3 Days to World Cup 2015


Australia : Team Analysis



Australia are the favourites to win the 2015 World Cup. They are way ahead of most teams and slightly ahead of the rest.  

They are perhaps the only team which doesn’t know who will lead them in the tournament. They are that team which has an acting captain who might lose his place in the side once the regular captain comes back. 

The best finisher in the team too is injured and might miss some matches. 

Despite all this, they are probably the best team, taking the conditions into account. 

There are experts who are doubtful whether Michael Clarke deserves a place in the team or not. Clarke is the most experienced player in the team and he has prior experience of winning a World Cup. Clarke can pace an innings extremely well and, provided he gets fit in time, will be an important member of the Australian batting line up. Besides, he is an excellent captain.

Aaron Finch and David Warner make the most dangerous opening pair of the World Cup. Even ten overs of the two of them would mean absolute carnage and the damage done would be too much for the bowling side to recover from. 

Steve Smith is in the form of his life (even after one considers he has scored his runs against the co-operative bowling line up of India) and one can expect him to continue with his Bradman-esque form in the World Cup. 

Shane Watson is often bashed for not living up to his potential but people do forget that he contributes to the team’s success, more often than not. Australia look almost invincible when Watson finds form and hence he is one of the most valuable players in this World Cup.

This is going to Brad Haddin’s last World Cup and he would like to finish off with a win at the MCG on March 29th. Haddin’s batting has often rescued the team in the past and Australia will look forward to the same, in case the top order batsmen experience an off-day. 

Glenn Maxwell is the latest phenomenon to hit world cricket. He was a T20 specialist who has elevated his game well enough to fit the 50 over format. Maxwell can change the course of a match on his own, in a span of minutes.

The bowling unit will be led by Mitchell Johnson. Johnson has made one of the greatest comebacks in the history of cricket in ‘that’ Ashes series against England and has not looked back since. Johnson on song would mean half the job done for Australia. He not only picks up wickets but he also unsettles the opposition batsmen’s mind.

Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are all capable bowlers in the 50 over format and will make sure that the Australian bowling attack has plenty of fire to offer. 

Xavier Doherty will play a key role in some of the venues that might suit his style of bowling. No one is bothered about him but undermining him might well lead to the downfall of the batsmen. 

Mitchell Marsh and James Faulkner are the all-rounders whose presence makes this team so balanced. Faulkner’s presence is perhaps the key to success for Australia.

It will be a major surprise for one and all if the Aussies fail to qualify for the semi-finals. A more logical point of view will suggest that they will be there at the MCG on March 29th, in pursuit of their fifth World Cup trophy. 

Squad : Michael Clarke (captain), George Bailey (vice-captain), Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson

Batting and bowling potential charts indicate the percentage contribution of each player in the team.



Key Batsmen : Shane Watson, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell

Key Bowlers : Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson, James Faulkner

Big Hitters : Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson

Most Experienced Player : Michael Clarke

Darkhorse : Josh Hazlewood

Last 10 Matches : Won 9, Lost 1

Team Average Age : 29 years

Oldest Player : Brad Haddin (37 years)

Youngest Player : Pat Cummins (21 years)

Australia played two warm-up games against India and U.A.E. and won both of them by more than 100 runs.

Fixtures for Australia in World Cup 2015 :
 

Date & Time	Match Details	Coverage
Sat Feb 14 (D/N) 03:30 GMT | 14:30 local 09:00 IST	2nd Match, Pool A - Australia v England Melbourne Cricket Ground
Sat Feb 21 (D/N) 03:30 GMT | 13:30 local 09:00 IST	11th Match, Pool A - Australia v Bangladesh Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane
Sat Feb 28 (D/N) 01:00 GMT | 14:00 local 06:30 IST	20th Match, Pool A - New Zealand v Australia Eden Park, Auckland
Wed Mar 4 (D/N) 06:30 GMT | 14:30 local 12:00 IST	26th Match, Pool A - Australia v Afghanistan Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth
Sun Mar 8 (D/N) 03:30 GMT | 14:30 local 09:00 IST	32nd Match, Pool A - Australia v Sri Lanka Sydney Cricket Ground
Sat Mar 14 (D/N) 03:30 GMT | 14:30 local 09:00 IST	40th Match, Pool A - Australia v Scotland Bellerive Oval, Hobart