Australia Probable Playing 11 for ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: TSR presents Australia’s likely Playing 11 for their 1st match vs Afghanistan
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The Australian Cricket Team have peaked in at the right moment. They had won only 2 of the 13 ODIs they played in the year 2018. People had almost written them off in the limited-overs format.
But, come 2019 and come the year of the World Cup, the defending World Champions have had a revival. So much so that the selectors are now scratching their heads to select the best amongst the best!
They have now won, in 2019, two back to back ODI series against India and Pakistan, and that too away from Home. Moreover, they won both their Warm-up matches ahead of the main tournament against the Hosts England and the other one being Sri Lanka.
Their top order batsmen viz. Aaron Finch, David Warner, Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja are in prime form, so much so that there’s now a selection dilemma as to who to pick amongst the aforementioned and at which number to play them. Their two spinners- Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa, are one of the best pair of spinners in the entire tournament.
Their pacers- Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Jason Behrendroff and Kane Richardson form an amazing quartet of fast bowlers, with an amazing blend of experience and youth.
Australia Probable Playing 11 for ICC Cricket World Cup
Top Order
The actual dilemma for the selectors begins right at the top- in their batting order. With David Warner declared fit, and selectors already having made up their mind for him to open the innings alongside skipper Aaron Finch, they will have to choose one between Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh at no.4.
They cannot play both of them as former captain Steve Smith will be playing at no.4 in the batting order. However, records tilt towards Shaun Marsh courtesy his decent record at no.3 for Australia off-late. Therefore, he should get a nod of affirmation from the Aussie selectors.
Middle-order
The middle order is perhaps all settled for the Australians. Steve Smith at no.4 is a given for them. He scored a brilliant century (116 off 102) against the formidable English side, thereby firmly cementing his spot at no.4 in the batting order.
All-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis will take up the next two spots in the order. Maxwell is likely to come ahead of Stoinis if Australia get off to a quick start.
Wicket-keeper Alex Carey should come in next. He is their only wicket-keeper, hence an automatic selection coming in at no.7.
Bowlers
In the pace department, Mitchell Starc is most likely to lead the attack. The two other seam bowling options would be between Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter Nile and Pat Cummins.
Cummins has picked up 17 wickets in the 6 ODIs he has played in 2019. He becomes an automatic selection alongside Starc. He is also decent enough with the bat (The Indians would know what I’m saying) and can play some useful knocks lower down the order. The third seamer would most likely be the right-arm pacer- Nathan Coulter Nile over his left-arm counterpart Behrendorff.
The left-arm pacer has played only 7 wickets in the 6 ODIs he has played in Australian colours. Coulter Nile, on the other hand has picked up 10 wickets in the last 5 ODIs. So going by the numbers he should get a nod over Behrendorff. Moreover, two left-arm pacers in the side might not be a very good option with the natural angle of the ball coming into the batsmen. However, against a side like Afghanistan, the selectors may also like to have a go at Behrendorff.
But, if they decide to play both the spinners- the chances of which are really high, as they will play a crucial role in the middle-overs, both Coulter Nile and Behrendorff would have to wait for another match. Moreover, the match being at Bristol, where the last time Windies had scored 421 and New Zealand-330 in response, the two spinners will play a crucial role.
In the spin department, the experience and raw young talent of Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa respectively, will be crucial for the Aussies in the middle-overs.
Australia Probable Playing 11 for ICC Cricket World Cup
Aaron Finch(c), David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey(Wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa
