Australia and the West Indies both made clinical starts to their World Cup campaigns, with the Aussies rolling over Afghanistan and the Windies pummelling Pakistan.
Just a few months ago both of these teams were an utter mess in ODIs, and were long odds to have a major impact at this tournament.
Now, however, both of these talented sides have built some momentum. The battle between Australia’s star quicks and the Windies’ brutal ball strikers is an
enticing one.
Key strategy: How will Australia limit the damage done by the Windies in the Power Play?
In their past two matches, against Pakistan and New Zealand, the Windies belted 72 and 91 respectively from the 10-over period of the first Power Play. Following the example of the world’s number one ODI side England, the Windies are backing their array of hitters to bully opposition attacks, rather than seeking to construct innings in a more traditional fashion. This all starts with veteran slugger Chris Gayle.
The 39-year-old opener has always preferred hammering boundaries over nudging singles. But now his agility is so limited that he’s become even more focused on scoring in blocks of four and six. Australia may consider opening with a spinner to try to push Gayle out of his comfort zone. But they may also believe the 150kmh pace of star quicks Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins can Test the reflexes of the ageing Gayle.
Regardless, I expect to see Australia employ spin at some point during the first Power Play.
Key Australian: Adam Zampa
As I noted in a recent article, the West Indies dynamic batting line-up has been much less effective against spin in their nine matches over the past month Due to the Windies deep batting line-up, and the power throughout their order, maintaining pressure through the middle overs of their innings is key to limiting the carnage they create.
If the Windies are allowed to traverse this period without losing many wickets they will inflict serious damage in the final 10 to 15 overs. That’s why Adam Zampa will be so important in this match. The leg spinner may leak runs but he’s also a natural strike bowler.
Zampa is the second-highest wicket taker worldwide in ODIs this year, with 21 wickets from 12 matches. He is not afraid to toss the ball up to entice big shots, or to try to confuse the batsmen with his excellent googly. Zampa will go for runs today, that seems very likely. But he also shapes as Australia’s biggest weapon through the middle overs.
Key West Indian: Andre Russell
Fresh from winning the MVP award in the Indian Premier League, Russell is in the form of his life. The hyper- aggressive all-rounder was extraordinarily destructive with the blade in the IPL, making 510 runs at 57 with a scarcely-believable strike rate of 205. To emphasise how incredible that strike rate is, consider that it equates to a run rate of 12.3 runs per over.
Russell is capable of tearing apart any bowler in the world, and can do some from ball one – he needs no time to get his eye in. He is one of the very, very few batsmen in the world for whom racing to 50 from 30 balls is run of the mill, no big deal. If the Windies can set a platform from which Russell can explode in the final 15 overs then the Aussie
bowlers will be in peril.
Not to mention that Russell is also a skilful and forceful pace bowler who took 2-4 from three overs in the World Cup win over Pakistan. With the ball he has a nasty bouncer and a nice array of changeups.
(Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
Wildcard players:
West Indies: Oshane Thomas
Bowling at 145kmh in Australia’s World Cup opener, Afghan quick Hamid Hassan caused problems for both of the Aussie openers. So burly Windies quick Oshane Thomas, fresh from taking 4-27 against Pakistan, should fancy his chances of exploiting the new ball against Australia with his sharp bounce and ability to hit 150kmh.
At 22 years old Thomas is very raw and has a tendency to be expensive. But he also can also produce the kind of searing deliveries which can defeat any batsman in the world.
Australia: Usman Khawaja
The public focus on Australia’s batting line-up in this World Cup has rarely veered away from star duo David Warner and Steve Smith, and the enigmatic Glenn Maxwell. Yet it is their lower-profile team mate Usman Khawaja who is the leading runscorer worldwide in ODIs in 2019. The left hander has made 784 runs at 56 in ODIs this year and should match up well against the West Indian attack. Khawaja is a wonderful player of fast bowling and the Windies attack is built around pace.
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Ben
Guest
Look, Maxwell is a majestic beast when he is in full flow and dominating, however is hugely inconsistent, with a career average of 33 to demonstrate this. Further proving Fox's point is Maxwell's idiotic shot tonight for a 2 ball duck. I dont think we should ask Maxwell to be as consistent at Buttler, but he sure as hell needs to push that average up to towards 40 where a No. 5/6 batman needs it to be.
Peter Warrington
Guest
you are quoting stuff on tests there
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
I was using the Accuweather App, which was obviously way off unless it rains later in the day!
Tycoch22
Roar Rookie
80 for 5 after 18 overs
Tycoch22
Roar Rookie
Australia 50 for 4 after 10 overs. Smith still there
AREH
Roar Guru
Granted that a lot of the failures look ugly at times, but I think he's improved this remarkably in the last few years. He's one of the more consistent and dynamic bats in the limited overs sides, with a match-winning gift that few others possess. For all we know his puzzling selection since forever could be for a raft of other confusing reasons.
Fox
Roar Guru
Of course he has had his issues as well but he is in good form right now and especially his bowling which according to the commentators is quicker and more accurate than he used to be.
Fox
Roar Guru
Then Shane Warne and you would disagree because he has been very vocal about the almost silly imbalance in both ODI and test cricket with flat wickets more and more being prepared for sponsors and TV networks and balls – especially the Kookaburra – that strangely don’t swing hardly at all anymore and not for very long. Plenty of bowlers around the world including Starc, Boult, Stein, Anderson and others, together with captains from SA, NZ , England and SA and Pakistan have all had their say about the strangely crappy modern balls that keep going out of shape and don’t move in the air when new like they used to and not for very long – Classic comment from Waqar Younus when asked about the lack of swing in NZ not so long ago ” Yeah there is something not right or they are making them differently, I don’t know, because I don’t remember balls just not swinging at all they way these new one’s don’t seem to. So yeah I don’t know what’s going on because it’s not the quality of the bowlers going around that’s for sure” Is it little wonder teams are trying to try and do whatever they can to search for reverse swing like through the ball into the pitch when getting back to the wicket keeper if a run out is not on. As Warne has said – “Everything seems to be too far in favor of the batsmen now and it has to change because cricket should be a proper contest between bat and ball or people will eventually turn away. I mean, there is no bounce in Perth as there used to be. Sydney doesn’t spin on day three, four and five like it used to and it seems to be going on everywhere. Bowlers are saying the balls are going soft too early. I mean something has to change surely.”
Parkside Darren
Roar Rookie
Given Maxwell has only improved his consistency in recent (whatever that means) times I’d love to see your rationale
Mk
Guest
But AUS biggest weapon are fast bowlers over the years so, not the biggest mistake they will make
maccaa62
Roar Rookie
I wonder if you should bat or bowl first and what is the ratio of bowl first win game so far in the WC. Or vice versa. Seems to me those batting second are winning?
Fox
Roar Guru
“More often Big Show than no show” This is clearly not true and why he has been in and out of Australian side in all formats and can’t hold his place in the side – because he has too often been a no show with continued patches of low scores and he sure as hell isn’t in the side for his bowling as he is not a front line spinner.
Fox
Roar Guru
We shall see then won't we in coming games
Fox
Roar Guru
Recent averages actually do support my argument not total career averages
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
You seriously haven’t noticed how inconsistent Russell is?
AREH
Roar Guru
More often Big Show than no show, however. Maybe more so early in his career, but he is far more dependable now, and capable of adjusting to the situation (mostly).
Neel
Roar Guru
Australia to win. West Indies bowlers might get hit around a bit today as well. C’mon Australia. Make it three successful tips in a row for me.
Brian
Guest
It will swing I wonder who'll be in charge of looking after the ball. I can't see Australia losing unless they bat first and it really swings
Dan In Devon
Guest
Spot on. Starc is the perfect antidote to Gayle who opens up his stance and plays with his weight and power from the back foot. An in swinging or angled left arm will cramp him and expose him to being bowled or LBW - at least in theory but once his eye is in he is a hard man to stop.
Andrew
Guest
I'm thinking at least the 1st couple of overs to get one or two on Gayles toes like a Brendon McCullum. Most batsmen struggle to get their feet going early and a 150kmh on the toes is a fair chance of breaking through. It doesn't mean continuously aiming their as you said he will dispatch the ball for 6 but just test a couple early.