*Official* Road to World Cup 2023

[TheJediBrah]

At this rate, surely Stoinis is a vibes-based selection. I rate him though, I'm sure he'll come good at some point during the WC.

He genuinely can't play any half-decent spin, and the world cup is in India ffs

Would be great to have an actual spare batsman in the squad instead of Stoinis.

I like Hardie but I'm not sure what the point of him is either. Doesn't justify getting picked on batting or bowling alone and we absolutely don't need another batting allrounder in the side.

Hardie probably was picked mostly on batting but his List A stats are actually quite bad. Classic case of selecting a promising player based on performances in a different format. Can't help but think his was a potential-based selection like Sangha rather than a genuine "we want this guy to play games for us this tournament" selection.

Looks like Inglis is the only spare batsman, depending on what the make-up of the XI they're going for is. Could be 5 bowlers, with Agar at 7, which would be a big mistake IMO but they've done it before.

 

[CricAddict]

Boult and Jamieson are both back in the ODI team now. Most probably will be in the ODI squad for world cup too.

 

[centurymaker]

NZ are back in contention for the Semi Final slot, given that KW is likely to return as well.

I think India, Australia and England are almost certain to make the final 4 and then it will be between Pakistan and NZ to grab the last spot.

 

[Prince EWS]

NZ are back in contention for the Semi Final slot, given that KW is likely to return as well.

I think India, Australia and England are almost certain to make the final 4 and then it will be between Pakistan and NZ to grab the last spot.

Yeah I agree. NZ are a chance if Kane actually does come back. They're probably screwed without him though - even if they Bradbury'd into the semi finals I couldn't see them winning those last two big games without him.

 

[Daemon]

Stoinis is not good enough with anything. He shouldn't be anywhere near the squad. But it's his batting that he is (mistakenly) selected for

Yep. Should be Tim David in his place.

 

[centurymaker]

Yeah I agree. NZ are a chance if Kane actually does come back. They're probably screwed without him though - even if they Bradbury'd into the semi finals I couldn't see them winning those last two big games without him.

I am sure his fitness will only improve as the tournament progresses, unless he re-injuries himself.

 

[Molehill]

NZ are back in contention for the Semi Final slot, given that KW is likely to return as well.

I think India, Australia and England are almost certain to make the final 4 and then it will be between Pakistan and NZ to grab the last spot.

I wouldn't mind betting that one of those 3 doesn't make it. I suspect India should be ok on home soil. I slightly worry about England's spin bowling options, are Rashid and Moeen as dependable for 10 overs as they were? Can Livingstone fill in a few? Will Dawson get a call up? No Stokes either.

Also not convinced that the raft of Aussie medium pace all rounders (and lack of specialist bats) is a successful strategy.

 

[Adorable Asshole]

NZ are back in contention for the Semi Final slot, given that KW is likely to return as well.

I think India, Australia and England are almost certain to make the final 4 and then it will be between Pakistan and NZ to grab the last spot.

It will be India, SL, Pak, NZ in SF with India vs SL in finals.

 

[centurymaker]

I wouldn't mind betting that one of those 3 doesn't make it. I suspect India should be ok on home soil. I slightly worry about England's spin bowling options, are Rashid and Moeen as dependable for 10 overs as they were? Can Livingstone fill in a few? Will Dawson get a call up? No Stokes either.

Also not convinced that the raft of Aussie medium pace all rounders (and lack of specialist bats) is a successful strategy.

I don't see Australia failing to make it past the group stage. They have an excellent ODI record in Indian conditions, winning 2 ODI series in India in last 4 yrs. Plus will be playing their 2nd ODI series in India in space of 6 months, right before WC. It'd be a blessing for all other teams if Aus somehow didn't make it. England, on the other hand, could miss out but still unlikely imo. Maybe I am overrating England because of bazball and all and they may not be as good as before. IDK.


How likely are these teams to make the semi-finals-
IMO
India 85-90%
Australia 85-90%
England 75-80%
Pakistan 60-65%
New Zealand 45-50%
South Africa 25-30%
Rest 10%

 

[Molehill]

England, on the other hand, could miss out but still unlikely imo. Maybe I am overrating England because of bazball and all and they may not be as good as before. IDK.

I guess England did win the T20 and the team won't differ hugely from that. If anything, it almost gets stronger when you bring in Root for Salt. For all the possible bowling issues, it's still the strongest batting line up - Curran likely to bat 8!

 

[TheJediBrah]

Also not convinced that the raft of Aussie medium pace all rounders (and lack of specialist bats) is a successful strategy.

Maybe you missed where this was explained earlier, but it's not a "strategy". Those all-rounders are Australia's specialist bats. They don't really have any batsmen standing out that are better than Marsh, Green and Maxwell. It's a case of some of the best batsmen happening to be able to bowl.

I agree with your sentiment though. Aus will field a destructive but fragile batting line-up that's about equally as likely to get rolled for 150 as it is of hitting 400. Would be nice if they had someone other than Smith like a Marnus or Khawaja who was steadier but I don't think either are good enough at the moment.

 

[Qlder]

All this talk about Aussie allrounders, how about fielding this for a warm up game. Has 10 bowlers and Cummins batting 10

Head
Marsh
Green
Inglis +
Hardie
Maxwell
Agar
Abbott
Starc
Cummins
Zampa

 

[TheJediBrah]

That's like the worst team they could field out of that squad. It's somehow short a proper bowler and short a batsmen

 

[Qlder]

That's like the worst team they could field out of that squad. It's somehow short a proper bowler and short a batsmen

I did say warm up game and it does have 5 proper bowlers?

 

[TheJediBrah]

Yeah true. Still don't like it

 

[Prince EWS]

Maybe you missed where this was explained earlier, but it's not a "strategy". Those all-rounders are Australia's specialist bats. They don't really have any batsmen standing out that are better than Marsh, Green and Maxwell. It's a case of some of the best batsmen happening to be able to bowl.

Largely agree but it's not true of Hardie, and the fact that so many of Australia's best batsmen can properly bowl makes Hardie's selection even stranger. I can only assume he's just there for the experience and won't be in the WC squad.

 

[Qlder]

Largely agree but it's not true of Hardie, and the fact that so many of Australia's best batsmen can properly bowl makes Hardie's selection even stranger. I can only assume he's just there for the experience and won't be in the WC squad.

This squad also covers SA tour where Maxwell is not playing. Believe Hardie only there as back-up for SA tour because no Maxwell (makes him the only spare batsman in the squad)

 

[TheJediBrah]

Inglis would play as a batsman before Hardie does

 

[Molehill]

How many spinners will play in India? Assume that Zampa and Maxwell are fixed, does Agar get a game too? Or do you get the odd extra from Smith or Head?

 

[Qlder]

How many spinners will play in India? Assume that Zampa and Maxwell are fixed, does Agar get a game too? Or do you get the odd extra from Smith or Head?

Spin overs for Aus vs India in March

ODI 1: Zampa 6, Maxwell 2
ODI 2: Zampa 2
ODI 3: Zampa 10, Agar 10

And Aus won series 2-1 with that