Australia have enjoyed a reasonably strong start to the Cricket World Cup, picking up four wins so far against just the one loss – but there are big issues bubbling under the surface.
As nice as the win-loss record looks now, there’s no doubt Australia’s performances with the bat have been only been just enough to get them by. Too often, it’s been miracle performances by one or two batsmen papering over enormous cracks throughout the rest of the innings.
Will this come back to bite them at a crucial stage of the tournament?
We got Roar cricket expert Ryan O’Connell on the Game of Codes podcast examine the holes in our batting lineup and look at where the improvement can come from.
Listen to the discussion:
A top-order collapse (5/79) against the West Indies was saved by Steve Smith, Alex Carey and Nathan Coulter-Nile. Against India it was a steady, albeit slow, start that came undone as they fell from 2/202 to all out for 316.
The win against Pakistan still saw the Aussies collapse from 2/223 to all out for 307, while even the Sri Lanka win saw five wickets lost in the last seven and a half overs.
Visit our Game of Codes hub to catch the full episode and be sure to subscribe and review on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever else you’re listening.
KenoathCarnt
Roar Rookie
Finch is the only other batsmen who has shown big hitting ability at the end of an innings besides Maxwell. He has the tournament most 6's by a long margin.
Paul Phillips
Guest
Why would you take Finch from the opening slot now? He is far more comfortable there than Warner, and I think Warner would have a bigger impact at 4 or 5 with a slightly older ball. Otherwise, I think you are spot on.
KenoathCarnt
Roar Rookie
Should go with this. Warner Khawaja Smith Finch Maxwell M.Marsh Carey NCN Cummins Starc Lyon
Peter Warrington
Guest
At a World Cup we should expect the best bowling as well as the best batting. Many people thought coming in the strength would be making 280 reliably. We are making 300+ regularly and clearly have the ability to go 350 on our day, hopefully in the finals. We are winning. Everyone is making a contribution. When one fails, another steps up. All that from a lineup that doesn’t specialise in ODIs and must, through no fault of their own, have one eye on the Ashes. Seems fine to me. An unidealised, focus on the positives, Richmond 2017, sort of fine.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
It’s ridiculous that the coaching staff hasn’t addressed this! Maybe Langer and Ponting need more understanding of what’s required to get the most out of a squad. Shastri needs to do the same thing at India, as their line up left it to a couple of players against Pakistan too.
Big Daddy
Guest
The only way to strengthen the Aussie batting lineup is too get Shakab also Hasan naturalized as soon as possible.