The world’s two best limited-overs spinners Imran Tahir and Sunil Narine will greet Australia in their ODI tri-series starting this week on what are likely to be slow, dry Caribbean pitches.
Playing their first ODIs since they lost 1-2 against the Kiwis in New Zealand in February, Australia’s ability to handle the slow men will be tested.
They will, however, be facing a South African side missing champion quick Dale Steyn and a West Indian line-up without a clutch of talented players.
Limited-overs stars Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Chris Gayle and Darren Sammy all were absent from the 14-man squad named by the West Indies for the first four matches of the tri-series. While the Windies traditionally are more competitive in their home conditions, their squad looks particularly short on batting.
Veterans Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels are the only two accomplished ODI batsmen in the squad, which is heavy on all-rounders. Their line-up would be far stronger if it included the likes of Gayle, Russell and Dwayne Bravo. The politics of Caribbean cricket continues to hamstring the West Indian team, particularly in the Test and ODI formats.
They may be coming off an incredible World T20 triumph in March but they will struggle to push the dominant Australians and an impressive Proteas outfit.
Even without Steyn, South Africa still will field a fine attack. Quality pacemen Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada and Kyle Abbott will be complemented by the best spinner in ODI cricket Tahir. With 92 wickets at an average of 24 from 54 ODIs, Tahir owns a formidable record.
Australia are his bogey side, though. Across six ODIs and three Test matches, Tahir has the horrendous figures of nine wickets at 75 against the Aussies. The leg spinner will be aided by the parched pitches and should, regardless of history, pose a significant challenge to the Australian batsmen.
The reigning ODI World Cup champions have the best balanced squad of the three teams. A top four of David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja/George Bailey is the equal of any in world cricket.
Khawaja and George Bailey look to be fighting for one spot in the top four. The former’s touch across all formats has been extraordinary for the past nine months. Bailey does, however, have a wonderful ODI record away from home, with 1306 runs at 48 on the road.
At five, belligerent all-rounder Glenn Maxwell will offer Australia a handy second spin option. Behind him at six, Mitchell Marsh has come of age as an ODI cricketer. He has been rampant in his past eight matches, clattering 274 runs at 68 to go with 14 wickets at 23.
Keeper Matthew Wade is lucky to be in the team given his consistently underwhelming efforts with both bat and gloves in the ODI format.
Australia’s attack looks potent thanks to the return from injury of the world’s best limited-overs bowler Mitchell Starc and the emergence of gifted young spinner Adam Zampa.
Although Test off spinner Nathan Lyon has far more experience in international cricket than Zampa, the leggie has impressed greatly in his few matches for Australia and has been on fire in the Indian Premier League.
Together with the unerring accuracy and lift of Josh Hazlewood, and the variations of James Faulkner, Australia have a fantastic attack. They deserve to start this tri-series as hot favourites.
Australia squad for Caribbean Tri-Series
Steven Smith, David Warner, George Bailey, Scott Boland, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade (wk), Adam Zampa.
Australia’s best XI
1. David Warner
2. Aaron Finch
3. Usman Khawaja
4. Steve Smith
5. Glenn Maxwell
6. Mitch Marsh
7. Matthew Wade
8. James Faulkner
9. Mitchell Starc
10. Adam Zampa
11. Josh Hazlewood
South Africa squad
Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wk), AB de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi.
South Africa’s best XI
1. Hashim Amla
2. Quinton de Kock
3. Faf du Plessis
4. Ab de Villiers
5. Rilee Rossouw
6. Jean-Paul Duminy
7. Chris Morris
8. Kyle Abbott
9. Morne Morkel
10. Kagiso Rabada
11. Imran Tahir
West Indies squad
Jason Holder, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Shannon Gabriel, Sunil Narine, Ashley Nurse, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor.
West Indies best XI
1. Johnson Charles
2. Andre Fletcher
3. Darren Bravo
4. Marlon Samuels
5. Kieron Pollard
6. Denesh Ramdin
7. Jason Holder
8. Carlos Brathwaite
9. Sunil Narine
10. Sulieman Benn
11. Jerome Taylor
craig swanson
Guest
My batting line up would read. Warner Finch Khawaja Smith Bailey Head M Marsh Faulkner. Head is as competent a slow bowler at everyone's favorite Maxie. I expect Smith just may roll over his arm for a couple.
craig swanson
Guest
From where do CA get its logic.. a corn flakes packet? It would have made more sense for Nevill to have been picked for this tri series with the Sri Lanka tour just around the corner. This bloke needs some cricket. Whiteman looks like the heir in waiting with his selection as single keeper for the A series in July.
craig swanson
Guest
If our test boys can get on top of Narine and Tahir that should be good preparation for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. No doubt they would have been honing their spin playing skills up on the baked red clay decks in Brisbane. I sense a new optimism when we head over to the over to the sub continent in July.
Amithabh
Guest
I would go for Khawaja in the top 4
Nudge
Guest
I understand he went through a bad patch for a year or so which resulted in him being dropped for last years World Cup for Clarke, but since returning he's averaged over 55 in 2 out of 3 series which makes him pretty hard to drop considering his excellent one day record. Completely understand your point about his age and when the next World Cup is, but if the selectors were thinking the same, I don't think they would have picked him in the squad at all.
Tom from Perth
Guest
Thanks Ronan.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Cheers Nudge. I can't agree with you on Bailey's form though. Since his amazing series in India in October 2013, he has averaged just 29 with the bat...across 37 ODIs and two-and-half years. He turns 34yo in a couple of months and the next World Cup is 3 years away no I don't see the point ib persevering with Bailey ahead of a quality younger batsman like Khawaja in rampant form.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
G'day Tom, the series starts this Friday and Australia's first match is Sunday against Windies: Australia's matches are: June 5 - Windies June 7 - SA June 11 - SA June 13 - Windies June 19 - SA June 21 - Windies June 26 - FINAL
The Bush
Roar Guru
Funny you say that Sideline because I actually think the batting line up is too rigid and I often wonder why they don't change it more depending on the game situation during ODIs. I'm going to watch closely in this series to see if Smith does that, because I haven't personally noticed it often at all.
richo
Guest
who does Wade have photo's of? Reeeeediculous decision, not a good keeper and a poor batsman. Is Neville injured? Sometimes the cricketing public just shake their heads at national selectors
Sideline Comm.
Guest
From what I've observed over the last couple of years the batting line up seems very fluid, depending much more on each player's strengths than on a static order. Smith appears to like judging the match situation and putting in the right batsman for that time in the match. Himself, if an early wicket is lost and the situation looks dangerous, or a more powerful hitter if the game is going well. I'm tempted to say that the days of a rigid batting orders in limited overs cricket is behind us.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Good call, I've got time for Dunk.
Tom from Perth
Guest
When are the matches? I need some cricket. Footy season is not treating freo too well.
The Bush
Roar Guru
They may settle on Khawaja though because he's more likely to be at the next world cup? Also does Smith want to bat at 3 or 4 in ODIs? I know it's not quite as relevant as in Test matches, but can't exactly hurt the boys to have a settled batting position with Khawaja at first drop in both formats and Smith at four.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
I'd consider Dunk. Can't be worse than Wade with the gloves and good with the bat.
Giovanni Torre
Guest
Great yarn. Sad to see the Windies cricket authorities screw their team's chances of performing to their best - will continue to do lasting damage to the game in the component countries, as youngsters will be less likely to aspire to play for a middling side, and look to other sports (or, at best, being a travelling T20 mercenary).
Nudge
Guest
Thanks for the wrap Ronan, really insightful read. Hard to disagree with your Aussie team but I'm going to anyway. I think George Bailey deserves to play. He's been Australia's best and most consistent one day player over the past 4 or so years although Finch could probably stake a claim for that as well. So until he goes through a poor period, I think he should be rewarded for being so outstanding over that period of time. Obviously someone has to miss out that probably deserves to play and I don't think I'm game enough to suggest who I think that should be
Andy
Guest
That seems a very weak batting line up from the west indies. I really dont see how they will ever score enough runs to make the game interesting.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Yeah, the lack of an excellent keeper-batsman is the one real weakness of this side. No real standout candidate but Whiteman or Nevill would be worth a shot, or possibly Handscomb.
steve
Guest
Australia's ODI team is incredible at the moment, though I personally think Sam Whiteman should be there as the keeper, to me he's the next in line when Nevill finishes so they may as well give him a run here, or maybe even Nevill himself, anyone but Wade.