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David Schout is a Melbourne-based freelance journalist covering (mostly) cricket. He has reported for The Guardian, the ICC, IPL, Yorkshire CCC and others. You can follow him on Twitter at @david_schout.
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There was always the danger that the ICC’s shambolic scheduling for the 2019 World Cup would come back to bite it on the backside.
Just over 12 months ago, more than 50 per cent of the Australian public wanted David Warner out of the national team for good.
In defeating Pakistan overnight, Australia notched their third win of the World Cup and appear on track for a semi-final berth.
In recent years, Australian captains visiting Trent Bridge have walked away open-mouthed and void of any answers.
England’s shock loss to Pakistan in the early hours of Tuesday morning gave Australian fans a certain satisfaction on their otherwise standard weekday commute.
It’s scary when a side barely gets out of second gear yet walk off 100-run victors. But that’s exactly what England did to South Africa in the World Cup opener.
With four players vying for the final bowler’s position in Australia’s preferred World Cup XI, Nathan Lyon has emerged as the obvious candidate.
It’s taken four years, and I’m still on the fence about Brendon McCullum’s third ball duck in the 2015 World Cup final.
In the 2015 World Cup the top seven wicket-takers were all quick bowlers.
The off-field wrangling between Australian and Indian cricket officials is further proof of Cricket Australia’s reliance on India’s riches, and a reminder of who holds all the cards in world cricket.
It’s taken some time and for his best mate to land the role, but finally Glenn Maxwell has a captain that understands his value to Australian cricket.
England’s white-ball revolution under Trevor Bayliss has been a stunning philosophical shift in tactics. Underpinned by relentless aggression at the crease, the World Cup hosts have blown away every side at one stage or another since their dismal group-stage knockout at the 2015 World Cup.
Just two months ago, Marcus Stoinis left the Allan Border Medal as Australia’s best one day player of the past year.
On a train to Nottingham for Day 2 of the fourth Test in the 2015 Ashes, I knew Michael Clarke’s Australian team was bracing for a day of ceaseless taunting.
The dormant volcano that is James Pattinson has erupted, and his case for selection in this year’s Ashes is becoming more compelling by the day.
With a jam-packed five-game UAE tour starting tonight, the purported ‘locks’ in Australia’s World Cup squad will be loosened should they fail to deliver.
At 2-0 down against a confident India, the trepidation that so characterised recent Australian ODI sides was noticeably absent last week.
When Australia tasted World Cup glory in 2015, Michael Clarke’s leadership was important without being pivotal.
Cameron Bancroft’s return to cricket has been decidedly emphatic.
I think if we’ve learnt anything from the past few years in ODI cricket, it’s that a wrist spinner is a must in any successful side. Wickets in the middle overs are exceedingly difficult if you’ve just got pacemen and a finger spinner at your disposal. Zampa bowled really well prior to the WC and I believe they should back him in.
Lacklustre Aussies need to start taking risks and so do the selectors
Or were you inferring Maxwell as the all-rounder, and playing Finch, Warner, Khawaja, Smith, SMarsh as the batsmen?
Lacklustre Aussies need to start taking risks and so do the selectors
Fair comments. But what all-rounder? Stoinis very much out of touch, and I don’t think you can plonk Mitch Marsh (who hasn’t played ODI cricket for 18 months) into the XI in the middle of a World Cup and expect him to perform. I’m certainly not a Marsh-hater like others (in fact, rate him in one-dayers) but I think it might be too little too late. Would love to be proven wrong should he be drafted in
Lacklustre Aussies need to start taking risks and so do the selectors
You are indeed correct. I blame filing at 3am. Has been fixed – cheers
Lacklustre Aussies need to start taking risks and so do the selectors
I agree that they picked the wrong personnel, and with a better 15-man squad mightn’t have to go the five-bowler route. But last night Australia were so exposed with the lack of a fifth bowler that it almost lost the unlosable. In no way am I suggesting a fifth bowler would improve the batting, that would be silly. Rather I’m saying Australia could shift more responsibility onto the top order, and reinforce Finch’s bowling options, which are hugely lacking with just four plus Maxwell/himself. It’s a risk, a big risk, but if they just plod on and play that same side against India and England, they will be monstered.
Lacklustre Aussies need to start taking risks and so do the selectors
Did you watch the Pakistan innings last night/this morning? I did, and if not for a Hail Mary DRS late, Australia would have lost due to a lack of bowling options. Finch gambled by not getting a tenth over from Maxwell or himself, and it luckily paid off (i.e. They didn’t have to bowl it).
The batting wasn’t the issue last night, they scored 300+ and should’ve scored 350. I never suggested that bringing in a bowler would strengthen the batting – obviously – rather, it would increase Australia’s chance of winning the WC. Khawaja batting at six for the first time ever in any form of FC cricket last night, which is ludicrous, and he or Marsh ought to be replaced.
Lacklustre Aussies need to start taking risks and so do the selectors
The latest rights deal includes some T20 back on the BBC, which is a step in the right direction.
Heat on England to win more than just games this summer
Well obviously the investment in grassroots would be greater with the Sky deal (as is the case here with the Foxtel deal) but the question is whether the best investment in the game’s longterm future is exposure on FTA tv. Which I think it is
Heat on England to win more than just games this summer
It’s a good discussion point, Ronan. I can see sides playing cautiously against him, much like they do with Bumrah.
Archer tops up England’s surplus X-factor
I actually haven’t overlooked anything. This piece is about Jofra Archer’s worth on the cricket field, not a discussion on the validity of England’s eligibility criteria.
Archer tops up England’s surplus X-factor
Points taken Paul, but I think the fact that four players went past 50 and none really accelerated meant on another day they could have made 350 despite the (slightly) tricky pitch. They bowled superbly though. I’ll settle for third gear ha
Archer tops up England’s surplus X-factor
Agreed Paul, you have to play them together. He’s just a smart bowler that just doesn’t go for 75+, which I can’t say won’t happen with the other three seamers
Dual spinners Australia’s best World Cup chance
Genuinely believe Khawaja can score 450+ runs at the top of the order
World Cup 2019: The top ten debutants
Ha yeah it became difficult to squeeze everyone in Paul. I’m excited about Zampa this WC though, think he’ll do well. Agree with your sentiment on bowlers, definitely a golden age of dominant young bowlers when you look both on the list and the honourable mentions
World Cup 2019: The top ten debutants
I’m with you! Big fan. He bowled a near perfect penultimate over in the IPL final but on the last ball de Kock let through four byes. Half the Mumbai Indians team looked gutted, but he just smiled and gave de Kock a hug. He’s all class
World Cup 2019: The top ten debutants
Good points, Paul. And yep, pressure buildup from dot balls is also a big weapon in those middle overs
Spin to win at the World Cup
It’s not ‘pinning’ it on anyone, rather just commenting on the state of play. And no, the original series in India was planned for late January, when Australia had a small gap in the international schedule (thus could go to India) and New Zealand was already gone. The BCCI, as has been reported, moved the series forward to early/mid January, which has led to the current predicament.
Board stoush shows, yet again, who rules world cricket
Yeah agreed Paul.
I also think that if they’re playing on roads (especially in the early stages) they’ll breeze through. But when the wickets wear a bit later in the tournament (like in the Champions Trophy), that will be a leveller.
Hosts under pressure to deliver in window of dominance
Respectfully disagree. For me it embodied the arrogant, win-at-all-costs culture perpetuated by CA (that all came out in the culture review). Was quite apt in a way. And there’s no way the hands were there if England had won the series.
Anyway, hopefully that sort of behaviour is behind them.
The worry for Smith on his international return
He’s re-signed with Notts https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/47643310
Fit again Pattinson an Ashes must
Not really. Naturally, his selection is fitness pending. If he’s fit he plays IMO.
Fit again Pattinson an Ashes must
Ah, gotcha. Yep, that’s not clear – should have stipulated in the nine innings *before* landing in India. For reference, his scores before going to India read: 131, 24, 101, 8, 22, 106, 54, 131, 39.
Five games an eternity in fickle selection surrounds
Solid arguments against Ronan! In no other sport can you spend hour upon hour discussing selection, and I’m all the more for it.
P.s. If NCN bats 11 for England, can the Aussies have Jofra?
Five reasons Australia shouldn't play five bowlers