No place for Michael Clarke in my World Cup XI

Many have written about who should be in Australia’s starting XI for the World Cup, I’m choosing my XI from the World Cup squad named last week.

David Warner and Aaron Finch
Both are automatic inclusions. Warner may have only averaged 33.13 in his 54 ODIs with just four centuries, but he will only up this average as the World Cup progresses if these past few years in Tests are anything to go by.

Couple him with Aaron Finch and it creates one of the most destructive opening partnerships in the world.

Both of them average a strike rate of around 85, so it’ll only take one of them to fire for the Aussies to have a good chance of winning.

Shane Watson
It was a tough decision. The potential of Mitch Marsh or the talent of Watson? I went with Watto.

The right-handed batsmen is a big boundary hitter, with 546 fours and 124 sixes for the fifty-over format. Round that off with a strike rate of almost 90 and you have a brilliant and capable batsman at first drop.

His 180 games of experience will be invaluable for the Aussies, as will his ability to bowl tightly at one end, allowing his teammates to get wickets at the other. His only drawback is his struggles convert his starts into triple figures, with 31 half centuries yet only 9 three-figure scores. But when you realise that Marsh is yet to prove himself at the highest level, the decision became easier.

Steve Smith (VC)
No need to question this man’s place in the team. After being surprisingly omitted from the first ODI against South Africa after being man of the series in Pakistan, he responded with scores of 71*, 104, 67, 37 and 47 with a fantastic batting average of 65.2.

With his ability to build both long and steady partnerships, or take advantage of a quick start, his value cannot be overstated.

George Bailey (C)
I only have room for one of George Bailey and Michael Clarke and I chose Bailey, even though he’s only averaged just over 20 with the bat in his last seven games, with a high score of 70.

One reason was Clarke’s low strike-rate of just 78.59 compared to Bailey’s ability to hit more than the occasional boundary for a strike rate of almost 90. And with Clarke’s injuries he’s too big of a risk. Hopefully Bailey can re-find form as that middle order batsman with power and precision.

Brad Haddin
Not a lot to say about this one, hopefully he’ll be able to put a few more runs on the board for the Aussies though. Good to see him there at the end for a couple of games too, like he was against India.

Glenn Maxwell
For some Maxwell’s x-factor with the bat and wicket-taking right-arm off breaks make him an automatic selection. For some, he’s borderline, for others still he’s not in the XI, due to current poor form and inconsistency.

I believe he has the potential to be a very good batsman, but he’s not there yet. Hopefully he can score some big runs next game.

James Faulkner
The fourth man picked – behind Smith, Warner and Finch. This man’s ability to bowl at the death is well known and those slower bowls out of the back of his hands are fantastic to watch. And he has the ability to smash the ball to all parts of the ground to win in thrilling run chases.

Mitchell Johnson
Johnson’s ferocity, wicket-taking ability and experience makes him the pick of the bowlers. At 33 years of age, and with 144 games under his belt, he has the knowledge and the cool head to lead the Aussies to victory.

Though he hasn’t had bad figures of late (averaging 2.25 wickets a game) it has not been up to Mitchell’s moustache standard. Hopefully he can take the form he was in from the Test series against India (and his ‘mo’) into the World Cup.

Mitchell Starc
If I had have written this article a week ago he would’ve been on the bench. But after two man of the match performances, yielding results of 4/42 and 6/43, it’s impossible to consider him not playing. With his deadly yorkers at 150 clicks, as well as the ability to strike early in a match – he’s now struck in his first over three games in a row – it’s just too tempting for him and Johnson to partner in a deadly pace attack.

Josh Hazlewood
What’s not to love? From just six games he’s already got 10 wickets, and with the comparisons to Glenn McGrath coming constantly, his potential and talent are worthy of the 2015 World Cup.

Pat Cummins (12th man)
Unfortunate to miss out. Has looked good at times in the tri-series so far, bowling in quick bursts, but lacked the consistency and wicket-taking ability shown in the early part of his career.

Being able to bowl at 150 plus kilometres an hour is definitely an advantage he has over Hazlewood, and will probably play a couple of games if Josh doesn’t fire early.

The unlucky three
Xavier Doherty, Michael Clarke and Mitch Marsh were the unlucky three this time round. Maxwell, Smith, Warner and Smith combined can easily account for 10 to 15 overs, meaning it’s unnecessary to have Doherty in the team as a specialist spinner. Won’t say much more on Michael Clarke. Mitchell Marsh was unfortunate too, but Watson’s experience at the top level cancels him out. Might come in if Watson doesn’t keep scoring runs and taking wickets.

Well there you have it, my Aussie XI. Any suggestions Roarers – including good websites for looking up stats?