Cricket World Cup Discussion

Unbreakable

Unbreakable

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May 21, 2013
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https://www.cricket.com.au/news/aus...wzBoCxYvSxt2TNZEEfKBJ2scaLIpeh5FF7uBAtm31iYd0

Australia’s World Cup squad:
Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

In-form batsman Peter Handscomb and star quick Josh Hazlewood have both been left out of Australia’s World Cup squad, while the returns of Steve Smith and David Warner to the national side have been confirmed.

Selectors named their 15-man Cup squad this morning and the absence of Handscomb and Hazlewood underlines both the reversal of Australia’s recent one-day form and the depth of talent the panel had to choose from.

Handscomb has done little wrong with the bat since winning a recall to the one-day side in January, but the returns of Smith and Warner meant the race for batting spots was always going to be tight.
Handscomb has averaged 43 in 13 games this year, including a superb maiden one-day hundred in India, and scored at a strike rate of 98 in that time, but it hasn't been enough to hold on to his spot.

The Victorian's ability to keep wickets even had some pundits predicting he would take the gloves ahead of incumbent Alex Carey, but the South Australian has held his spot and is the sole gloveman in the squad.

Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh have been rewarded for their good recent form with selection, while skipper Aaron Finch will lead a batting line-up that also includes allrounders Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell.

On the sidelines since January due to injury, Hazlewood had been confident of being fully fit in time for Australia’s Cup opener against Afghanistan on June 1 in Bristol. But with an Ashes series to immediately follow the World Cup, selectors have instead opted for Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Jason Behrendorff as their five fast-bowling options.

Starc and Richardson have both been selected subject to fitness, however the pair are on track to be right to go for the start of the tournament.

As expected, spinners Adam Zampa and Nathan Lyon have both been picked.

The batting squeeze also means there’s no place for the likes of Ashton Turner, Matthew Wade and D’Arcy Short, while paceman Kane Richardson also misses out.

Having missed selection for the tournament, the likes of Handscomb and Hazlewood have instead been picked for the Australia A tour of the UK, which will run concurrently with the World Cup. The A tour will consist of both one-day and four-day games and have the dual benefit of providing Australia’s Test players with match practice ahead of the Ashes, as well as ensuring the Aussies have replacements ready to go should injury strike during the World Cup.

"Given the depth of talent and competition for spots there were a number of tough calls we had to make to settle on our squad of 15," selector Trevor Hohns said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, from the recent squad which toured India and the UAE, Peter Handscomb, Ashton Turner and Kane Richardson have made way for the above inclusions, but all three have been included in the Australia A squad for the tour of England.

"Josh Hazlewood has also been named in the Australia A squad. Having not played at the highest level for some time, we feel this will provide him with the best preparation to get some quality cricket under his belt. Our focus is to have Josh back bowling at his best for the commencement of a big Ashes Tour.

"(Smith and Warner are) both … world class players and it has been pleasing to see them produce some good form in the IPL."

While Australia’s Cup squad has been confirmed, mystery remains about the make-up of their best XI. Finch and Khawaja have formed a dominant opening partnership during Australia’s recent unbeaten run, meaning Warner’s return could well disrupt what has become a winning formula for the five-time world champs.

With Carey expected to bat at No.7, as he has done in Australia’s past two series, one of the squad’s remaining seven batting options – Finch, Khawaja, Warner, Marsh, Smith, Maxwell and Stoinis – will miss out on a spot in the top six.

Zampa and Lyon formed a two-man spin attack on the recent tours of India and the UAE, but Australia may opt for just one spin option in their side during the UK tournament.

Should Australia opt for a traditional attack of three quicks and one spinner, two of the five fast bowlers picked will have to miss out.

Cummins is a near certainty to play, while Richardson has also impressed the year and is a frontrunner for selection, provided he’s recovered fully from a recent shoulder injury.

Player of the 2015 World Cup Starc is also on the comeback trail from injury and the fact Hazlewood has been left out of the squad altogether indicates reputation alone is not a guarantee of selection.

Australia’s squad will hold a training camp in Brisbane in early May, which will include three warm-up matches against a New Zealand side that will be without most of their biggest players due to the Indian Premier League.
 
Harsh on Handscomb, would have gone with him over Carey. It is very hard not to bring Warner and Smith back in though, they are both so good. I personally would have gone with Turner though, not really sure who over but don't really care, he offers something only Maxwell can also offer this side.
 
Carey is borderline rubbish in ODIs. Not sure why we haven't gone with Wade as the keeper given his form. I know he's over there in the A side as unofficial cover, but I'd prefer him playing.

EDIT: should be SMarsh and Carey out for Handscomb and Wade. Better bats, plus deeper keeper cover in the squad.
 
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It doesn’t matter who we pick. This will be the closest World Cup of any ever held. You could make a case for any of the 10 teams winning the tournament just as you could make a case for any of the teams not even making the QFs (or whatever make up the finals system is). There is currently no standout ODI team at the moment. This time last year you would have said England were favourites and Australia no chance. Two months ago it was all India. Honestly, it’s anyone’s tournament.
 
It doesn’t matter who we pick. This will be the closest World Cup of any ever held. You could make a case for any of the 10 teams winning the tournament just as you could make a case for any of the teams not even making the QFs (or whatever make up the finals system is). There is currently no standout ODI team at the moment. This time last year you would have said England were favourites and Australia no chance. Two months ago it was all India. Honestly, it’s anyone’s tournament.
lol, I can't make a case for Afg or Bang winning the tourney, SL and the WI very unlikely as well. You can make a case for the other six somewhat but my money is with India. They are so powerful from top to bottom.
 
Maybe not Bang & Afg, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they won. Are you seriously telling me that a team like the Windies can’t scrape into the finals and string 2-3 big performances together? It would only take a week of Gayle being on song and it’s game over.

Like I said, not saying all teams will win, but any team can beat all the others on any given day and that includes Bang & Afg. So they can have a massive say in how the tournament is played out.
 
India’s middle to lower order is held together by Dhoni. Get him cheaply and you can roll through them
 
Maybe not Bang & Afg, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they won. Are you seriously telling me that a team like the Windies can’t scrape into the finals and string 2-3 big performances together? It would only take a week of Gayle being on song and it’s game over.

Like I said, not saying all teams will win, but any team can beat all the others on any given day and that includes Bang & Afg. So they can have a massive say in how the tournament is played out.
Afghans won't win a game and the Bangers will win one. The Windies might pull an upset somewhere along the line but don't have the bowling to be competitive. SL are heavily dependent on a fit Angelo Matthews but will probably finish 8th. Not too sure about Pakistan either considering their recent form. The Kiwis are probably a batsman short as well. The Aussies are a decent squad but they won't win it. The Poms will succumb to the pressure. SA might make the final. India every day of the week.
 
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India v Australia final. England will capitulate somehow. SA will look shoo-ins until they lose at the semi-final level and NZ will be competitive but not quite at the level of the others. Pakistan is always the dark horse.
 
Afghans won't win a game and the Bangers will win one. The Windies might pull an upset somewhere along the line but don't have the bowling to be competitive. SL are heavily dependent on a fit Angelo Matthews but will probably finish 8th. Not too sure about Pakistan either considering their recent form. The Kiwis are probably a batsman short as well. The Aussies are a decent squad but they won't win it. The Poms will succumb to the pressure. SA might make the final. India every day of the week.
I think you are severely underestimating the ‘lower ranked’ teams. There are some absolute match winners in every squad. The world-wide 20/20 tournaments have given the minnow nations International quality players, particularly in the bowling ranks. It is only going to take one massive spell (and a lot of luck) to get past one of the more fancied teams. English conditions will also play a big part.
 
Windies could absolutely win at all imo, they've got 3-4 guys who can win a game by themselves if they're on song.

Andre Russell is the form player of the entire tournament in IPL right now, Gayle is still monstrous as well. Throw in guys like Bravo, Hope, Braithwaite, Narine & Roach and you've got a serious team.
 
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It doesn’t matter who we pick. This will be the closest World Cup of any ever held. You could make a case for any of the 10 teams winning the tournament just as you could make a case for any of the teams not even making the QFs (or whatever make up the finals system is). There is currently no standout ODI team at the moment. This time last year you would have said England were favourites and Australia no chance. Two months ago it was all India. Honestly, it’s anyone’s tournament.

England have been good of late, but will collapse come crunch time with the way they play (hard from ball one). I'm backing an India Australia final. Warner is in form in the IPL, Smith is an upgrade on whoever we were playing in his spot, and our middle order has serious strike options. We'd be a better chance with Wade instead of Carey who has been absolutely dreadful with the bat in the short form, just a waste of space at 7.

Windies could absolutely win at all imo, they've got 3-4 guys who can win a game by themselves if they're on song.

Andre Russell is the form player of the entire tournament in IPL right now, Gayle is still monstrous as well. Throw in guys like Bravo, Hope, Braithwaite, Narine & Roach and you've got a serious team.

Aren't a few of their blokes ineligible? Pretty sure their board has said they won't pick some of the guys who just tour t20 leagues.
 
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Afghanistan -

7009c2961361e3b6a1b913fcde603b30.png


Australia -

a742442a94a6107886487c7e98db4a2b.png


Bangladesh -

f5486bd54ca4825927affa70dd24684a.png


England -

353349b22fbd28c0bbd5f8e2c538e340.png


India -

8f8c34c54a7404de4cd640c2a38a78bd.png


New Zealand -

fae2f6c4b9c14628423df4a8ac2f00e8.png


Pakistan -

66e413d13e34a15bdabdb73cab28e4e2.png


South Africa -

30e4d078c4d0d7ba098d37da55b21e75.png


Sri Lanka -

452e40da6980a25061b8dbb6688d3b1c.png


West Indies -

a9f7de56abebb2671fb1d50345562ab8.png
 
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Pakistan are my ‘smokeys’. They are a quality side. They rested a lot of players against the Aussies.
 
Squads are complete now with the Windies naming their squad.

Gayle, Bravo, Russell, Roach, Braithwaite all included, strong team.
 
Dose anyone know if the World Cup will be televised on free to air?
 
Dose anyone know if the World Cup will be televised on free to air?

How to watch the tournament on TV
Under a deal with the International Cricket Council which was also present for the 2015 World Cup and will cover the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia, Fox Sports will have the rights to every game of the tournament, while Channel 9 will cover all Australian games, as well as the semi-finals and final.
 

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