Formidable Australian sides from the past have dominated the World Cup. Fighting spirit blended seamlessly with a wealth of talent in those outfits. These were teams with aggression and belief. And they possessed depth and options.
Whether it was Shane Warne spinning his web, Glenn McGrath firing out batsmen, or Adam Gilchrist blowing away attacks, Australia has seldom been short of game-changers.
The Australian sides have looked adversity in the eye, found men for different situations. It’s not surprising that the cricketers from down under have emerged triumphant four times, the most by any side.
Three great Australian batsmen — Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting — have lifted the World Cup as captains. Will it be Michael Clarke’s turn this time?
But then, Clarke will have to prove his fitness ahead of the tournament. Although his recovery from a hamstring surgery is on course, one can never be sure given the nature of the injury. Australia will need Clarke; not just for his experience and expertise with the willow, but also for his captaincy which is attacking and full of ideas.
Even if Clarke’s hamstring flares up again, Australia could still go on to win the trophy. Such are the inherent strengths of this side.
No team in the tournament will have as many multi-dimensional cricketers as Australia does. Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh and James Faulkner add strength to both the batting and bowling departments. Maxwell, in particular, has been destroying bowling attacks, and swinging games with strokes of thunder.
However, the team will keep its fingers crossed over the fitness of Faulkner, grappling with a side-strain. The pace-bowling all-rounder is of considerable value to the side for his calm head and calculated hits with the willow, and the ability to send down precise yorkers and slower balls at the death.
Not for nothing is Australia ranked No. 1 in the ICC rankings. The side is a batting powerhouse. David Warner and Aaron Finch form an explosive opening combination that can plunder runs in the first Power Play.
Clarke, if fit, and the in-form Steve Smith lend stability to the line-up. The latter has been in glorious form all summer, his balance, timing and range of strokes coming to the fore. If conditions become tough for batting, Smith has the defensive skills to see off that phase.
George Bailey, if he rediscovers form, is a compelling striker of the ball in the middle-order. If Clarke does not make it or injures himself again during the competition, Bailey will have the responsibility of leading the side.
Australia bats deep too. There is virtually no tail and the opposition bowlers could be up against Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc who can dump the ball into the stands with ease while batting lower down the order.
The Australian pace attack has firepower. If Johnson finds his rhythm, he can make deep inroads with his speed, movement and lift. Starc, another left-armer, swings the ball at telling pace. Pat Cummins can unleash mean toe-crushers while Josh Hazlewood can strike with his bounce and off-stump line.
These men are backed by the pace bowling all-rounders. If there is some assistance in the track, the Australian pacemen can be a handful. Yet, will these men have the control of a McGrath if the conditions favour the batsmen?
There will be intense competition for places in the side, and picking the eleven could be a demanding exercise. This Australian team, though, is rather thin on spin. Left-armer Xavier Doherty is the sole specialist spinner, and he is a container at best. There can be occasions, particularly in the later stages of the tournament, when Australia may need wickets from the spinners.
SWOT analysis
Strengths: This Australian line-up can run up huge scores. The barrage of stroke-makers in the side will also make opponents wary of setting a target. Batting first, a team may not quite know how much is enough against Australia. This factor can actually enable the Australian bowlers pick wickets. The depth in the Australian batting line-up means the side has a good chance of recovering even if five or six wickets are lost.
The Australian pace attack can sting. It has pace as well as a good mix of right- and left-armers. This is a team that can bowl a variety of yorkers and slower deliveries. The all-rounders, a bunch of them, are an obvious asset. The team is an outstanding fielding unit too.
Weaknesses: The Australians lack quality in spin. Under the circumstances, it’s surprising why off-spinner Nathan Lyon was not picked in the squad. Consequently, there is a belief that this Australian attack is too pace-oriented much like the rather one-dimensional South African bowling in the past. There is also the worry that Australia’s stroke-makers could be a tad suspect on pitches conducive to bowling. The batsmen can certainly blaze away, but can they dish out tough, gritty cricket under pressure in low-scoring duels on bowler-friendly tracks?
Opportunities: Australia missed out when the World Cup was held in the antipodes in ‘92. That was a forgettable campaign and the side now has a good chance to put those bad memories behind. In a group with Sri Lanka, New Zealand, England and Bangladesh as the other Test-playing countries, Australia should qualify comfortably. The potentially tough clashes against Sri Lanka and the in-form New Zealand would help the Aussies test themselves ahead of the knock-out phase. The tournament will also provide a platform for young players like Mitchell Marsh to grow in stature.
Threats: The stress as well as the expectations of being a co-host could put plenty of pressure on the side. Will the Aussies be able to dish out their aggressive brand of cricket? Injuries could hurt the team, particularly if Clarke and Faulkner fail to recover from their injuries. The knock-out games always bring with them an element of danger. In high-pressure matches, chases can go wrong under the lights. A line-up of shot-makers can also be vulnerable to collapses; it is the nature of the beast. If the likes of Johnson and Starc misfire, the pace attack can go for runs.
Starwatch
David Warner: The long-distance shots will never be on short supply when Warner cuts loose. For the Australians, this high-voltage cricketer is a hugely influential top-order batsman who not only plunders runs, but dents the opposition psychologically.
The intrepid southpaw often alters the length of the bowlers, and it can be hard for the captains to set fields. Warner’s gravity-defying acts on the field can lift morale and change the course of a game.
The man with the big hits could make it big in this World Cup.
Prediction: Simply put, Australia is the favourite. It could win the World Cup for a fifth time.
| Coach: Darren Lehmann was appointed Australia’s coach in 2013. The 45-year-old former Australian left-hander was part of World Cup-winning sides in 1999 and 2003. |
Best performance
Winner (1987, 1999, 2003 & 2007)
Team Australia
Age: 33
Style: RH bat & LA spin
Matches: 238
Runs: 7762
Average: 44.86
Wickets: 56
Average: 38.07
Age: 32
Style: RH batsman
Matches: 56
Runs: 1962
Average: 41.74
Wickets: 0
Average: NA
Age: 21
Style: RA fast
Matches: 10
Runs: 22
Average: 11.00
Wickets: 14
Average: 35.50
Age: 32
Style: LA spin
Matches: 59
Runs: 101
Average: 14.42
Wickets: 55
Average: 39.34
Age: 24
Style: RH bat & LA medium
Matches: 38
Runs: 770
Average: 48.12
Wickets: 50
Average: 32.36
Age: 28
Style: RH batsman
Matches: 41
Runs: 1447
Average: 37.10
Wickets: 2
Average: 24.00
Age: 37
Style: RH bat & WK
Matches: 118
Runs: 2996
Average: 31.20
Catches: 154
Stumpings: 11
Age: 24
Style: RA fast-medium
Matches: 8
Runs: 0
Average: NA
Wickets: 12
Average: 22.41
Age: 33
Style: LH bat & LA fast
Matches: 145
Runs: 920
Average: 16.14
Wickets: 224
Average: 25.50
Age: 23
Style: RH bat & RA medium
Matches: 14
Runs: 420
Average: 38.18
Wickets: 6
Average: 48.33
Age: 26
Style: RH bat & RA off-spin
Matches: 41
Runs: 1043
Average: 30.67
Wickets: 28
Average: 38.03
Age: 25
Style: RH bat & RA leg-spin
Matches: 50
Runs: 1147
Average: 35.84
Wickets: 27
Average: 32.44
Age: 25
Style: LA fast
Matches: 33
Runs: 162
Average: 32.40
Wickets: 61
Average: 21.27
Age: 28
Style: LH batsman
Matches: 54
Runs: 1702
Average: 32.73
Wickets: 0
Average: NA
Age: 33
Style: RH bat & RA medium
Matches: 180
Runs: 5478
Average: 40.57
Wickets: 164
Average: 31.21
| Name: Michael Clarke (Captain) |
| Name: George Bailey |
| Name: Pat Cummins |
| Name: Xavier Doherty |
| James Faulkner |
| Name: Aaron Finch |
| Brad Haddin |
| Josh Hazlewood |
| Mitchell Johnson |
| Mitchell Marsh |
| Glenn Maxwell |
| Steve Smith |
| Mitchell Starc |
| David Warner |
Shane Watson |
