Former Australian captain has shared his views on current team of Australia that will go to the World Cup next week and before that, they will play 3 match ODI series against India. Mark Taylor who captained Australia in 1996 Cricket World Cup has said that current Australia team is heavy with all-rounders.
Taylor’s comment came after Travis Head suffered a fracture in the fifth ODI match between South Africa and Australia at the Wanderers. Now it has been confirmed that Head will not take part in the first half of the tournament, Mitchell Marsh, who is an aggresive all-rounder by definition, is expected to open the innings alongside David Warner.
Marnus Labuschagne is obvious choice now after the way he played on South Africa tour. Australia coach himself praised Labuschagne, as Marsh moves up to the order, Labuschagne os expected take the number 3 batting position in the team.
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While talking on Nine’s Sports Sunday, Taylor said, “I will be surprised if it’s a batter that falls out of the squad to get Labuschagne in.”
The current Australian team will have Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Tim David as all-rounders. Taylor suggests that the team looks a solid batter short in this set-up, saying, “We’ve got a lot of all-rounders in our squad and not a lot of out-and-out batters, and I think we’ve seen in this series in South Africa which is now two-all, you still need batters.”
“You still need someone to make a 100, 50 off 30 balls, yes, is a nice addition, but you still need someone who makes big scores in any form of the game to win games,” Taylor said.
This comment is reflection of Australia’s batting performance against South Africa in last three ODIs. They did get a fantastic start in all three matches but the absence of a player who can prolong the innings was clearly felt.
“Obviously Labuschagne and Travis Head can both bowl a little bit, but apart from that there’s Stoinis, Marsh, Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell … Australia have got a lot of all-rounders in their 15.
“It’s probably indicative of where cricket is at the moment, there’s so much influence from T20 cricket that those players who can bat, bowl and field well are getting preference over those who have only got two skills.
“There’s not room for all four all-rounders in our one-day squad, but it’s going to be hard to work out who misses out.”
It is expected that Mitchell Marsh is definitely going to play in all matches at the World Cup 2023. So, it might be that only one between Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinis will get the chance. Maxwell brings the additional aspect of being a spinner and that could come handy in subcontinent conditions so, if deemed fit, he will play all matches.
