This week Australia played in two warm-up matches for the Champions Trophy and some questions were answered, most in regard to Australia’s line up and players for the first game against New Zealand on Friday – including a player from the big four that mightn’t play.
Australia defeated Sri Lanka in a high scoring, last gasp thriller but the game against Pakistan was washed out after only ten overs were bowled but we were still able to learn a lot from those games.
Could Mitchell Starc be underdone?
Yes. Mitchell Starc hasn’t played a cricket game since March when he suffered a stress fracture in the same foot that he injured in 2015.
Starc was rested from the first warm up game but in a stroke of bad luck he couldn’t bowl at all in the second match to blow off the cobwebs because of the rain.
In a competition where a loss could send you tumbling out of the tournament, if your best strike bowler is bowling poorly or suffers a serious injury than he could become a costly selection for Australia in the tournament.
Will we get to see our first glimpse of the big four in one team?
The champions Trophy was supposed to be the first tournament where Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson could all play in the same game and make the opposition really nervous because of the ferocity of the pace attack.
However, based on the combined factors of John Hastings resting from the first match and James Pattinson’s poor performance with the ball – with figures of one for 80 from his ten overs in the first warm up.
These factors have showed that Hastings may play his first ODI since October in 2016 because of the selectors wanting to rest him.
Sadly this means we might not be able to watch the big four pace attack in a game together until November if Hastings gets selected.
Who will partner David Warner?
Chris Lynn, Travis Head and Aaron Finch were all names tossed up to be Warner’s opening partner. Lynn showed how destructive he is as an opener during the IPL where he hit 295 runs at the strike rate of 180.
Head also scored his maiden ODI ton when opening the batting in January. While Head and Lynn both put up good cases to open, the form of Finch during the practice games puts up an irresistible case for his selection.
He has scores of 137 and 36 not out showcasing his sublime batting skills and enforcing why he should partner Warner in the first game.
Who’ll be the allrounders?
Australia has a wealth of allrounders to choose from with Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell supposedly fighting for one spot in the middle order because they’re both right arm spinners that can hit out at the end.
That could leave one spot in the team for another allrounder with Moises Henriques and Marcus Stoinis possibly fighting for a spot in the team. The last time Australia played in ODIs, Stoinis demolished the opposition which is ironically New Zealand who are the team Australia are facing in the first game.
The tour matches have served as a brilliant experiment to answer the questions that the selectors needed to be answered before the first match against New Zealand on Friday the second of June.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
That will be really a bad idea. Relying on Head and Maxwell for spin. They are good part-timers possibly bowling few overs but Zampa is a must on these pitches. I feel that Zampa is a must for all pitches. He needs to be encouraged.
BurgyGreen
Guest
I expect the selectors' logic will be that Head provides a reasonable spin option while Henriques' mediums can also be used to take pace off the ball.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
They should as even on flat surfaces spinners will be more effective than pace bowlers. Starc and Cummins already provide a lot of pace, Hastings or Hazlewood aren't bad either. So I don't think playing 4 pacers is a good idea. I think all teams will play at least one spinner, irrespective of the pitch they play on.
BurgyGreen
Guest
I'd certainly pick Zampa, but I'm not sure the selectors will, unless the pitch is unusually dry and slow.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
Going into these flat pitches with no specialist spinner is a bad idea. Maxwell and Head cannot be counted upon to bowl 10 overs if one of your pacers get tonked. You need to have Zampa in the X1 and use Henriques as your 4th pace option. Looking at all the warm up games except for couple of them, the rest are high scoring ones. Teams scoring 350 and still losing. You don't want your team bowling to be one dimensional.
BurgyGreen
Guest
I reckon Lynn misses out. Weirdly, he's probably competing with Maxwell because Smith won't bowl him. That means they need an extra bowling option so Henriques is in for sure. I think they'll almost certainly play this team: 1. Warner 2. Finch 3. Smith 4. Head 5. Henriques 6. Maxwell 7. Wade 8. Hastings 9. Starc 10. Cummins 11. Hazlewood
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
Head is going to play as he is the in form player along with Finch. So it is basically between, Henriques and Lynn for one spot in the middle order. I think Australia will go with Henriques as he provides more stable batting option and also a useful bowler if they need few overs of pace.
jarijari
Guest
Not sure about Starc unless he's 100%. Finch gets a run because of his good form in England. Maxwell's probably in, so that should leave two out of three of Head, Henriques and Lynn, ahead of Stoinis. Zampa should be there, so leave out one of the quicks. Not a bad side whichever way they go and should go close to winning it.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
In the middle order you need someone who can take lots of singles and rotate the strike. Looking at Chris Lynn bat, he seems like a kind of player who might get bogged down in the middle overs with a spread out field. Australia will get the best out of him at position 1 or 2. If not he needs to bat at 3 with Smith dropping down to 4. I don't see him as a finisher either. Positions 1, 2 or 3 are ideal spots for him. Australia can still play him in the middle order but I don't think he will be that effective in that role.
Ouch
Guest
I reckon Lynn should be there, especially if he's coming in with 10/15 overs to go.
JD St George
Roar Pro
He showed that he could get through a twenty twenty in the IPL but a ODI is completely different so picking him was always going to be a big risk
Rellum
Roar Guru
Lynn is a very good FC player and can noodle it around if he needs too. The flip side to that is that he hasn't played much FC lately so he might be a tad rusty on the not slogging. I would pick him over Henriques in Giri's side but Aus loves it all-rounders so Lynn probably misses out. Plus there must be big question marks as his shoulder making it through a game, hopefully it is fully right to go.
JD St George
Roar Pro
Why do you think Lynn shouldn't be in the middle order?
JD St George
Roar Pro
Yeah David Warner has never scored a hundred in England so the pressure will be on Smith to anchor the innings. However, if he fails than all the big hitters won't be able to hold the innings together so Australia will be 5 for 80 in quick time so its a huge risk but Australia could get huge scores if he stays in
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
I think it is settled that Finch will open with Warner. The question now is whether Chris Lynn is considered a opener or a middle order batsman. If he is an opener then he for sure isn't going to be in the X1. Now let us look at the middle order, Travis Head for sure will play along with the captain Smith. Matthew Wade is he keeper and will play in the X1. So that leaves 2 spots, one the all rounder spot and the other one specialist batsman spot. If Smith considers, Head and Maxwell as the all-rounders then both Maxwell and Lynn can play. But looking at the Aussie squad and with very little experience in the middle order, I will be surprised with Maxwell does not find a place in the X1. So that leaves one spot which is Henriques, Stoinis or Chris Lynn. Depends on what Australia wants to do with their X1 they can go either way. I would prefer, Henriques in the X1 as he provides more solid batting option for Australia. Chris Lynn is a good striker of the ball and unless Australia wants to open with him, he should not be in the X1. My guess would be this: Warner, Finch, Smith, Head, Henriques, Maxwell, Wade, Starc, Cummins, Zampa, Hazelwood
Mikey
Guest
Why is it ironic that Stoinis will be facing NZ again? More of a coincidence, methinks. Australia have missed a trick by selecting so many all rounders and not picking either Bailey or Khawaja, as a safer specialist batsman in the middle. Heavy reliance will be placed on Steve Smith and the hit and miss all-rounders, with Warner having a poor record outside of Australia and RSA. Interesting to see how the opening combination goes, with Warner seemingly undroppable, but with other explosive options available to open. On the bowling front, Hastings and Zampa should both be picked, they were both our best bowlers in 2016, where we played a lot of games outside of Australia. They provide Australia with steady options, in a tournament that I think will be very high scoring.