Australia are rolling the dice on their World Cup squad with Travis Head included despite his broken hand and only one specialist spinner in the final 15-man squad.
Marnus Labuschagne has been recalled after initially being left out of the provisional squad, taking the place of Ashton Agar, who has been omitted after suffering a calf injury early in the limited-overs tour to South Africa earlier this month.
Head broke his hand while batting in South Africa and is set to miss the first half of the tournament with a view to returning to the top of the order for the closing pool matches and semi-finals.
It is a major risk to be going through the early rounds carrying an injured player with Australia up against host nation India to open the World Cup on October 8 before facing the rejuvenated South Africa, dark horses Sri Lanka and the always dangerous Pakistan in their first four matches.
Each team in the 10-nation tournament plays each other with the top four sides going through to the semi-finals. Australia will probably need to win at least six of their matches to qualify – Afghanistan, the Netherlands and Bangladesh are considered unlikely to make the final four so the matches against the other big guns are crucial.
While Labuschagne has been in solid form in recent ODI appearances, the lack of a second specialist spinner on India’s turning wickets could be a huge mistake for Australia.
Adam Zampa, who has been struggling recently after conceding plenty of runs in the warm-up games against South Africa and India, will be the focal point of Australia’s spin with all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and Head, when he’s fit, chipping in with offies.
Maxwell has only played once since July, making five with the bat and taking 4-40 in Australia’s ODI win over India earlier this week which ended a five-game losing streak, after taking paternal leave and experiencing soreness with his ongoing ankle injury.
Do you think the Indians will see Australia’s squad and might be tempted to tell their curators to prepare pitches that may turn a touch? They have form in this department.
Labuschagne is likely to bat at No.4 when Australia take on India to start the World Cup with Steve Smith pushed up to first drop and Mitchell Marsh opening with David Warner.
The lack of another spinning option shows a lack of planning by the selectors. They blooded Queensland left-armer Matt Kuhnemann on the tour to Sri Lanka last year but then picked uncapped NSW leg spinner Tanveer Sangha for the recent series in South Africa and India after a year out with a back injury.
Sangha is not ready for a showpiece tournament like the World Cup so the selectors should have plucked Kuhnemann out of the Marsh Cup ranks when Agar was ruled out like they did in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in March when he made a successful entry into Test cricket.
Fast bowling all-rounder Sean Abbott seems surplus to requirements in India with captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc ahead of him in the pecking order and the likes of Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinis also on board to provide seam options.
Chief selector George Bailey said Agar could be drafted into the squad as a replacement player midway through the World Cup but an already selected squad member would have to be ruled out injured for Agar to then be allowed to play.
“This was a tough call but unfortunately, we couldn’t carry both Travis and Ashton into the tournament with the injuries they have,” Bailey said.
“We have made the decision to carry Travis through the early stages with the aim of him being available around the mid-part of the tournament.
“He has been a really important player in this ODI team and we are hopeful his return can provide a positive impetus as it gets to the business end of the tournament.”
Sangha and Matt Short will continue touring with the squad for the warm-up matches against the Netherlands at Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday and Pakistan at Hyderabad on Tuesday while Starc (groin) is good to go for the Cup after making his return in the ODI win at Rajkot.
AUSTRALIA WORLD CUP SQUAD: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith , Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
zeus_kris
Roar Rookie
Why is Abbott in this squad? Hazlewood is already there as cover for Cummins and Starc as most probably only 2 of them would play most games. Stoinis/Green/Marsh are already there as seam bowling allrounders. Australia could have instead added Turner or Hardie as another spin bowling allrounder in place of Abbott.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
It's a very B-Grade coaching staff. Last World cup they went there with Langer, Ponting and Waugh - bit of a step down. Suppose it's so if anyone questions Pat he can ask them what their credentials are - and what on earth can someone like Ronnie say? Hardly a world beater.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Was. Will be ready when WC begins. Should have been selected.
matth
Roar Guru
Agar is injured.
The Idiot
Roar Rookie
Of course, the Indians will prepare a pitch with turn when they play us; and they will when we play other teams with decent spinners. It will be a double whally advantage, because one of our openers, namely Marsh, does not have a good enough technique to handle quality spin (or seam for that matter); so they can open with Ashwin and we will for 1 for zip after 4 balls
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
The one played on the moon What do you think we're talking about? The word obtuse comes to mind. Have you been drinking after the afl final?
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
It's not an easy task. The fountain of b s is non stop
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Which series?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Well you've failed there.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
What was Green's average for the series Don?
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Just shutting down your nonsense. Part of my public service
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
No answer? Explain yourself...if you know what your intention is.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
What a strange series of comments you have made. If you have any interest in cricket, try posting about it. Hard to know why you visit this site.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I have no conspiracy theory.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
How, why? Such clever posting. Contributory
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Go and watch the afl Don. You might have a better chance at understanding it
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
If you're going to post nonsense conspiracy theories then you deserve all you get
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Yep, given the options, probably would have gone with Agar ahead of Stoinis or Inglis, if there is a chance of him getting better soon.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Agree it’s terrible. No Stoinis or Inglis needed. Though Inglis as a batsman could be more value than Green at the moment and Green seems to be very hittable in India. Kuhnemann seems to have a respectable record in List A games, and did Ok in Sri Lanka last year.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Agree about Kuhnemann to replace Agar. I can’t believe they’ve picked Stoinis. Is he in as a bowler?