The Champion Australian cricket team would be shell-shocked after getting outplayed in the last 3 ODIs against South Africa. Australia had a lead of 2-0 and many expected Aussies to dominate Proteas but the Australian team went overboard and took South Africa lightly. The management made bizarre decisions and rotated the batter’s positions like anything which disturbed the dynamics of the team.
With the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 door steps away, a series win would have given the self belief to Australia ahead of the ODI series scheduled against India on 22nd September in India. All the star players would be back for the contest but these series defeat would be on the back of the mind of Aussies.
Australia not quite at their best
The Aussies were without the services of the skipper Pat Cummins, lethal pacer Mitchell Starc & star batter Steve Smith who were nursing injuries. The problem with Australia is that they have got a lot of match winners present in the side in the form of Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh & Cameron Green; if one of the all-rounder fails then the rest 3 get panicked.
Cricket Australia’s (CA) chief selector George Bailey will have to make a call on whether to add Marnus Labuschagne into the ODI WC 2023 squad or not. There are high chances that Marnus Labuschagne would earn a call up as the destructive left handed batter Travis Head has a fracture and the recovery time is not known yet.
Lack of temperament
The swashbuckling left handed batter David Warner should play smartly rather than going berserk on every ball. With most likely, Travis Head not taking part, Warner will have to play the role of senior batter as there are high chances that the pinch hitter Mitchell Marsh would open the batting.
There is no doubt that Australia have got a lot of firepower but the team is not clicking as a unit. If the side gets a target in excess of 320 then they either will lose the match in excess of 100 runs or chase down the target in 40 overs. Head coach Andrew McDonald needs to have a word with the batters if the Kangaroos want to win their 6th World Cup title.