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Joined January 2015
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I agree that South Africa has a long tail but its top order is very strong. AB de Villiers (51.50), Hashim Amla (53.18), Quinton de Kock (43.58) and even JP Duminy (39.24). They are all consistent run scorers. Throw in Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell and Vernon Philander and you get what is arguably the best bowling line up in the competition.
I think Australia will be up there but will have stiff competition from South Africa, India, Sri Lanka and possibly Pakistan. New Zealand are probably the wild card.
Can you pick a better World Cup squad?
With the squad Australia has announced, I think it will be competitive but not worthy of the title.
The issue with Australian cricket, particularly in the ODI arena, at the moment is a lack of depth. Many of the players whose names have been floated as potential contributors to Australian ODI cricket are yet to prove themselves on the domestic stage.
This lack of depth is no more evident than in the fact that Glenn Maxwell continues to get picked despite being an extremely risky prospect with the bat and unconvincing spin with the ball.
Here’s my thoughts on the current squad:
Michael Clarke – Extremely lucky if he can get his body ready in time for the World Cup and even then has struggled for form in recent times.
George Bailey – Inconsistent performer but has done enough to keep his middle order batting spot
Pat Cummins – An exciting prospect who is a great selection. Back the young quick and show some confidence in him.
Xavier Doherty – He’s got Dan Vettori like qualities but just can’t seem to make a big impact. In the squad because our spin prospects are very average.
James Faulkner – A certain starter who is a handy late order hitter and provides a great change of pace with the ball
Aaron Finch – Has produced some scintillating innings and big things will be expected of him in the World Cup
Brad Haddin – The days of a keeper being able to produce big scores and keep well are just about gone. We’ve been blessed with the likes of Gilchrist and Rod Marsh in the past. Haddin is a superb keeper and can turn it on with the bat on an inconsistent basis. Ahead of Wade on his keeping ability alone.
Josh Hazlewood – I’m still not convinced that Hazelwood should have been picked ahead of James Pattinson.
Mitchell Johnson – Mitch is an X-Factor. Let’s hope he can bring his best game during the World Cup.
Mitchell Marsh – I like the fact that Marsh bowls medium-fast and adds another dimension to the attack. Can also hit well. Needs to show more consistency.
Glenn Maxwell – Throwing Maxwell to the top of the order is a huge risk. Whether Australia is dominating or it’s a close game requiring a top order batsman to dig in, unfortunately Maxwell only plays one way.
Steve Smith – There’s not much more you need to say about this bloke. Definitely earned his keep in all formats.
Mitchell Starc – Starc will be handy if the conditions favour bowling, otherwise pencil him in for 60 off 10 overs.
David Warner – Warner and Finch provide a pretty entertaining opening partnership. It’s just a matter of Warner steadying himself at times. Another player with that X-Factor.
Shane Watson – The selectors continue to retain faith in Watson but a failed World Cup will surely be the last straw. In saying that, if Watson can turn it on, Australia will be a major player in the final stages of the Cup.
If you look at other names bandied around for potential inclusion into the Squad:
Sean Abbott – A young player that continues to improve but too risky a selection for a World Cup. Will see him there in the future once he’s got a bit more experience.
Ben Cutting – I think there’s too many players like Cutting in our current ODI team. He’s competing for the all-rounder spot which is taken by the likes of Watson, Faulkner etc.
Clint McKay – He seemed to be our leading ODI bowler at one stage but has fallen off the radar.
James Pattinson – I really like his pace and aggressive bowling. Disappointing not to see him picked in the squad.
Nathan Couter-Nile – Again, he is competing for that all-rounder spot and hasn’t lit the world on fire on the domestic scene.
Shaun Marsh – Needs to focus on his Test cricket and cement a spot there to finish his career.
Adam Voges – Failing to make an impact despite having great domestic experience.
Our spin stocks are also worth raising. I feel Doherty has almost been picked by default. Fawad Ahmed was on the radar for a while but he hasn’t been outstanding, selectors want Nathan Lyon to focus on Test cricket by the looks of it and young up and comers in Adam Zampa and Cam Boyce may be handy in the future but are too inexperienced to play in a World Cup. Spin could play a major role too if the recent Adelaide and Sydney Tests are anything to go by.
Overall, I think the selectors have got it right. Our depth is going to be the telling issue as to whether we can compete with the likes of South Africa.
Can you pick a better World Cup squad?
Looking closer into Voges career stats, I completely agree that he has been a prolific run scorer. Even his ODI batting average at 45.78 is solid. However, it is hard not to feel that he hasn’t fully taken his opportunities at international level, particularly given his talent. Obviously age is his issue now, turning 36 this year.
CricInfo describes Voges as a player who ‘has been called on regularly without making the impact to guarantee his spot in every game. However, it is a run that he probably didn’t expect after choosing to get married early in 2009 instead of joining the team on its tour of South Africa.’
Can you pick a better World Cup squad?