After following up a strong win over host England with a crushing win over trans-Tasman rival New Zealand, Aaron Finch’s side head towards the semi-finals in ominous form.
Perhaps the two most promising developments in recent weeks have been the selectors finding the Australians’ most balanced bowling attack, while also continuing to ignore ongoing selection advice from Shane Warne.
Prior to Saturday’s game against New Zealand, Warne was again calling for the frequently resurrected Shaun Marsh to be recalled to the side at the expense of current No.3 Usman Khawaja.
While Khawaja has not been setting the World Cup alight, he demonstrated his class against New Zealand, top scoring with 88 and rescuing the Australians from a precarious position at 5/92 after another disappointing showing from Glenn Maxwell.
It is difficult to imagine Shaun Marsh digging in under strong pressure from the Kiwi attack, particularly the express pace of Lockie Ferguson.
Thankfully, Trevor Hohns, Greg Chappell and Justin Langer do not appear as open to suggestions from Warne as previous selection regimes, leaving several of the leggie’s preferred batsmen out of the squad, including D’Arcy Short and Chris Lynn.
In turn, Hohns, Chappell and Langer also wisely steered away from Warne’s suggestion of installing Finch as Test skipper, instead sticking with the steady hand of Tim Paine to guide the Aussies back from their catastrophic fall in South Africa. One can only hope this encouraging trend continues into the Australian summer and beyond, with Warne’s recommendations generally well off the mark of what is best for the side.
The 1999 World Cup winner has been full of advice for the 2019 selectors. (Photo by Neal Simpson/EMPICS via Getty Images)
Bowling wise, it was another of Warne’s foes, Mitchell Starc, who ripped through New Zealand’s batting order. Following Jason Behrendorff’s five-for against England, Starc claimed 5/26 from 9.4 overs to dismantle the Kiwis for a measly 157, with Behrendorff chiming in with another two wickets in another economical display.
Nathan Lyon again showed his value in being able to both contain and attack batsmen, finishing with 1/36 from his ten-over spell, ably backed by a resurgent Steven Smith, who chimed in with 1/6 from his two overs.
With Pat Cummins again making strong contributions with bat and ball, the Australian line-up is suddenly firing on most cylinders, and they head to the pointy end of the tournament as India’s greatest challenger for the Cup.
After starting the tournament with a number of question marks over their line-up, mostly due to the return of Steve Smith and David Warner, Langer’s group appear to be gelling across the board. Only all-rounders Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis continue to provide inconsistent contributions with bat and ball. Captain Finch will need more from those two if Australia are to topple a rampant Indian side.
Finally, the form of Alex Carey continues to be encouraging. Entering the tournament, Australia missed a trick in leaving Peter Handscomb out of the squad, particularly as a back-up keeper.
But Carey’s solid glove work has been a real asset, while his level head with the bat saw Australia out of the trouble against New Zealand, as the keeper attacked the Kiwi bowlers and turned the innings in Australia’s favour.
With a handful of games remaining before the semi-finals, Finch and Langer will be thrilled with the fight the Aussies have shown in recent weeks. While the challenge of India may prove too great, Australia’s performances through the tournament have exceeded expectations, and bode well for the summer of cricket that lies ahead.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Wasn't me. I've never followed the guy. I like to a modicom of intelligence on my social media feeds.
Peter Warrington
Guest
you did it again
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Guess our interpretation of excellence is wildly different then.
Peter Warrington
Guest
is it? trick shots? has played one all tournament, and his only mistake was trying to finesse it (the caught behind off the late glide).
Peter Warrington
Guest
yes you can. people other than me always post his excellent recent scores. you just refuse to acknowledge them. Cummins loves Maxi and I love Cummins. so. I win.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Could be ideological, could just be logical that if you’re 3/45 and number 5 makes 20 off 9 then 10 balls later you’re 4/65 with the opposition still having the momentum and the rescue mission being left to someone else. Bit sad for Carey that his job is to mop up someone else’s underachievement, but he seems a pretty mature and talented cricketer. I hear a lot about Maxwell going off, can’t remember when that was though. Ideally though, cometh the hour, cometh the man. Let’s hope he bat’s for an hour in the next couple of games.
Peter Warrington
Guest
the coaches and skipper clearly have a different intention for Maxwell than you do. i think because they know they have Carey in the sheds. they can't lose under that concpetualising. when Maxwell goes off, he scores even faster than Carey. when Carey comes in, he goes as fast as he can straightaway given we still keep making scores and batting out the overs, I am really struggling to see the downside. i think this might be an ideological difference?
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Eight of a possible eleven games is a pretty good sample size. Apparently good enough to judge a number of his team mates. Some guys are pure silk and can't be bothered by mundane games, so need the added drive of finals. Maybe that's what he's waiting for.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Forty games into this world cup on two paced tracks has seen one or two of those moments. There's no super flat roads in this tournament of contests. It's strange that the selectors would put a hit and miss insurance policy in a format where the pre tournament belief was scores of 400. You'd think they'd have a bowling insurance policy. Half a dozen games in for the Aussies it was obvious Maxwell's style of cricket wasn't going to dominate. His part time bowling, feted when practicing in County, has been a massive waste of overs and would've been better if Finch bowled a few of his own. Anyway if all he can muster is 20 off 9, for the next coupla games, that'll have to do. If he gets a fifty his fans will no doubt say, see that's what he's there for. Either way, I think we are arguing semantics in light of wanting an Aussie win.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Couldn't help it, had to bite Peter. If Khawaja makes 40 off 90 and steadies the ship and the Aussies win, won't that same outrage ensue? It's the waste of talent that is most annoying. He has cricket shots which could get him close to that 100 off 50, but his first thought is trick shots. That might make you a legend of park cricket, but for cricket fans it's just another 'tin cup' moment.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Not many chanceless innings in short form cricket, especially this day and age where most batsmen don't care where fielders are. Mind you most batsmen learn more from big innings where they have had to clear their heads and refocus after a chance. Khawaja seemed to lose concentration in his first 80 when Maxwell hit it straight to short fine and ran himself out. Khawaja lost focus and chased one a ball or two later and was out. I'm not sure what Warne expected the selectors to do. Leave out our two most productive batsmen for the last 5 years and effectively extend their bans, or leave our 2 most productive batsmen of the last 12 months - when we lost more than we won. What sort of message to all Aussie players does that send? Thanks, but it doesn't matter how many runs you score for Australia, it doesn't guarantee you a spot. Maybe Warne's working on the McGill theory. Stay in form because I might get hurt or banned and you'll get a run then!
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
More like genie stuff! There one minute – pfft – gone 3 balls later in a swirl of disbelieving headshakes. Ah well, at least we have Carey who can come in and immediately hit the ball into gaps, score at 120+, support a partner, use every ball left and walk off knowing what was possible off the last 10 overs, not what coulda been if only I’d faced another 8 balls. Like you Peter, I have my fingers crossed for him to make the most of these last 2-3 games, because ultimately it means another World Cup win.
Neel
Roar Guru
Daniel were you the guy who got blocked by Warnie on social media? I swear one of the Roar writers got blocked by Warnie on social media.
Peter Warrington
Guest
133 off about 70. genius stuff
Jim Prideaux
Roar Rookie
Prepare a road at your own risk, England’s bowling has been so so at best - Warner, Finch and Smith have been in the runs on difficult pitches, Maxwell has hit wicket balls out of the park on them too. Feel like backing Archer/Wood over Starc/Cummins in a pressure situation on a flat deck? Be my guest.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Well let's see how he performs in the rest of the tournament before judging his performance at the tournament.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
No can't wear that Jeff. Sure Maxwell gets picked on the lead in, but 8 games against 8 countries and he's scored 100 runs while giving away 250 for no wicket with the ball, that's what he now gets judged on. Obviously Finch has lost faith too as he was 8th bowler used with 2 part time spinners before him against the Kiwi's. It's as though people haven't looked at the context of this tournament. The ball has been 2 paced, spinners by and largely ineffective and cross bat shots a poor choice. Warner is the barometer and his change of tactic reducing strikerate to ensure partnerships has brought dividends. Maxwell has had the luxury of batting the first 7 games at 5 and at some stage for a mature cricketer you'd surely go to the booming straight drive and cover the 2 paced nature of the pitch and attempt to stop the opposition momentum. He's one dimensional and apparently according to so many that's fine, because - despite him not being capable in the last month against every team, bar South Africa - 'if he faced another 8 balls per innings he would be in the competition top 25!'. If! He hasn't, he gets judged on what he's done - like every other teammate - and the strange thing is facing another 8 balls is in his hands. What if, if only! Australia has won with him in the team and he gets to remain in an unchanged team on that basis, but should be batting below Carey and then a serious review after this, as he's the guy in his prime who should've carried this team after having a sighter in 2015.
Lancey5times
Roar Rookie
I've been trying to find an article or some footage of Warne accepting that he was wrong in saying Usman should be dropped and acknowledging that the selectors have shown that they know what they are doing but just can't seem to find it. I'm sure it is out there somewhere. I just must be typing the wrong thing into my Google machine. I'll try searching for humble pie recipes instead
Peter Warrington
Guest
why is everyone telling me what I know. we need some new ants
Paul
Roar Guru
I'd reckon Maxwell, by his own admission would agree he's underperformed, but that still doesn't mean he's not contributed, Peter. I seem to recall a certain A Gilchrist did virtually the nothing with the bat when the West Indies hosted the World Cup and there was talk of dropping him. He then killed it in the final. Again, I'm no fan of Maxwell's, but he does have a skillset that could help win a game in the next 2 weeks.