The cost of Smith and Warner's inclusions in Australia's World Cup squad

Agree with Ian Chappell. There is a lot more to the Sandpapergate story and Steve Smith's assurance that it was the first time is laughable. The English didn't complain about altering the ball during the Ashes in Australia because they were guilty of the same thing. Remember Andrew Flintoff cautioning "let's not throw stones, boys!"The South Africans were gunning for Australia after what happened to Faf in Australia with the lolly and his subsequent ban. The gloves were off! David Warner with his excessive finger strapping, Cameron Bancroft pouring a sugary powder into his pockets. The Australians were doing all sorts of things but so were most teams. My problem is with the lying. I believe several members including Smith and Bancroft have lied. Warner seems to have stayed silent and maintained his dignity.

Very interesting take from Chappelli today, seeing smith at more fault than Warner and decrying the sympathy for Smith and the sanctimony re Warner.

Whilst I understand your sentiment, Sava, I will be watching but with a little less enthusiasm now that Peter Handscomb has had to make way for Steve Smith. Handscomb played extremely well and whilst Warner has made a genuine case for recall, I don't believe Smith has presented a compelling case. His IPL team dropped him and his performances still show that he is more about Steve Smith than the team. Once he steps back in, the tone of the team will not improve and will most likely diminish. Such a shame. I hope he proves me wrong.

hi Phillip, two months ago, I'd suggest the bulk of people thought we were no chance in the World Cup, even if Warner & Smith played. Now we have a few guys in form and the selectors have gone down a path that means we're a chance - a much better chance than we were 8 weeks ago, but that's it. The reality is, we're not top dogs, we have 9 tough games to get to and we have to get the very best out of the guys chosen for 9 games, which is a huge ask. I for one won't be disappointed if we don't win it, assuming these guys give it their best and come up short. There are at least 4 other teams who are genuine chances and in a knockout obviously anything can happen

yes, agree i could envisage Head as the next leader maybe 2023 ish, with Paine playing until then. Maybe even handing over the gloves to Carey at some point and batting 6 for a season post Warner/Marsh/Khawaja retirement (in identifying Head they may have got one right. )

your last comment in particular makes a helluva lot of sense Peter. Smith needs to make this announcement as you suggest, but only as part of a normal interview. I'm sure Langer could get a tame journo to throw out a vanilla question to Smith about where he see's himself in terms of the leadership of the teams. I also very confident we won't have any of the BS you referred to from previous eras, unless Smith & Warner completely carry the team, which I can't see happening. The current guys have developed a lot in the past 15 months and guys like Burns, Harris, Head, Patterson, Khawaja and co are all perfectly capable of playing a leading role in the Test series

With consideration around Warner and Smith I can't help but fear this World Cup will end up in tears. The issues of no form and the England public is a major concern as the selecters sadly have no plan B besides just throw more bowlers at it. And for crying out loud still can't picture how the top 4 batsmen will be, Maxwell has to be at 5 no matter what but no matter who's picked the top 4 will always be unbalanced with players out of position.

They're two of the best bats in the world and would easily walk into any international side. Leaving them out now is a hubris more rank than leaving them out for 12 months in the first place. In case you haven't noticed, our team have been garbage without them.

Yeah, great. You do you bro.

we are in the Ashes about to learn a lot about the maturity or otherwise of Australian cricket and what sort of strong leader Tim Paine is. hopefully we have moved on from Hughes/Chappell/Hughes/Chappell/Hughes and Hughes v Marsh with Lillee and Hookes proxies. not to mention Clarke and Arthur versus everyone from Queensland with Cowan as whatever he was. watson as the onion jam in the cheese sandwich. Katich and Hussey versus Clarke and Haddin. all of these "versus" in the sense of WWE conflict, some real, come imagined, many not affecting or even enhancing individual performance but surely detracting from the collective? (I don't think it has helped to have key supporters saying Smith will lead again - and soon -and picking him for the World Cup over Handscomb with little justification. I would counsel him to eschew leadership roles and to do so publicly - he would go up a million notches in my reckoning at least if he did that. I think it wwould be best for Australian cricket.

The good form of a number of other players puts enormous pressure on these guys. If Smith and Warner don't perform well at the World Cup, and especially if there is any hint of disunity, people will be lining up to say we would've been better off without them, and fair enough too.

When we reach the world cup final, i'll bet you watch.

Good on you mate, you stick to your guns. Personally, I'll be watching enthusiastically to see how their rehabilitation back into decent cricket society goes. I'd love to see them both succeed because I don't believe in holding grudges forever.

I will tell you that while Smith and Warner are in an Aussie team .I will not watch them play. They have disgraced Aussie Cricket as did the underarm caper. Sava