Oz team up in air

AUSTRALIA’S World Cup team remains a mystery just five days out from its opening match against Afghanistan, with multiple places in captain Aaron Finch’s team up for grabs.

Fringe players are still unsure where they stand heading into today’s final warm-up against Sri Lanka after several underlined their cases with impressive performances in yesterday’s win against England.

Usman Khawaja only found out before that match that he would bat at No.5, while the fight for the fourth bowling slot is a case of heads bobbing at the line.

Khawaja’s preference is to open but the Queenslander looked comfortable down the order as he made a handy 31 (38) before being stumped.

“It was a bit different. I haven’t really batted No.5 at all in my career,” Khawaja said.

“I love opening in one-day cricket, that’s where I’ve always batted.”

Shaun Marsh returned to No.3 against England and hopes his versatility in the order – as well as his brutal record in England, where the World Cup will be played – helps him seal the final batting place.

Marsh thumped two centuries in England last year and is averaging 55.1 from his past 17 ODIs.

But Khawaja is the leading run-scorer in 2019, punching out scores of 104 (113), 91 (99), 100 (106), 88 (109) and 98 (111) in recent wins and appears slightly ahead of Marsh.

David Warner will replace Khawaja as Finch’s opening partner despite coach Justin Langer experimenting with him at No.3 in two warm-up games.

Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa are locks but the fourth bowler could be any of Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Kane Richardson or defensive spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon’s 1/37 helped build pressure against England, while death bowling guru Richardson claimed 2/51 and took a nice outfield catch deep in the innings.