Australia's squad

[Flem274*]

keepers who bat at 7 are, on average, facing 21 balls a game since 01. it's not because they suck and can't bat. It's because it's a 50 over game and the guy at 7 shouldn't particularly have to bat much. The flow on effect of that is an average of 25 or whatever isn't a sign they can't bat. Wade averages 10 more when he opens than at 7, and Haddin averages 7 more (and it becomes near 10 when you filter out Haddin's pre 2007 efforts). Australian WK's at 7 have recorded like 11 fifties in their history. Haddin has like 10 fifties and 2 tons in less than 50 innings opening.

I just think Australia would be making a huge mistake if they let batting mess around with who they play at 8. The reality is Forkers Faulkner is gonna be called upon to bowl more than to bat. He's faced less than 20 deliveries in like 19 of his 33 matches and if we play him at 8 that means we're expecting at least 42 deliveries and they ain't no way you're gonna convince me he should bowl those deliveries over Starc, Harris, Cummins, Hazlewood even Clint McKay. And we're already gonna be picking two batting all-rounders in the team (Watson, whoever is at 6). I'd be totally fine with Faulkner at 6. If Watson plays at 3, Maxwell at 6 and Faulkner at 8, I won't be. It's weakening the bowling to a greater extent that it's strengthening the batting, all for some x-factor or whatever

imo

Spikey getting so serious he's slipped back into using capital letters.

 

[Spark]

i guess this means faulkner is going to bat at 8 and score three hundreds now

 

[Spikey]

if that happens i can probably blame finch/warner and watson and the guy at 6

 

[Cabinet96]

Nah, a taste would be Faulkner averaging 3 wickets a game throughout the tournament.

 

[Spikey]

almost everybody would be tastin that though

 

[Zinzan]

Watson
Warner/Finch
Clarkeh
Smitteh
Baileh
Marsh or Maxwell or Faulkner
Haddin or Wade or Dropped Tasmanian wicket keeper Tim Paine
MJ
Starceh
Harris
Nathan Hauritz

12th man: not Phil Hughes ok stick your symbolism elsewhere buddy

Wade? Isn't that the chap with a batting average around 20 & a SR of around 68?

 

[Justo]

Watson
Warner/Finch (probably depends on who does better in the tri series)
Smith
Clarke
Bailey/Voges (if Bailey doesn't show any form Voges comes in)
Marsh/Maxwell/Faulkner (leaning towards Marsh with Faulkner as a replacement bowler)
Keeper (idc who)
Johnson
Starc
Harris
Hazlewood

Cummins
Maxwell
Faulkner
Voges (if Bailey is selected, otherwise White, Shaun Marsh (if he's not injured) or maybe Burns)

Stack the pace attack and aim to take as many wickets as possible. You could probably replace Cummins with a spinner but I cbf with most of our spin bowling options. If Voges does play over Bailey he provides some part time spin.

 

[Spark]

Dr Peter Larkins @doclarkins
Surgical exploration & repair of hamstring tear allows medical staff to plan Michael Clarke's return to cricket-likely to be minimum 10 wks

that pretty much wipes him out of the entire wc

 

[Zinzan]

Dr Peter Larkins @doclarkins
Surgical exploration & repair of hamstring tear allows medical staff to plan Michael Clarke's return to cricket-likely to be minimum 10 wks

that pretty much wipes him out of the entire wc

Sounds like touch and go. Do you think they're would risk selecting him in the 15 if they knew he would miss say the the first third/half of the tournament?

 

[jelley17]

Maybe voges deserves a shot as reserve batsman with his current form?

 

[howardj]

21 balls is still a potential 50 runs though

That said, I agree that 8-11 should be our 4 best bowlers

While 1-6 our best batsmen

That they may have a second discipline is a bonus, not a determinant

 

[Spikey]

Maybe voges deserves a shot as reserve batsman with his current form?

Voges was a bit unlucky to just disappear from the team but i think 6 is well and truly set as an all-rounder spot, with watson's decline and all

 

[Cabinet96]

21 balls is still a potential 50 runs though

That said, I agree that 8-11 should be our 4 best bowlers

While 1-6 our best batsmen

That they may have a second discipline is a bonus, not a determinant

You're realistically not going to pick your six best batsmen though. You'll compromise for extra bowling options. Which is why I'm kind of thinking you should do the equivalent in places 8-11.

 

[Prince EWS]

I'm okay with Faulkner playing if no specialist spinner does; he'd be pretty close to being Australia's fourth best OD seamer anyway. I'd be against it if it meant he was the third seamer though; it's not like Johnson, Starc and Harris can't bat anyway.

 

[Cabinet96]

That's true. Though I often think people who are handy lower order test players can be almost completely useless in international one day cricket. Someone like Faulkner is one of very few players who has proven he can be a significant run scorer from lower positions in one day cricket, whereas for most it's just theoretical potential. I may just be confusing the careers of Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann with the cricketing norm though.

 

[Spikey]

Adam White @White_Adam · 1h 1 hour ago
Australia should be very concerned about Glenn Maxwell ahead of the World Cup. He's a key player, but his cluttered mind is a massive worry.

Adam White @White_Adam · 1h 1 hour ago
It's easy to whack Maxwell, who's often his own worst enemy. But he's a weapon in the World Cup and there is reason to be worried about him.

The Big Show turned The Cluttered Mind

 

[GirtBySea]

Warner
Finch
Watson
Smith
Clarke
Bailey
M. Marsh
Maxwell
Haddin
Faulkner
Johnson

All XI of those are pencilled imo:

The other 4 I cannot choose...

 

[GirtBySea]

It shows the depth we have as there are around ten names I can think of who will be thereabouts...

 

[morgieb]

1. Finch
2. Watson
3. Smith
4. Clarke
5. Bailey
6. M Marsh
7. Maxwell
8. Haddin
9. Johnson
10. Starc
11. Harris

12. Warner
13. Faulkner
14. Lyon
15. Hazlewood

My side so far. Probably need an extra keeping option there....and I'm not sure if Smith is the best option for #3. Cummins unlucky.

Not sure who should come in if Clarke doesn't come up in time....White? Voges? A keeper?

 

[GirtBySea]

1. Finch
2. Watson
3. Smith
4. Clarke
5. Bailey
6. M Marsh
7. Maxwell
8. Haddin
9. Johnson
10. Starc
11. Harris

12. Warner
13. Faulkner
14. Lyon
15. Hazlewood

My side so far. Probably need an extra keeping option there....and I'm not sure if Smith is the best option for #3. Cummins unlucky.

Not sure who should come in if Clarke doesn't come up in time....White? Voges? A keeper?

How about the in form and not mentioned much in this thread Joe Burns? Young enough and can bat anywhere too.