With four months until the World Cup kicks off in our own backyard, Australia have completed a clean sweep in the United Arab Emirates, downing Pakistan in all three one day matches, and one T20.
With two ODI series and the domestic cup between now and the World Cup, there’s still a lot of competition for places, as Australia seek out their best XI for the tournament.
Although the side has reclaimed the number one spot in the ICC ODI world rankings, it means zero if they don’t have the best XI for the tournament.
Openers
David Warner’s time away from the side as his family grew seems to have had no impact on his form, scoring plenty of runs in the limited overs leg of the UAE tour. But the question remains as to who will partner him come February.
Aaron Finch has had a poor run of form on tour, and will struggle to hold his place in a full-strength Australian side. Shane Watson, who still seems to be the favourite if fit, has struggled with injury, and Phil Hughes has not convinced enough in his opportunities, so Finch may keep his position by default. At least the pacey Australia wickets suit him more than overseas turners.
Middle order
Michael Clarke’s injury gave Steve Smith a crack at number three and wham, bam, thank you ma’am! He took out man of the series, and notched up his two best ODI scores.
Meanwhile, George Bailey has been struggling since the end of the Aussie summer. His average has slipped nearly 10 runs, although it’s still an attractive 45-plus. Yet the pressure is on, with Smith and big Cameron White pressing their claims in the top side.
Glenn Maxwell seems to have locked in his place at five, as his hitting, bowling, and fielding over the past twelve months have validated his nickname, ‘The Big Show’. James Faulkner hasn’t done enough to get dropped, but a fit Mitch Marsh may give him some healthy competition for that spot.
Meanwhile, in the domestic ranks, John Hastings and Moises Henriques are showing similar form which led to their international berths.
Wicketkeeper
Nearly 37-years-old, Brad Haddin’s still throwing himself round like a twenty-something. Touch wood he doesn’t pick up and injury, because he’ll be an important cog with bat and gloves as Australia look to regain the silverware.
Quicks
Take your bloody pick. We have nearly a dozen quality seamers who could get the job done next year. Considering Clint McKay is still eighth in the ICC ODI rankings, yet not part of the ODI squad, it clues you in as to how much depth lies in our bowling stocks.
The choice pacemen still seem to be Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Kane Richardson, with the likes of Josh Hazlewood, Sam Rainbird, Gurinder Sandhu and Joel Paris keeping them honest via good domestic form.
All in all, we should have no issues with quick men for the World Cup, with plenty of speed and menace to pick from.
Spinner
Nathan Lyon seems to have displaced Xavier Doherty for the tweaking honours. He nabbed enough wickets in Zimbabwe and the UAE, with a miserly economy rate, to all but assure himself of a green and gold cap on the world stage. One would think that either Lyon or Doherty would be a solid enough spinner during the World Cup on Australian soil, with Maxi’s offies in support.
That being said, we know how inconsistent Cricket Australia have been in the Post-Warne search for a spinner, and Fawad Ahmed, Cameron Boyce and James Muirhead have all been given their limited-overs debuts in recent times.
Signs are good for the Australian national side, but they’re still not settled. There are a few key spots up for grabs, with the biggest concern being Warner’s opening partner.
One would think Cricket Australia would like to cement their perfect 15-man squad by the India/England Tri-Series in order to get some continuity moving into the tournament. That means the ODI series against South Africa later this year may be the final chance for fringe players to show cause for World Cup selection.
ajay
Guest
yep i thought i was talking about uae tracks?? not nz tracks which are similer to aussie pitches and aussie are fav there small size of ground and aussie power hitter wil smack there any team
Armchair Expert
Guest
The World Cup will also be played on NZ pitches.
ajay
Guest
nz will play a series against pak then u have all the answers waiting there
ajay
Guest
mckay is there but the problem is we have a list of bowlers lot's of option available at the moment but in batting we have good choice but not a list like bolwers??
ajay
Guest
yep no doubt that nz will be competitve but world cup will be played on aussie pitches and they are fit there on uae dead track it was enough
Bobbo7
Guest
I honestly think NZ could give this team a shake. Warner and Watson are either all or nothing as is Finch. As we saw the other night Aussies only got 230 and should have lost. Aussies will be strong and go in as favourites but NZ has won away series to England and SA and beat India 4-0 in NZ recently and plays all games (except a possible final) in NZ.
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't bet my house on it. Have you heard an update though?
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
Yeah mate Bailey is right up there in the rankings. But so is McKay, and he's not guaranteed to play. I don't think you can have Faulkner and Marsh in the same team at the moment.
ajay
Guest
Shaun marsh will be fit for clash against proteas!
ajay
Guest
hehhehe mate i am a huge fan of faulkner and i mentioned faulkner in my comment and i know his ability but as for now if clarke is unfit then who will lead?/ them if u will left him out i thought he is the only aussie in top 10 ranked batsman in the world? and my question is james and mitch marsh can make starting x1 if we will go with two quicks ??? what u think marsh can finish things off and faulkner is proven match winner
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
And ajay don't just blindly look at averages. Bailey's is grossly inflated by that Indian series a year or so ago. It was played on postage stamp grounds and he was in incredible form. It looked for a moment that he might just be that good, but it now looks like that was just a purple patch.
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
I very much think they would. There's no slew of pace bowlers in Harris' class. There's probably two others in the world (Steyn and Johnson). As Boof says, they'll just pick the best team. That's what I've done. I think that this is the best team Australia can produce. Craig: Cam White would be in my squad with Bailey as the backup batsmen. UTK, Burns and Cooper are lurking, but a bit behind the first two mentioned who also have considerable international experience. There's about 10 bowlers ahead of Sandhu. Hazelwood is ahead of Behrendorff and Paris, but all three could be excellent ODI bowlers. Tim Paine is probably behind Neville and Whiteman. I'd pick Whiteman as the backup keeper. Moises is the all rounder after Faulkner and M Marsh.
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
I didn't forget Bailey. I intentionally left him out. I think Smith adds more to the team, and Bailey's abysmal form doesn't help either. Mitch Marsh? He's next in line for Faulkner's spot. I'm assuming that you've seen Faulkner's ODI heroics. He's more than "very dangerous" at the end of an innings. He's one of the premier chasers in ODI cricket. As for Shaun marsh, he's injured again.
ajay
Guest
are you kidding 3 man of the match out of 4 match plus his sensational fielding
ajay
Guest
yep and i think squad against proteas will be as follows warner finch watson bailey/smith maxwell haddo mitch marsh/faulkner johnson NCN lyon
ajay
Guest
tom u forget BAILEY and shuan marsh there mate although bailey is out of form but mate his avg is better then all of above he will be there and he is going to score two big score n aussie track and he will be lock and also mitch marsh who is very destructive at the end ?/
Craig Watson
Guest
The world cup is still four months off. Should we not then be discussing firstly what the Aussie squad will be for the South Africa series in November? No doubt it there are any new selections for the world cup they could come from strong performances in the warm up series. Now who have injury clouds over them at present? Warner, Watson, Shaun Marsh. Form issues: Finch, Bailey , Starc. Here are a few names for the South African series to bandy around: Cam White, Usman Kawaja, Joe Burns, Tom Cooper, Gurinda Sandhu, Jason Behrendorff, Tim Paine and Moises Henriques. What do you think?
Craig Watson
Guest
The next Aussie wicketkeeper is is a bit of a conundrum. Mathew Wade has been tried and discarded. Chris Hartley seems to have been forgotten altogether. Peter Neville is making quite a case and there is the the youngster on the rise Sam Whiteman. Before the terrible finger injury that put him out of cricket for two years, Tim Paine was arguably the best gloveman in the country. A comeback to the national side should not be dismissed out of hand. Anyone who has watched the Tasmanian going thru his paces since his return will no doubt have noted the impeccable glovework is still very evident. Rod Marsh and his fellow selectors have it in their power to resurrect the career of Tim Paine when Brad Haddin hangs up the gloves.
Bobbo7
Guest
Haddin is a liability for mine. Always goes missing with the bat (how many times did England drop him during the Ashes). His keeping is average as well. No one will agree with me on this as everyone seems to think Haddin is brilliant off the back of the Ashes where he did make plenty, thanks to England being terrible in the field. Bug other than that Australia will be strong. NZ also looking very good of late with plenty of competition for places for a change
Gareth Kidd
Roar Guru
I don't think they would. He's seen more as a red-ball bowler now, not to mention the absolute slew of good ODI bowling stocks. Given his chronic knee, which will never fully recover, I doubt you'll ever see him out of whites (he barely rocks up for the Heat these days).