Expectations
By now, Cricket Australia’s trophy cabinet must be filled with a collection of ICC silverware. In 50-over cricket itself, Australia’s men’s team have won five World Cups. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they are one of the main contenders for the forthcoming 2023 World Cup.
The current side may not have the aura of some of the great Australian teams of the past. But write off an Australian team in an ICC tournament at your own peril.
Where they finished last time
Semifinalists. Australia’s two losses in the league stage of the 2019 World Cup came against India and South Africa. In the last-four, they were blown away by Jason Roy’s swashbuckling innings. Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer also took advantage of some moisture upfront to leave Australia in trouble.
Strengths and weaknesses
Pace bowling stocks: In limited-overs cricket, Mitchell Starc will spearhead the pace attack. Starc has all the required tools to succeed in the abridged versions of the game – pace, swing and the left-arm angle.
Josh Hazlewood is an ideal foil to Starc with his hit-the-deck skills and bounce. Curiously, Pat Cummins, the skipper, is only their third-best pace option in the shorter formats. In the right conditions, Sean Abbott’s scrambled-seam-bowling could also come in handy.
All-rounders galore: Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Cameron Green and Glenn Maxwell – Australia have enough weapons at their disposal. Moreover, as Marsh is set to bat in the opening slot, they have the luxury of a top-order batter who can bowl some overs of seam. The only minor flaw is that all of Australia’s all-rounders are batting all-rounders. After Alex Carey at No. 7, Australia would have to depend on Starc and Cummins to land the powerful blows.
Lack of spin-bowling resources: Adam Zampa is a proven spinner in limited-overs cricket. However, Ashton Agar, the second spinner, was ruled out of the tournament with a calf strain.
So, basically, Australia are trusting Maxwell to take over the mantle of being the second spinner. In the recently concluded ODI series in India, Maxwell did show his class by bagging a four-for in the final game in Rajkot. But Australia are taking a gamble by banking on him to be Zampa’s partner-in-crime.
Star turn
With Travis Head unavailable for the first half of the tournament, Starc might turn out to be Australia’s trump card. Recently, he has been troubled by niggles, but there is no doubt about his pedigree in the shorter versions of the game.
New kid on the block
The only player under the age of 25 is Green. The well-built all-rounder can be employed as a floater in the batting order. From a high release, he can hit the deck hard and extract bounce, but his bowling in limited-overs cricket is still a work in progress.
Also, keep an eye on Marnus Labuschagne. The middle-order batter was left out of the provisional Australian squad, but in the nick of time he found his touch in South Africa. Soon, he won his place back in the squad as a replacement for the injured Agar.
Where they should finish
Semifinalists. Australia seem to lack that little bit of horsepower needed to win their sixth 50-over World Cup.
Match schedule
Oct 8: Versus India, Chennai
Oct 12: Versus South Africa, Lucknow
Oct 16: Versus Sri Lanka, Lucknow
Oct 20: Versus Pakistan, Bengaluru
Oct 25: Versus Netherlands, Delhi
Oct 28: Versus New Zealand, Dharamsala
Nov 4: Versus England, Ahmedabad
Nov 7: Versus Afghanistan, Mumbai
Nov 11: Versus Bangladesh, Pune
Full squad: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.
Likely first-choice XI
David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis/Cameron Green, Alax Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa