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My Aussie XI to take on Afghanistan in the World Cup opener, plus predictions

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Roar Rookie
28th May, 2019
11

Australia’s World Cup preparation has come to an end after a dominant win over Sri Lanka in Southampton.

This combined with wins over the West Indies and England in their previous warm-up fixtures as well as series wins in the UAE and India has Australia flying ahead of their opener to be played on June 1 in Bristol.

In six months the Aussies have gone from no-hopers to one of the tournament favourites along with England and India and look like one of the most in-form sides heading into a massive six weeks of cricket. However, even after these warm-up games questions still remain about the makeup of the Australian XI.

Here is the XI I would pick for Saturday’s opener against the underrated Afghans:

Aaron Finch (C)
Still have concerns over his technical flaws against the moving ball early on in the innings, something that Sri Lanka’s bowlers successfully exposed yesterday, but Finch being the captain is a walk up start in this side.

He is also the only right-handed opener in the squad and given Langer’s preference for a right hand, left-hand combination, it’s very hard to believe that Finch won’t be walking out to face the new ball in Bristol.

David Warner
Very tough to pick who to partner Finch at the top of the order but despite Khawaja’s awesome 89 last night, I’m sticking with Dave Warner at the top of the order. It’s where he is at his most damaging, as has been shown in the recent IPL.

He hasn’t reached great heights yet since returning to the National side but I’m backing him in to have a dominant tournament.

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Usman Khawaja
Pips Shaun Marsh in the race for the number three position on the back of an excellent knock yesterday. Has been in brilliant form this season in ODI cricket, granted as an opener, but I’m backing him in to make the transition easily to number three.

Some people will be quick to point out that his record at three is poor in ODI cricket and while I do agree, I also acknowledge that he has improved his game immensely in this format, in particular his strike rotation.

His 89 only included the three boundaries, suggesting that he is getting far better at scoring ones and twos. There is a worry that he is poor beginning his innings against spin but I think he will cope quite well as these decks won’t get the same level of turn as those on the subcontinent.

Steve Smith
It’s like he never left. He has been in imperious form in the lead up to this World Cup, scoring a brilliant 116 against the Poms on Saturday. Looks in wonderful touch and has the perfect blend of temperament and aggression to bat at four for Australia. We look a far stronger side now he’s back.

Steve Smith David Warner ODI

(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Glenn Maxwell
The Big Show looks in good touch heading into the first game, not only is he striking the ball well, he looms as a genuinely good option with the ball. Bowled five tidy overs and took a pole yesterday and will be one of Australia’s x-factors in this tournament. If he can get going he could turn 280 into 350 in very quick time, something we will require to compete against the likes of England and South Africa.

Marcus Stoinis
Big question marks loom over Stoinis’ form with the bat going into the first match, he is struggling to get started in innings and isn’t rotating the strike enough. Yet, as our only seam bowling all-rounder, he is too valuable for team balance not to pick in the side.

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If he is left out it would leave us with a lack of bowling options, something that would be unwise considering the injury history of the quicks in the squad. In my opinion, he is the most important player in the squad. If he can get his batting sorted out he will be extremely valuable but if not he will be a liability. The selectors have backed him in being the only all-rounder and as such, he needs to step up.

Alex Carey
I’ll admit I was in the Peter Handscomb camp going into this World Cup but Carey hasn’t put a foot wrong since being selected. Made a quickfire 30 against England which suggests that he can play the finisher role at number seven. Made a couple of errors in the field yesterday that cost run outs but generally he has been very tidy so I’ll put them down to a one-off.

Pat Cummins
An absolute shoe-in to lead the attack, Patty Cummins is in career-best form and is one of the best fast bowlers in the world. Also a handy lower order bat and a brilliant athlete in the field, Australia will be hoping Cummins can bring his A game to this World Cup. A genuine matchwinner.

Mitchell Starc
Hasn’t reached his brilliant best yet which we saw at the last World Cup, but Australia’s bowling attack is better off with Starc than without him. He hasn’t moved the new ball around much in the warm-up games but has been good with the older ball.

He is still a strike weapon for the Aussies.

Jason Behrendorff
Perhaps the most controversial selection in this line-up, I’ve gone with Jason Behrendorff as the third seamer over his Western Australia teammate Nathan Coulter-Nile and Kane Richardson. He has been the most impressive of the three bowlers in the warm-up fixtures, however, his best work has been done with the new ball.

He also isn’t a noted death bowler which will put some extra pressure on Starc, Cummins and Stoinis but I still feel he is the best wicket-taking option of the three reserve seamers. It’s a pity Jhye Richardson wasn’t fit or else he would have been an absolute shoe-in.

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Adam Zampa
Zampa beats Lyon to take the spin bowling position in this line-up. I don’t see them playing two spinners in the UK unless the pitch is especially dry and considering Maxwell is an offie I think Zampa provides more variety than Lyon.

It’s stiff on Garry who has been very impressive but Zampa is the better wicket-taking option. Leg spinners are all the rage in world cricket right now and I am backing Zampa to have a very strong tournament.

Missing out
Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Kane Richardson.

My World Cup predictions
Finalists: New Zealand and South Africa (NZ win).

Semi-finalists: England and Australia.

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Player of the tournament: Trent Boult.

Most wickets: Trent Boult.

Most runs: Steve Smith.

Disappointment of the tournament: India.

Surprise upset: Afghanistan to beat Pakistan (again…just like in the warmups).

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