Cricket World Cup 2019, Australia preview, likely starting XI: The most balanced side, they may go all the way

It’s not just about the five titles and seven finals: it is what they have to offer this time. There is little doubt that Australia are the most balanced side of the tournament – a fact emphasised by them coming into the tournament with 8 consecutive ODI wins, including a coming-from-behind series win in India and a whitewash against Pakistan.

Let us see why. Usman Khawaja has been in excellent form at the top, but he has to make way for David Warner, back in business after winning the Orange Cap in the IPL. Opening with Warner will be Aaron Finch, who got truckloads of runs against Pakistan. And then comes Steven Smith, who seems to have picked things up from where he had left them.

Jhye Richardson’s injury may have come as a blow, but they will replace him with Mitchell Starc to accompany Pat Cummins and Nathan Coulter-Nile. Adam Zampa has probably been the most improved spinner in the world over the past two years.

And as for the middle order, they have Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Alex Carey – all capable of striking at over a hundred as well as doing well in a second discipline.

Key players

Steven Smith: Remember the knockout matches of 2015 World Cup? That is the kind of touch Smith seems to have rediscovered. Forget his Test exploits, Smith the ODI batsmen has been a formidable force. And he is just the same batsman, as he showed against the warm-up matches against New Zealand back home or the one against England here. And remember, he also has a bigger burden to get off his shoulders…

David Warner: If you want to have an idea of how Warner is batting, ask the IPL bowlers or the thousands who thonged to Uppal. Warner has carried on from there, smashing bowlers at will – for now he has Finch at the other end and the buffer of Khawaja below him. Can he shrug off the stigma of ball-tampering?

Pat Cummins: Cummins averages 14.29 this year with ball despite playing on some of the flattest pitches; he has also gone for 4.39 an over. His feats include 14 wickets against India, the most by a pacer in a bilateral series in India. He has bothered batsmen, moving the ball at pace, and run through sides at times.

Squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc & wk), Pat Cummins (vc), Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.

Likely XI: David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (vc & wk), Pat Cummins (vc), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa.

Prediction

Definitely a semi-final berth, if not beyond.