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After a summer of cricket that has seen many players throw their hat into the ring for World Cup selection, the announced 15-man squad throws up no real surprises, but also has the appearance of a team that could go all the way to lift the trophy.
Australia’s Cricket World Cup squad: Michael Clarke (c), George Bailey (vc), Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson.
While the squad gives pundits a better idea of what sort of side Australia are going to put out at the MCG against England, there are still a couple of different possibilities of teams the hosts will play.
Possibility #1: Standard 6-1-4 squad
Warner, Finch, Watson, Clarke (c), Smith, Bailey (vc), Haddin (wk), Johnson, Starc, Hazlewood, Doherty
This squad gives Australia an all-rounded team, capable of batting deep (we saw the prowess of Johnson, Starc, Hazlewood in the Gabba Test last month) with four main-line bowlers, plus Watson as an all-rounder and Smith as a bit-part spinner.
There is some good leadership in this team with Clarke, Smith and Bailey then also the fireworks of opening pair Warner and Finch. Of course this team is dependent on Clarke’s fitness and also the form of Watson in the upcoming tri-series, but expect to see this team against Bangladesh at the Gabba or maybe even Afghanistan at the WACA.
Possibility #2: The all-rounder squad
Warner, Finch, Watson, Smith (vc), Bailey (c), Marsh/Faulkner, Haddin (wk), Maxwell, Johnson, Starc/Cummins, Hazlewood
This squad could pose a few more risks for the Aussies, as it features a few jack of all trades, masters of none. With Watson, Marsh/Faulkner and Maxwell, you need them in them team to contribute with both bat and ball, and it leaves the team exposed if they don’t.
For example if Watson fails at the top of the order, and Mitch Marsh and Maxwell get out cheaply, it leaves the batting order compromised. The Marsh/Faulkner and Starc/Cummins selections are dependent on each other, as the Aussies will want to go with two right-arm bowlers and two lefties. So it would either be Marsh and Starc or Faulkner and Cummins as I don’t see Johnson or Hazlewood leaving the squad in their current form. Here, Glenn Maxwell almost plays as the selected spinner, with his off-breaks and its a role he can definitely play.
Don’t be surprised to see this squad for game one especially if Clarke is not fit.
Possibility #3: The slower wicket squad
Warner, Finch, Maxwell, Smith (vc), Bailey (c), Marsh, Haddin (wk), Johnson, Starc, Hazlewood, Doherty
The main features of this squad are two spinners, four quicks, but also a really aggressive batting line-up. If a Warner, Finch and Maxwell top-three fires, then scores of 350-plus are always on the cards. Having two spinners, especially one going into the right hander and one away, can not only place a lot of pressure on the batsmen to read deliveries, but it can get through 20 overs very quickly, something that Maxwell and Doherty are both magnificent at.
Having Mitch Marsh at six can give you some great lower-order hitting, but like possibility two don’t be surprised to see Faulkner and Cummins instead, as Faulkner has some better variation in his repertoire.
Possibility #4: The form squad
Warner, Finch, Maxwell, Clarke (c), Smith (vc), Faulkner, Haddin (wk), Johnson, Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins
This squad is a mixture of form and picking players suited to our Australian conditions. Doherty is not a wicket taker, whereas having the four quicks will definitely find you some wickets, especially throwing in Maxwell and Faulkner. It isn’t as strong a batting line-up but as long as one of the top five can get an 80-plus score the rest have the ability to chip in.
The dependence on fast bowlers is a concern, so Starc may come out for Doherty. The other major omission from this squad is George Bailey, which is highly unlikely, especially given he is the vice-captain, but he is known to have down patches in form and may be rotated around.
Possibility #5: The rotation squad
Haddin (wk), Finch, Watson (vc), Bailey (c), Marsh, Maxwell, Faulkner, Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins, Doherty
The importance of this squad is that it gives Warner, Smith, Clarke and Johnson – probably Australia’s four most important players – a rest. Haddin can be more aggressive at the top of the order, while Watson, Bailey, Marsh, Maxwell and Faulkner can all score quickly. Don’t be surprised to see this type of squad against Afghanistan or Scotland, particularly Scotland, the last game before the knockout stages.
The tri-series against England and India could prove crucial to Test some of these combinations but from what we have seen here, there are seven or eight players who have to be in every squad (besides the ‘rotation’ squad).
Definite players to be picked
1. David Warner
2. Aaron Finch
3. ?
4. Michael Clarke (if fit)
5. Steve Smith
6. ?
7. Haddin
8. Johnson
9. Starc
10. Hazlewood
11. ?
This leaves three (maybe four if you include the Starc versus Cummins position) spots between six players. There’s a battle between Watson and Maxwell for first drop, then Bailey and Faulkner/Marsh and finally Doherty and Maxwell/Faulkner/Marsh.
The importance of Warner and Finch is beyond measure, and a fit Michael Clarke would provide great experience. The pace attack must take wickets, and a lot will ride on the form of Johnson, Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins to get early breakthroughs in each innings.
The other big question is who will take the place of Michael Clarke if he is not fit by the game against Bangladesh. The general consensus is that it has to be a outright batsman, so don’t be surprised to see Shaun Marsh thrown into the team, but the other option is Cameron White, who has great pedigree in the Australian team and would bring some great experience.
Can’t wait for the World Cup to start and honestly believe that the Aussies can go all the way.
An Australia versus New Zealand final is a great chance, but don’t be surprised to see India, Sri Lanka and South Africa all there or thereabouts at the end of the tournament.
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