Australian squad looking strong for 2019 World Cup defence

After trouncing New Zealand to win the 2015 World Cup, Australia will soon begin planning for their 2019 title defence in the UK.

Retiring captain Michael Clarke will hand over the reins to Steven Smith, and a further injection of youth will no doubt commence next summer.

Brad Haddin is likely retire after this year’s Ashes series, while veterans Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson will also retire from international cricket before the next World Cup rolls around.

Add to this the ill-conceived selection of Xavier Doherty, and plenty of spots are available in the squad for our Cup defence.

David Warner is likely to still be terrorising opposition attacks in 2019, although as Ronan O’Connell recently pointed out, his ODI career has lacked the consistency of his Test and T20 feats to date.

Aaron Finch is a feast or famine player, and unfortunately the feast appears more likely to be held at the Colac pub than on a cricket ground these days.

It is likely Usman Khawaja will take his place at the top of the order in the next 12 months. After smashing 523 runs at 74.71 in the 2014 domestic one-day cup, Khawaja was a strong candidate for higher honours this summer, before injury intervened.

Smith’s golden summer has seen him catapult from solid Test player to future captain in all forms of the game. He has been a revelation at first drop in the one day side, where he should enjoy a long stint.

Clarke’s retirement opens up an opportunity for Chris Lynn to slot in at four, where he is likely to dominate. Expect to see him in the Test side in the next 18 months as well.

Glenn Maxwell had a strong second half of the summer, and deserves to remain in the middle order. He forms a power-hitting duo with Mitchell Marsh, who was unlucky to lose his spot to Watson during the tournament.

James Faulkner continues his run at seven for now, although he had a below-par tournament by his lofty short-form standards. Expect to see him bounce back strongly against England this winter.

Choosing Haddin’s replacement is a tough call. The highest scoring keeper in this year’s domestic one-day cup was Chris Hartley, and he will most likely be retired by 2019. The selectors seem to favour Matthew Wade, so he will get first crack at the role next summer. Sam Whiteman would also provide useful lower order batting, along with tidy glovework, if the selectors want a younger option.

Player of the tournament Mitchell Starc remains the leader of the attack, and will be a handful in swinging English conditions.

Our ferocious, and frighteningly tall bowling line-up will be rounded out by quicks Josh Hazlewood and Jason Behrendorff, who will join Starc in yorking batsmen with youthful fervour.

The squad could be completed by all-rounder Ashton Agar, tearaway Pat Cummins, batsman Joe Burns and spinner James Muirhead.

Burns’ versatility with the bat makes him a great candidate for the middle order, while Agar adds batting and bowling depth on surfaces more conducive to spin. Cummins could easily force his way in to the XI with experience, and a more reliable body in his mid 20s, while Muirhead provides an attacking leg-spin option that can be highly beneficial in English conditions. Cameron Boyce or Adam Zampa could also fill this role.

No doubt players will rise and fall in the next four years, but it is encouraging to see the depth in Australian cricket, and the number of outstanding young players putting their hand up for higher honours.

My 2019 World Cup squad
Smith (c), Warner, Khawaja, Lynn, Maxwell, M Marsh, Faulkner, Wade, Starc, Hazlewood, Behrendorff, Agar, Cummins, Burns, Muirhead.

Who would make your 2019 World Cup squad, Roarers?