My World Cup Squad

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: My World Cup Squad

Big risk bringing Luderman in for his debut in the World Cup. He would want to have nerves of steel with big games in b of huge crowds.

We still have a tri-series to debut players in. This is where they should be testing players from their 30 to decide on the final 15.

[Bornadog]

Re: My World Cup Squad

Clarke has been given go ahead to join 15 man squad so you would think he will be picked.

[lemmon]

Re: My World Cup Squad

I was quite shocked. I've never heard of him.

I like him a lot in the short forms, he's kind of a Peter George/Mohammad Asif type tall swing bowler who is fairly trundling pace but extremely clever. He has the whole repertoire of slower balls, swings both the old and new ball a mile, cuts it, rolls his fingers over it and he gets that real loop which tall medium pacers seem to get that is so hard to hit and get pace on. If I were to choose between he and Abbott or Richardson I'd go Sandhu every day of the week in the short forms, I'm a bit surprised he hasn't had a taste yet to be honest. I doubt he'll ever play test cricket, his stock ball simply isn't threatening enough but it's an astute call by Ponting, he could be the next Nathan Bracken.

[lemmon]

Re: My World Cup Squad

One I'd like to throw up is Maxwell at 8 playing as the spinner a possibility? His ODI average of 41 and economy of 5.3 doesn't compare badly to Doherty's average of 39 and economy at 4.8. I think he'd more than make up the difference in the field and it will free some pressure off his batting. If we're going in with Watson, Marsh and potentially Faulkner I wouldn't mind something like:
Finch
Warner
Watson
Smith
Bailey
M.Marsh
Haddin
Maxwell
Johnson
Starc
Hazelwood

It's a stacked batting lineup and it's an assertion really made on the dearth of ODI spinners at the moment. Doherty seems to have been tagged 'stable' where I think he leaks runs, Lyon is untested while for mine the best of the short-form bunch has been ignored in Adam Zampa. The harsh reality is none of these guys will run through a side like Warney was capable of so we need to pick the one who offers most in terms of skillset and economy through the middle overs. If I were the selectors I'd give Zampa the tri-series to mount a case but if that doesn't happen I don't think we lose much if anything simply taking Maxwell in as the first spinner.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: My World Cup Squad

Interesting post Lem, you may be onto something with Maxwell as a spinner. On current batting form he doesn't get in, but it's hard to imagine the selectors not picking him - this could be the justification.

[LostDoggy]

Re: My World Cup Squad

Faulkner has to play, kid is the ice man. With Mitch Marsh in the team I don't see any need for Watson, and would elevate Faulkner for Watson

Agree with Maxwell over Doherty.

Probably Wade for Haddin.

[lemmon]

Re: My World Cup Squad

Faulkner has to play, kid is the ice man. With Mitch Marsh in the team I don't see any need for Watson, and would elevate Faulkner for Watson

Agree with Maxwell over Doherty.

Probably Wade for Haddin.

I like Faulkner but if we're dropping Watson for him we look weak in the batting, I think he either plays in front of Marsh or we drop the spinner and he plays at 8.

[GVGjr]

Re: My World Cup Squad

The 15 will be announced today. Can we take both Clarke and Mitch Marsh into the tournament with hamstring injuries?

I suspect it will be

Warner, Finch, Watson, Smith, Clarke, Bailey, Maxwell, M.Marsh
Haddin
Johnson, Hazlewood, Starc, Faulkner, Cummins, Doherty

One too many all-rounders I would have thought

[lemmon]

Re: My World Cup Squad

I just wonder if Ryan Harris may be risked considering the next assignment isn't until the Caribbean

[azabob]

Re: My World Cup Squad

I just wonder if Ryan Harris may be risked considering the next assignment isn't until the Caribbean

I am 99% sure he wasn't picked.

[azabob]

Re: My World Cup Squad

From the tonk Twitter account

@_TheTonk: Australia #WorldCup squad: Clarke(c) Bailey Finch Warner Watson Smith MMarsh Maxwell Haddin Faulkner Starc Johnson Hazlewood Cummins Doherty

[Go_Dogs]

Re: My World Cup Squad

The 15 will be announced today. Can we take both Clarke and Mitch Marsh into the tournament with hamstring injuries?

I suspect it will be

Warner, Finch, Watson, Smith, Clarke, Bailey, Maxwell, M.Marsh
Haddin
Johnson, Hazlewood, Starc, Faulkner, Cummins, Doherty

One too many all-rounders I would have thought

Spot on.

I'm not overly enthused by the squad, but what will be interesting is who we go with if Clarke and Marsh can't play.

[lemmon]

Re: My World Cup Squad

On the money GVG and cheers for the squad aza, looks like they've gone the way we all expected really, Cummins, Maxwell, Doherty wouldn't have been in my squad

[lemmon]

Re: My World Cup Squad

Chairman Rod Marsh on Michael Clarke:
"We have said that if Michael has not recovered by our second match of the tournament against Bangladesh on 21 February, we will replace him in the squad. He understands that and is working tirelessly with medical staff to get back to fitness."

[GVGjr]

Re: My World Cup Squad

Spot on.

I'm not overly enthused by the squad, but what will be interesting is who we go with if Clarke and Marsh can't play.

It's a risky move and given they are allowed just one substitution they must be very confident with both players.
Would White be the likely standby from a batting perspective?