Former Australian skipper Aaron Finch has picked his team’s playing XI for their opening World Cup match against India. Finch feels Cameron Green might get the nod ahead of Marcus Stoinis. Green, who has less experience than Stoinis, scored a fine fifty in the warm-up match against Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Australia recently played a three-match ODI series against India, which they lost by 2-1. The five-time champions will be determined to make a good start to their campaign against India.
Australia has quality all-rounders like Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, and Cameron Green, thus it will be interesting to note their selection.
Aaron Finch was quoted as saying by CODE Sports: “I think one of the all-rounders will miss to be honest. I think (the team will) be (David) Warner and (Mitch) Marsh, (Steve) Smith, Marnus (Labuschagne), (Glenn) Maxwell, (Alex) Carey, Green, (Pat) Cummins, (Mitchell) Starc, Hazlewood, Zampa.”
Finch reckons Australia has had a hectic schedule and it will be imperative for them to manage the workload of their crucial players for the long tournament.
“I think the preparation’s been OK. The thing that concerns me a little bit is probably how much they’ve played over the last little while and how much everyone’s been on the road. They’ve been pretty gruelling the last six weeks for them, or eight weeks. You’d hate for them to get to the end of the tournament and all be burnt out.”
Meanwhile, Australia suffered a huge blow after Travis Head was ruled out of the first half of the tournament after suffering a hand injury in the fourth ODI against South Africa. However, the in-form Head has been backed in the World Cup squad and he is expected to join the team for the second phase.
Finch stated: “I think it’s the halfway mark in the tournament. I think if he can’t make it past that, you probably don’t give yourself enough time to come in.”
Aaron Finch further added, “But he’s the kind of player that doesn’t really need a lot of preparation. I guess the only challenge is he’s going to find is the ability to hit any balls before that’s 100 per cent right. I think with a hand injury, his ability to be able to get up to speed quick enough will be the only talking point.”
Australia will begin their World Cup campaign against hosts India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on October 8.
Australia World Cup squad: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.
