Some Rethinking for Australia Before ODI World Cup 2023

Australia are up in the line as tournament favourites for the soon to start ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2013. Their recent ODI performance and adding to that, a list of new injuries may have hampered their planning on a small scale but their philosophy of playing ODI games has been far advanced in last 10-12 months.

Australia wants to play in attaching mode, that’s an observed fact but there is so much more than being aggresive when you really understand that it has psychological significance which was vividly visible when they put South African bowlers under pressure with obliterating effect of their batting dominance. However, they weren’t so successful in last 3 ODIs, South Africa fought back well in these matches.

Sometimes you have to give credit to a team for their fighting spirit. South Africa found their winning ways with some superb batting performances by Aiden Markam, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller.

Coming back to Australia and their soon to start World Cup campaign, their batting style can really pose some big problems for other teams. It is not directed by an incessant attack but actually has a very psychological significance, the method is pound on anything that allows the Australian batters to free their arms.

Powerplay is Key for Australia

After culmination of 2022 ICC T20 World Cup, Australia have found a new way to start their ODI innings. The instant reflection of this method was seen during three match ODI series against England. Then openers at the time, David Warner and Travis Head, had showed a more emphatic intent in starting of their innings.

Such has been the case since then; Australia batted same way against India in India then they took it to the extreme against South Africa, scoring more than 100 runs in an ODI powerplay, which tells us what kind of intent and positivity they have at current moment.

Supposedly, if Australia are chasing anything around 280-300 then if they get that kind of start in powerplay, the match seems almost done by the 15th over. The other team will he forced to play only a catch up game while Australia will have no pressure on them. This is an effective way of playing cricket.

Also, Australia have got such a strong middle order that can back up to that start and build up their own innings without having much to worry about. Marnus Labuschagne has also levelled up his game, fitting in the template with his own class and technique. On the other hand, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell will be 4x more threatning if Australia continues to play this way.

Capitulation is the Remaining Problem 

Despite having such a great advantage to their batting line-up, one thing that really troubles Australia is their habit of losing wicktets in clusters at crucial moments. This has been the case with them for last few series or perhaps it is due to their new playing style which ofcourse brings its own disadvantages with advantages.

It is not capitulation of top order but actually the middle and lower order that has left some dent and exposed their weakness in a broader prospect. In all three ODI matches in which Australia suffered losses at the hands of South Africa, the capitulation was the big reason behind this.

On the first view it appears that spinners are proving to be an antethesis to Australia’s imposing mindset. For the reason that Australia likes to attack from the top, a minor stem to their run flow caused by the spinners makes them unsettled.

In actuality, it shouldn’t trouble the Australian batters but once they have got swift momentum and anything that holds them, not allowing to play shots freely, they feel frustrated and often choose the incautious amateur way of dealing with spinners.

This was most visible against South Africa, Australian batters just wanted to play pacers and spinners which is tough way to go in modern game. Spinners do enjoy if the batters are trying to be attacking before time, they sense that wicket is around the corner.

South Africa Wins 5th ODI against Australia To Seal Series

Australia will have a three match ODI series against India before the World Cup starts. They haven’t been at their best while chasing, succumbed within 35 overs in pursuit of 300+ scores in last three ODIs of South Africa tour.

With experience of David Warner at the top and sensible stroke making ability of Steve Smith in the middle, Australia’s attacking method will go through a slight change. The tempo of their aggresion will be measured according to the situation they are in. In an ODI game, often teams have more time than they sense there actually is.