Steve Smith is back, Glenn Maxwell is back, Pat Cummmins is back, Mitchell Starc is back! It’s going to be high quality ODI series between India and Australia just on the eve of World Cup 2023. While India is looking forward to this series as an opportunity to test their depth, for Australia, the case is about having a note of their full strength side.
An auspicious journey has kept injury scars away from India, they will feel quite confident with a title win in Asia Cup 2023. A quality squad with inform bowlers and batters, honestly, they couldn’t have asked for a better prep leading to the World Cup.
Australia, on the other hand, has some adjustments to make. As a unit, they will feel unfortunate to not have Travis Head in the squad. Also, the capitulations of the middle order will keep them busy in finding a method that could extend their innings.
Australia’s struggle with middle order
The tour of South Africa was a bitter-sweet one for Australia. They started as the Australians usually do, in dominating fashion. However, as the tour ended, Australia had taken taken quite an hammering from South Africa in last three ODIs.
With middle order consistently failing to contribute substantially, Australia might feel a bit under pressure. In other words, too much reliance on the top order. But if Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne can play the navigating role for the Aussies, the hitters in the team will definitely feel relieved.
Australia Eyes to Fix Glitches Before ODI World Cup 2023
Cummins is back to lead the team and is yet to have a win under his captaincy in India. He will play all three matches as he has said. Australia has been bowled out five times under 40 overs since 2019 World Cup, the most by any top-tier team in ODIs.
Thr openers have scored bulk of the runs for Australia at a quick run-rate. We are yet to see a century from the Australian number 4 to 6 in ODIs, it’s been a long time with Stoinis not reaching half century since last ODI World Cup and Maxwell not touching the mark in his last 10 innings.
Smith, Labuschagne to add some substance
Steve Smith batted for over hours in net practice at Mohali Stadium. Sounds good for Australia because it might solve their middle order muddle. Labuschagne has given high hopes to selectors with his impressive batting display against South Africa.
Alex Carey is a brilliant wicketkeeper, however, his batting ability in ODIs is not the best one. Often he has found himself strangled in web of spinners. Josh Inglis, the BBL star, was provided handy opportunity but he is yet to find any consistent rhythm in ODIs.
Australia will definitely pursue their World Cup journey with Nathan Ellis who is skillful with dozens of variety to work, it is going to be useful in subcontinent conditions. Hazlewood was number one ranked ODI bowler for Australia until dethroned by Mohammed Siraj.
Things are in form of bits and pieces for Australia as they prepare for the ODI World Cup. Pat Cummins who was injured thus didn’t fulfil has captaincy duties, is back but there is a lot to be assembled and put together before the big event.
The positive thing for Australia is they have a number of inform batters like Mitchell Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner who is as dangerous as he could be on a given day. There is not much to worry about but a series against victorious India before the ODI World Cup will be a good test for Australia.
