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SWOT analysis of the Australian ODI squad against South Africa

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Roar Rookie
3rd November, 2018
9

Australia is set to have a competitive home summer. Hosting South Africa, India and Sri Lanka, this can be one of the most highly-anticipated cricketing months in recent memory.

All the four sides are in flux. South Africa is still trying to find feet without Hashim Amla and now retired AB De Villiers. The Indian team is still finding a settled XI.

Australia has failed to get its act together after the Newlands ball-tampering scandal. Finally, Sri Lanka have struggled the most lately, failing to replace of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena and Tillakaratne Dilshan.

The game shall go on and cricketing fans are excited about the upcoming cricket. Australia’s international summer kicks off with a short three-match ODI series, concluding on 11th November at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena. This series may be short but will set the tone for India’s tour and more importantly, the Cricket World Cup next summer in England.

In this article, a SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunities and threats) analysis of Australia’s 14-man ODI squad will be done. Additionally, the playing XI for the first ODI at the Perth stadium will be predicted.

Squad
Aaron Finch (c), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, D’Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

Strengths

1. A set of explosive openers
A look at Australia’s openers in the squad oozes promise. Aaron Finch, Chris Lynn and D’Arcy Short are solid options to choose from, for an opening pair. With Finch being the captain, he is certain to open the innings.

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With one between Lynn and Short to be picked as a partner, we have one of the most explosive pairs of openers in ODI cricket. While neither among them is David Warner, both Lynn and Short are capable to turn a match if they get going.

2. A strong pace battery
After trying with Kane Richardson, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, AJ Tye and Billy Stanlake to little avail (except Stanlake who performed consistently), Australia have got their world- class pace triplet of Mitchel Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood back.

The attack which led them to 2015 World Cup will be supported by all-rounder Nathan Coulter Nile who makes his comeback following a good T20 tournament against Pakistan in the UAE. At Perth, we may see these four hitting the deck hard to bamboozle a young South African batting line- up.

Weaknesses

1. No Warner and Smith
The biggest reason for Australia’s failure in recent months is the absence of Smith and Warner. While Smith is much more valuable in tests than in limited overs, he is a world-class cricketer and a terrific captain. On the other hand, David Warner is a priceless limited overs cricketer.

Warner and Finch are one of the best opening combinations in the world cricket. Short and Lynn are good cricketers but they are not Warner.

David Warner

(Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

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With Warner and Smith absent, Australia appears without a fear factor. While Finch has tried to offset Warner’s absence with his best calendar year in ODIs so far, Smith’s absence seems to be hurting this team’s dynamics more. Middle order collapses have become a more frequent viewing in Australia’s coloured clothing.

This brings us to the next point.

2. A fragile middle order
Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Alex Carey make an impressive reading. However, they featured in the disastrous England tour as well. Alarmingly, in those five matches, there were only two individual hundreds and one fifty-plus score by an Australian middle-order batsman (from number 3 to 7); two centuries by Shaun Marsh and a fifty by Glenn Maxwell.

To avoid the down-slide, either Short or Finch were dropped to middle order and Head was promoted as an opener with no success. Marsh’s inconsistency is a big concern, Head seems green for all the talent, Maxwell has never justified his potential, Carey is relatively new and Stoinis is yet to cement his place in the Australian team.

Demoting Finch to the middle order negates their batting’s biggest strength- the opening, hence he should be at the top. Either Short or Lynn are effective when there are field restrictions than as a middle order anchor. They are yet to be effectively tested as finishers as well. Hence, Finch and Short/ Lynn must open.

Australia are all set to put their faith in Marsh, Head, Maxwell, Stoinis and Carey again. If they have to build up in Smith and Warner’s absence and put up a challenge against South Africa and India, their middle order should fire and be solid.

Opportunities

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1. Alex Carey
Not often you get a backing from one of cricket’s greatest wicket-keepers, Adam Gilchrist. While Paine did a commendable job, Australia are right to look at other options.

On this backdrop, Carey’s inclusion in the squad makes perfect sense. Paine did not contribute enough with the bat and Wade has missed the bus. This makes the South Australian a worthy addition as Australia build for a long summer and World Cup 2019. He was decent in the opportunities he got against England.

However, he has become Australia’s first choice T20 wicketkeeper and will want to make the ODI wicketkeeping spot his own. The former captain of GWS Giants in AFL has a great opportunity to book his ticket to the World Cup 2019 with a solid summer behind the wickets.

2. Nathan Coulter-Nile
A genuine wicket-taker, Nathan Coulter-Nile’s career is yet to justify his potential. He may never play test cricket, with his persisting back injury disabling him from bowling more than 15 overs. However, he wants to fix a spot in Australia’s limited overs squad leading up to the World Cup and selectors are backing him.

With a strike rate of 30, he is ranked 6th in Australia’s all-time bowlers list. A bowler who can bat handily and a good fielder, Coulter-Nile should compete with Cummins and Hazlewood for a spot in the playing XI. This series can go a long way in cementing his spot in Australia’s ODI squad.

3. Adam Zampa
One of the selections in the squad which raised eyebrows was Adam Zampa over Nathan Lyon. Lyon bowled well in England in the 2 matches he played in. However, selector Trevor Hohns has hinted that Zampa was preferred as a part of the world cup preparations.

In home conditions, Australia have preferred pace-heavy attacks in the past with part-timers Head and Maxwell bowling spin.

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In England, spin all-rounder Ashton Agar got the nod and ended up being the fourth highest run scorer for Australia in the series. South Africa are known to struggle against spin. Considering this, this highest wicket taker of 2016 can back himself for a spot in the first ODI at Perth. A good summer against South Africa followed by India (The best spin-playing country in the world) shall make his case stronger for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

4. D’Arcy Short
D’Arcy Short booked his place in Australian setup earlier this year with an outstanding Big Bash League for Hobart Hurricanes. Since then, Short has booked his spot in Australia’s T20 side and was decent against England in the chances he got.

D'Arcy Short walks out to bat.

(Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

He was tried as an opener and a finisher in that tournament to a limited success. His style may resemble David Warner but he is yet to perform to that billing. In all fairness, he has not got many opportunities either. He should partner skipper Finch at the top of the order. Good performances against South Africa will ensure his place against India.

Warner is likely to return in time to feature in next year’s world cup. If he makes a comeback, Warner should occupy one of the opening slots. However, consistent performances against South Africa and India can have Short challenging Finch and Warner to open the innings in the World Cup.

5. Marcus Stoinis
For some reason, Stoinis is yet to cement his spot in the Australian team. Often ignored for Mitchell Marsh, he has performed well whenever he has got chances. With an average of around 45 and a strike rate of just over 100, he can be an ideal finisher for Australia.

Against South Africa, Stoinis finds a place in the ODI squad which is without Marsh. A strong series with the bat can ensure his place in the limited overs fold for entire summer and the World Cup. Stoinis, a good all-rounder and more than a handy fielder, has a great opportunity to book a spot in the Australian team for a long time to come.

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Threats

1. Consistently inconsistent
With their pace triplet back, this squad bears a much stronger look than their team against England. While this will be Australia’s first ODI series since the English debacle, Australia has won just one ODI in 2018 so far. Sometimes, their batting has collapsed while more frequently, their bowlers failed to deliver.

With the return of Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood, their bowling looks stronger than against Pakistan or England. If Australia has to perform well through the summer and in next year’s world cup, their bowlers and batsmen need to perform more consistently.

Mitchell Starc

(AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

2. Comeback of Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins after missing months of action
An unfortunate coincidence for the Australian team was the absence of Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins coinciding with bans of Smith and Warner. To put it in perspective, the last time these three played together in an ODI was on 21st January this year in a losing effort against England.

Australia will keep their fingers crossed that the trio remains fit leading up to the world cup. Another threat that looms with them is the rust. While Starc had a niggle or two during his test comeback against Pakistan, Cummins and Hazlewood have just made their comeback for ACT Comets in the Futures League. Australia will want them to be up and running all through the cricketing summer.

Predicted XI
1. Aaron Finch (C)
2. D’Arcy Short
3. Shaun Marsh
4. Travis Head
5. Glenn Maxwell
6. Marcus Stoinis
7. Alex Carey (WK)
8. Nathan Coulter- Nile/ Pat Cummins
9. Mitchel Starc
10. Josh Hazlewood
11. Adam Zampa

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