AUSSIES DARE TO DREAM
AFTER two years of tossing and turning, the Australian one-day team looks locked in on the players who will embark on a World Cup defence now right back on track after an historic series win in India.
The 3-2 victory, hailed the “best ever” by some, has served notice to the world and also raised questions over whether banned batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner are automatic inclusions in Australia’s best World Cup side.
In the two years since Australia’s last series victory in January 2017, a series in which Smith and Warner both played, the team has been in a constant state of flux.
There’s been three captains, four wicket keepers, a dozen different opening combinations and 30 different players have filled the 11 spots on the Australian team sheet in 22 matches.
Australia lost 19 of those and after a 2-1 home defeat by to South Africa last November selectors bit the bullet, picked batsmen not bashers and settled on a plan of attack they believed would best suit their World Cup cause.
The stirring win over India in India, the first time the Aussies have ever come from 2-0 down to win a five-match series, has validated a playing group which can hit the World Cup with high expectations.
“People have written us off for quite a while now,” Aussie captain Aaron Finch said after the final match in Delhi.
“We always knew that the plans and the style that we wanted to play are all there, can win us the World Cup.
“It’s about ourselves believing we’re good enough.” Possible squad:
Aaron Finch (c)
Alex Carey (vc)
Pat Cummins (vc)
David Warner
Steve Smith
Usman Khawaja
Shaun Marsh/ashton Turner Peter Handscomb
Glenn Maxwell
Marcus Stoinis
Mitch Starc
Nathan Coulter-nile/ Jason Behrendorff
Jhye Richardson
Nathan Lyon
Adam Zampa