and will continue to be, I just think Nathan Ellis complements the rest of that attack really, really well."