With the 2019 Cricket World Cup just around the corner, it’s time for you to decide should represent Australia at the biggest cricket tournament of them all.
The official 15-man squad must be submitted to the International Cricket Council by April 23, but with Australia now having played their last game before that deadline, we want your picks now.
Some players are essentially guaranteed spots on the lineup, such as captain Aaron Finch and all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis. Opening batsman Usman Khawaja would also seem a likely selection given his recent rich form.
The rest of the batting positions in the squad are far less certain.
Steve Smith and David Warner have just become eligible to play for Australia after their 12-month suspensions ended. Their absence has opened up avenues for others to stake their claims, but the experience and talent of the former captain and vice-captain won’t be forgotten. Between the two of them, they’ve played 214 one-day internationals have more than 7000 runs.
But do they deserve to come straight back into a squad who have just won eight games on the trot?
Steve Smith with Peter Handscomb. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
In their absence, Shaun Marsh has stepped up in the one-day arena. The last time Australia played in England – a humiliating ODI series loss last year – Marsh accumulated 288 runs at 58 and was the only tourist to average more than 40 in that particular series. But in the recent tour of India, he could only manage 29 runs from three innings.
This slump couldn’t have come at a worse time for Marsh, putting his spot in question.
The position of wicketkeeper is also a hotly debated topic. Alex Carey is the most likely option, having become an automatic white-ball selection for Australia over the past year.
Another possibility is Peter Handscomb, who has piled up 1,045 at an average of 48 when playing as a wicketkeeper in List A cricket. His versatility is clearly appealing, but it would be a risk to take him as the only wicketkeeper in the squad – far more likely is him being picked as a back-up wicketkeeper/batsman option.
Tasmanian pair Matthew Wade and Tim Paine are the other options. Wade is in outstanding form with the bat, and his keeping has improved in recent years, but seems to be out of favour with the selectors, while Test skipper Paine seems confined to the five-day format despite being the best gloveman in the country.
Finally, there are the bowlers.
Current Allan Border Medallist Pat Cummins will be in the squad, of that there’s no doubt. But there are plenty of queries over the rest of the attack.
Jhye Richardson recently dislocated his shoulder and is in serious doubt for the tournament, while Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are recovering from injuries of their own.
Assuming spinners Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa are both picked in the squad, there’s likely to be three or four pace-bowling spots up for grabs outside of Cummins. Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jason Behrendorff and Kane Richardson will all be vying for a place on top of the aforementioned injured trio.
Of course, Australia could opt to take just one spinner to England to free up an extra paceman, in which case they’d have to choose between Zampa’s leg-spin and Lyon’s offies.
We want you to tell us what the right approach is. You can do just that by picking your preferred 15-man squad in the form below and telling everyone your thoughts in the comments section below, and we’ll have the results up later in the week.
RAJAT SINGH
Guest
My 15 ( lynn warner khwaja s marsh finch maxwell stionis carey turner lyon zampa starc cummins jhye richardson and coulter nile
Rakib18hasan
Guest
My opinion of cricket australia squad ahead the world cup 2019 goes to theses person that are would be smash the game. Aron Finch David Warner Usman Khawaja Steve Smith Peter Handscomb Glenn Maxwell Alex Carey Patrick Cummins Mitchell Starc Josh Hazlewood Adam Zampa Nathan Lyon M Marsh J Richardson/Coulter Nile #We want wc2019 #commonaussie #go the distance
Smokey
Guest
Short and Wade would provide explosive power at start of innings whereas our current options need to score big to justify relatively slow starts.
Ravi smart
Guest
Finch(c) Warner Uzzi khawaja Smith Handscomb(wk) Maxwell Stoines A Turner Cummins Starc Hazelwood Adam zampa Coulter-nile S Marsh A Agar
Paul
Roar Guru
Chris, he'd just finished leading Australia to a 4 nil victory in the Ashes and was clearly mentally spent. I remember thinking at the time he should have been rested but he played because he was the captain. His record in ODIs is certainly impressive in comparison to others in contention
SelectorDud
Guest
I like your controversial thinking, however if I follow your logic batsmen of Khawaja’s accumulator style miss out. If I can bat soooo deep I don’t want to leave that batting in the shed
jose
Roar Rookie
Looks Ashton Turner might miss out of the squad, otherwise they would have played him more against Pakistan. My XI + squad. Finch Warner Khawaja Smith Stoinis Maxwell Carey Cummins Starc Zampa Lyon Squad players:- Handscomb J Richardson Coulter Nile Ashton Turner / extra bowler Based on the pitch play 2 pacers + 2 spinners or 3 pacers + 1 spinner
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Warner Khawaja Finch Maxwell S Marsh Handscomb Stoinis Cummins Starc Richo Zampa.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
He was only an automatic selection because he was the captain. He form leading up to that was ordinary.
James
Guest
Why fix something that isn't broken? Keep the same squad with one change, Kane for starc. However, in January I thought this squad would have been perfect 1. Finch 2. Carey 3. S. Marsh 4. Smith 5. Stoinis 6. Maxwell 7. M. Marsh 8. Coulter-nile 9. Cummins 10. Starc 11. Zampa 12. Handscomb 13. Short 14. J.Richardson 15. Behrendorff
jameswm
Roar Guru
1 Finch 2 Khawaja 3 Smith 4 Carey (wk) 5 Warner 6 Maxwell 7 Stoinis 8 Cummins 9 Starc 10 JRichardson 11 Zampa 12 Turner - need his power 13 Handscomb - backup accumulator and keeper 14 Lyon - might play 2 spinners 15 NCN - backup Big omission - SMarsh
RogerTA
Roar Rookie
I see Tubby Taylor is tipping Usman to miss out on the WC squad! I guess everyone's a selector.
Dart
Guest
I know this is controversial, but with so many batters who can bowl (Maxwell, Stoinis, M.Marsh, Smith, Short), I would consider playing just three specialist bowlers (instead of four) and batting deep. Consider: 1. Finch 2. Warner 3. Khawaja 4. Smith 5. Maxwell 6. Stoinis / Short 7. M. Marsh 8. Wade 9. Cummins 10. Starc 11. Lyon / Zampa
Paul
Roar Guru
what about his form Peter? On what basis would he be left out of the team given that before his transgretion he was an automatic selection for this side as he was for Test matches?
Tom
Guest
Warner (Can win a match in 10 overs. He absolutely opens) Khawaja Smith Finch (Keeps him away from the swinging ball early, not convinced by his form against a 3rd string Pakistan lineup) Handscomb (Better career s/r than Stoinis who is apparently a 'hitter' lol. Scores from ball 1 unlike deadbat Stoinis) Maxwell (Obviously floats up the order depending on situation) Carey (Need a good keeper in a tournament this long, no one else looks a chance atm) NCN/Richardson Cummins Starc Zampa Behrendorff, Smarsh, Turner/Stoinis
Peter Warrington
Guest
what about Smith's form? what's his recent formline that demands his selection?
Tazewep
Roar Rookie
My XI is: Khawaja Finch Warner SMarsh Smith Maxwell Carey Cummins Starc J Richardson Zampa with Handscombe, Lyon, NCN and Turner in squad. Big omission is Stoinis - just hasn't performed at the right time. NCN is better bowler and at present better batsman. The 4 reserves give you a reserve keeper that doubles as an accumulator, an extra spinner for slow pitches, a medium-fast that can bat and a reserve striker/finisher. Strong opening partnership of Finch/Khawaja maintained. Hazlewood comes in if J Richo or Starc don't recover from injury.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
Finch Khawaja Smith Warner Maxwell Handscomb Carey Starc Cummins Behrendorff Zampa Lyon Jhye Stoinis S Marsh
Koh
Guest
Finch (C) Khawaja Smith Warner Stoinis Maxwell (to be next man in from 40 overs onwards) Carey Cummins Richardson Zampa Starc Squad: Behrendorff Turner Hazlewood Handscomb
Paul
Roar Guru
Ryan, I would have thought Smiths a certainty given Stoinis lack of form with bat and ball. Somehow Australia needs to get 10 overs out of Maxwell, Finch and Smith, if we only play 5 specialist bowlers, which seems likely.