- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Roar Rookie
Joined January 2015
0
Views
0
Published
4
Comments
Published
Comments
Coleman – Lance Franklin
Brownlow – Trent Cotchin
Premiers – Sydney Swans
Wooden spooners – St Kilda
Fifteen bold predictions for the AFL in 2015
I have no issue with Behrendorff not being selected. The fast bowlers they have chosen (Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins, Johnson) all have very good ODI records. Behrendorff on the other hand has never even played international cricket – probably too big a risk for a World Cup squad and there is no guarantee he would perform any better than those I mentioned previously. Also I think it would be to the detriment of the squad if another left arm bowler was chosen along with Starc, Johnson and Faulkner. Agree that Behrendorff is a great bowler but can’t see him playing any better than the other fast bowlers already in the squad. His time will come.
Can you pick a better World Cup squad?
My World Cup first XI would be…
Warner, Finch, Watson, Smith (VC), Clarke (C), Faulkner, Haddin, Johnson, Cummins, Lyon, Hazlewood.
On the bench I would have Starc, Bailey, Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh. Although Starc is a better one-day bowler than Cummins, I think having three left arm pace bowlers in one team would be too much. Also think Lyon needs to be in there as the spinner ahead of Maxwell – batting is strong enough as it is. Smith needs to be vice captain because Bailey shouldn’t be guaranteed a match in his current form. I feel like this squad is the best for balance between bat and ball. Although I would have loved to include Ryan Harris his body just isn’t up to it and I still firmly believe Australia would win the World Cup with this squad.
Can you pick a better World Cup squad?
Warner, Finch, Watson, Smith (VC), Clarke (C), Faulkner, Haddin, Johnson, Cummins, Lyon, Hazlewood.
Warner and Finch are both explosive players who can set up a win for Australia in the first 20 overs if they get going. One-day cricket is where Shane Watson is best suited – it forces him to attack more as a batsman and gives him an opportunity to contribute with the ball. Smith and Clarke need no introduction. Faulkner warrants his spot at number 6 ahead of Haddin due to his significantly higher average (45 compared with Haddin’s 31) and strike rate (109 compared to 82). Haddin is Australia’s best wicketkeeper/batsman in this format so there should be no doubts about his position, nor Johnson’s for that matter. Cummins and Hazlewood are both young, quick and accurate bowlers with huge futures and thoroughly deserve their positions in this team. Finally, Nathan Lyon needs to be in this team. He is an attacking spinner (Doherty certainly is not) who took 10 wickets in his 6 matches throughout 2014 at an average of 2014. Doherty took 5 poles in 6 matches for 45. End of story.
How does 15 go into 11? Picking Australia's World Cup XI