Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Three questions Australia still need to answer

Written by 
Published in Cricket
Monday, 27 May 2019 23:00

Australia have completed their warm-up matches ahead of their World Cup opener against Afghanistan on June 1, but how close are they to knowing their best XI? Here are three key questions that remain to be answered.

Khawaja v Marsh

Barring injury, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh cannot fit in the same XI now that David Warner and Steven Smith are back, so one will be carrying the drinks. Each have strong cases to make the cut, although if the most recent success carries weight then that favours Khawaja, who has scored 769 runs in 13 ODIs this year (more than any other player). He was shuffled around in the warm-up matches - batting in an unaccustomed No. 5 against West Indies then opening against Sri Lanka and making 89 - and has shaken off two injury scares (a blow on the head and the knee) during the preparation. The other debate with Khawaja, if he plays, is where he bats - either opening where he has forged a strong alliance with Aaron Finch or at No. 3 to allow Warner to return at the top. Marsh, meanwhile, could rightly feel hard-done by if he misses out having carried Australia's batting during their one-day struggles with four centuries in eight innings against England, South Africa and India.

One spinner or two

The warm-up matches allowed teams to use more than eleven players so there was a chance for Adam Zampa and Nathan Lyon to get a good amount of work. During the camp in Brisbane, Finch said that Zampa was the No. 1 spinner given he provides an attacking option, but the ball has also been coming out nicely for Lyon since arriving in England. However, it's tough for Australia to balance their side with three frontline quicks and play both frontline spinners - the only way would be to leave out a batsman, play Alex Carey at No. 6 and a collection of bowling allrounders. Glenn Maxwell's bowling is shaping as an important part of the gameplan - good for a full quota if things go well - and he has previously spoken about the value of his stint with Lancashire earlier in the season. It was also interesting to see Smith given a twirl against West Indies and Sri Lanka, clearly Finch is trying to have as many options as he can. And could the captain be one himself? Remember that ODI against Pakistan in March when he took 1 for 41 off his 10 overs?

Who supports Starc and Cummins?

The big two are locked in, but in the absence of Josh Hazlewood and Jhye Richardson there remains a jostling for who the third quick will be between Nathan Coulter-Nile, Kane Richardson and Jason Behrendorff. They all bring something a little different; Coulter-Nile offers more batting, Richardson is known for his skills at the death and Behrendorff can be a threat if the new ball moves. Richardson was given both official warm-up matches although he was expensive against the Sri Lankans, Coulter-Nile took a pasting from Jos Buttler before claiming his wicket and Behrendorff collected 2 for 43 in his outing against England. It is likely that all will be needed at some stage of the tournament but it remains tricky to say who is the frontrunner.

Read 613 times

Soccer

Bundesliga history made with 8 goals in 1st half

Bundesliga history made with 8 goals in 1st half

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsUnion Berlin and VfB Stuttgart made history on Saturday as the firs...

Inter Miami wins in front of record Crew crowd

Inter Miami wins in front of record Crew crowd

Benjamin Cremaschi scored on a diving header in the 30th minute and Inter Miami beat the Columbus Cr...

Barça net 'unbelievable' win, fear for Lewandowski

Barça net 'unbelievable' win, fear for Lewandowski

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBarcelona coach Hansi Flick lauded Barcelona's "unbelievable" comeb...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Knicks go on 21-0 run as miscues tank Pistons

Knicks go on 21-0 run as miscues tank Pistons

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- The young, upstart Detroit Pistons, who had more than t...

Wolves make opening statement, clobber Lakers

Wolves make opening statement, clobber Lakers

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Jaden McDaniels scored 25 points, Naz Reid added 23...

Baseball

Yanks' Williams blows 4-run lead; ERA up to 9.00

Yanks' Williams blows 4-run lead; ERA up to 9.00

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTAMPA, Fla. -- Three-and-a-half weeks into his New York Yankees car...

Berrios confronts Raleigh, suspects pitch tipping

Berrios confronts Raleigh, suspects pitch tipping

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTORONTO -- Right-hander Jose Berrios suspected Seattle Mariners cat...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated