Big guns are primed and ready to fire
STEVE SMITH ruled out fielding all four of Australia’s vaunted pace attack in today’s Group A opener against New Zealand at Edgbaston. But the skipper has left the door open to letting all his big guns loose against England next Saturday.
Australia are set to stick with just three of the ‘Big Four’ today with 90mph men Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins linking up with Josh Hazlewood.
Smith indicated the experienced John Hastings is likely to join the trio with their other express ace, James Pattinson, missing out.
Yet he conceded the temptation to land early blows before this winter’s Ashes could prove difficult to resist with Englishmen in their sights in eight days’ time.
“We are probably not going to end up going with the four quicks to begin the series, but it’s great that they are all fit and bowling well and ready to go,” said Smith.
“It’s always hard to fit four big, fast bowlers into one line-up but it is great that we have those options there now.”
Australia have rarely had access to the full range of their impressive fast-bowling stocks. Cummins, 24, has suffered several stress fractures in his back and foot but has been injury-free this winter. Starc, 27, had a stress fracture of his foot in March.
And Pattinson, 27, an overseas player for Nottinghamshire this summer, has also been plagued with injuries, including back and shin problems.
Smith maintained having all four available has kept the batsmen on the toes in the nets this week.
“It has been very tough, particularly if there’s a bit in the wicket,” he said. “So it has been a great challenge for our batters.
“Everyone’s a bit quicker in the nets as well. So when you get out in the middle, things seem a bit easier, and hopefully it shows when we bat tomorrow.”
Today’s match is a repeat of the World Cup final in 2015, when Australia won by seven wickets. Honours have been even since then, with four wins apiece in eight meetings.
But New Zealand will be hoping their neighbours are a little rusty. The Australia side, who are locked in a pay dispute with their board back home, have not played an ODI for nearly four months, other than a single warm-up game against Sri Lanka. Their other scheduled warm-up, against Pakistan on Monday, was washed out.
In contrast, New Zealand played a tri-series in Ireland last month and a series against South Africa in March.