ICC World Cup 2019 | Australia’s predicted XI for their encounter against India
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After winning their first two matches with strong performances against Afghanistan and West Indies, Australia will face a stern test against the Men in Blue, who won their last match comfortably against the Proteas. They are expected to roll with their usual XI to maintain their winning streak.
Openers
Aaron Finch (C):Â After having a sensational start to the tournament as he scored a quickfire 66 against Afghanistan, the skipper failed to perform against the West Indies. However, having 1000+ runs against India at an average of 42 against India in 25 matches throughout his career against them, Finch will be hoping to put up another strong display and maintain the excellent form he has been in 2019, having scored at an average of 50.43 so far in the year.
David Warner: Coming off at the back of a one-year suspension following a ball-tampering charge, his return to international cricket has been pretty great so far, having scored a well-paced 89 against Afghanistan in the World Cup opener. Top scorer in the 2019 edition of IPL, Warner has always been a thorn in India’s side whenever the two teams have faced and the batsman will be looking forward to maintain that reputation.
Middle-order
Usman Khawaja: Even though his start to the tournament has been far from good, failing to reach the 20-run mark in both his outings, two sub-par performances are far from enough to drop a batsman who has scored at an average 53 through the year and has eight 50+ scores in 15 matches. Usman Khawaja is filled with talent and he can prove to be the difference between winning and losing, such is his quality.
Steven Smith: Another player who was suspended for a year by the ICC, it was his innings in the last match that provided the Australian innings stability and allowed the hard-hitting Nathan Coulter Nile to go all out for the bowlers to drive them to a decent score. Smith’s temperamental 73 was praised by a large number of people around the globe and his average of 50+ against India in as many as 14 matches shows how key a player he will prove to be tomorrow.
Alex Carey (Wk): A very mature innings of 44 which saw him score at a strike rate lower than 20 initially before hammering it all over the park during the latter part of his 53 ball innings, Carey’s batting has been improving with every match and he has fast been developing into a reliable finisher for the Kangaroos. His work with gloves is equally good and is a confirmed starter for the team.
All-rounders
Glenn Maxwell:Â Some of his most memorable ODI innings have come against the opponent he will be going against tomorrow, with his exhibition of power hitting having lost India quite some matches in the past. Having a strike rate of 122 even though he has played as many 92 innings, his ability to clear the ball a long way is simply remarkable when he gets going, while his ability to take crucial wickets with the ball can prove to be an equally important factor.
Marcus Stoinis: The rising star of the Australian team, Stoinis has the potential to become one of the world’s best all-rounders if he is not one already. He can bowl economically at the death due to the arsenal of variations he possesses as well as finish the innings on a high with his high strike rate and will be looking to make an impact against one of the best teams in the world.
Nathan Coulter-Nile: Though he has not had a great start to the World Cup with the ball and is yet to pick up a wicket in the tournament, his 92 off just 68 balls was the key factor in Australia’s 15 run win over West Indies. Though primarily counted on for his bowling abilities, his huge innings will give him a good confidence boost and he will probably take the field with a renewed hunger to keep up his form against India.
Bowlers
Pat Cummins: Five wickets in two matches at an astounding economy, Pat Cummins, when on song, is as good as fast bowlers can get. Quick, lethal, and a proven wicket-taker, he has 20 wickets in 7 innings in England and Wales throughout his career and has the X factor every team hopes to be in a bowler and is capable enough of single-handedly giving his team the edge.
Mitchell Starc: The star against West Indies, his last few overs against the West Indies were a masterclass of fast bowling and simply a feast to the eyes. Easily one of the best bowlers in the world, he is one of the game’s most renowned names presently who in the last match became the quickest ever to 150 ODI scalps and one does not need to a cricketing expert to realize his vast talent and potential.
Adam Zampa: The only pure spinner in the lineup, the leg break bowler was one of the most crucial factors behind their recent series victory over the Men in Blues and his three wicket haul against Afghanistan was an exhibition of proper spin bowling. He is highly capable of tearing through a team’s batting order and is a bowler India need to be wary of.
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