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Faulkner in, but who will be out?

2nd March, 2015
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James Faulkner has seriously slipped in his ODI form. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Expert
2nd March, 2015
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Where to for the Australian selectors, now that James Faulkner has declared himself fit to return against Afghanistan at the WACA tomorrow?

One of, if not the most eminent ‘death’ player in the game due to his exploits in both disciplines, Faulkner is more than just an integral part of Australia’s best XI, he’s arguably the first one picked.

With Michael Clarke’s much-publicised hamstring woes, Faulkner’s side strain, and now Pat Cummins in need of a rest due to soreness, combined with the washout against Bangladesh, the complete shambles in New Zealand on Saturday, and the undignified off-field bickering led by Shane Warne, Australia’s World Cup campaign has been as far from seamless as it is possible to be.

There is no doubt that the Australians will bounce back from all of this unevenness, but what format does the best side now take?

Will Shane Watson feel the cold steel on his neck, and be dropped for form? If it happens, they’ll line the streets from Penrith to Pinjarra to celebrate. People will ask for a national public holiday to mark the event.

Has there ever been a more divisive cricketer to represent our nation? Has there ever been another who makes so many supposed supporters of the Australian team delight in his failure?

Put simply, an in-form and destructive Shane Watson increases Australia’s chances of winning the World Cup. An opponent like the plucky, but outmatched, Afghanistan might just supply the perfect template for him to graft some significant runs, and find some confidence.

Are Mitch Marsh and Glenn Maxwell in the gun?

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Only three matches ago, Marsh and Maxwell showed maturity, poise and discipline to put on a match-winning 141 run partnership in the tri-series final, delivering Australia from 4/60 to 5/201. They both delivered with the ball as well, Maxwell taking 4/46, and Marsh tightening the screws on the English batting line-up, allowing only 18 runs from his seven overs.

Even in Australia’s opening World Cup assignment, against England again, Marsh ran through the opposition top order in taking 5/33, and with the bat Maxwell was the second highest scorer with a blistering 66 off 40 balls.

Both contribute too much to be left out, and have found form at the right time, even if they didn’t display it against New Zealand.

If Cummins is to miss, should Faulkner just come straight in for him?

We’ve seen specialist quicks get the long handle taken to them time and again in this tournament, especially in the latter overs, so do we need to replace one with another, when Faulkner is a better operator to be bowling at the end anyway?

Use Johnson and Starc in short bursts to maximise their impact and strike potential, and rotate support from Faulkner, Mitch Marsh, Watson and Glenn Maxwell.

If Watson and Marsh, in particular, can bowl tight lines and be difficult to score off, they increase the chances of batsmen making a mistake to them if they’ve got Starc and Johnson posing a threat and needing to be defended at the other end.

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The ball is in the selectors’ court, and it will be fascinating to see which way they go.

Faulkner in. But who out?

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