Australia selectors look beyond exiled leaders and focus on World Cup

[R3verse Swing]

The new post-ball tampering crisis era of Australian cricket starts on Wednesday when Cricket Australia names a contract list which for the first time in nine years will not include Steve Smith or David Warner.

With the next World Cup falling within the 2018/19 contract period, selectors have placed a strong emphasis on the white-ball formats in what is expected to be a 20-man list.

The announcement, to be made on Wednesday, will give an indication as to who Trevor Hohns' panel have in mind to be part of Australia's World Cup defence in England.

There could be as many as eight players who have not worn the baggy green earning central contracts, while injured pace ace James Pattinson is tipped to drop off for the first time since 2010/11.

Also under pressure to retain their deals from 2017/18 are Jackson Bird, Hilton Cartwright, Matthew Wade and Adam Zampa.

Zampa's likely omission means he faces a difficult task to retain his status as Australia's premier slow bowler in the 50-over game.

Shaun Marsh is expected to return to the list after playing a pivotal role in Australia regaining the Ashes, though the batting depth is a concern with Smith and Warner absent after accepting 12-month bans.

Opener Matt Renshaw will hold his contract with Cameron Bancroft ineligible.

Newly appointed skipper Tim Paine is back for the first time in seven years and is set to rank highly on CA's formula, which takes into consideration the likelihood a player will be selected in the contract period.

White-ball specialists Andrew Tye, Jhye Richardson and Kane Richardson are likely to earn their first CA contracts after impressive limited-over form.

Meanwhile, pace ace Pat Cummins has become the latest casualty of Australia's disastrous tour of South Africa after pulling out of the Indian Premier League with a back injury. CA is erring on the side of caution with the star fast bowler, who has developed hot spots in his back after bearing a heavy workload during the series against England and South Africa.

The injury is not understood to be serious but there will not be any risks taken with Cummins, who has a long history of back-related problems. It is unclear if Cummins will be available for Australia's next assignment - a one-day international series in England which, until Smith's and Warner's suspensions, was being seen as a dress rehearsal for next year's World Cup.

"Pat experienced some back soreness during the fourth Test in South Africa. Follow-up scans have confirmed that he has bone oedema in his vertebrae," CA team physiotherapist David Beakley said. "It is important that Pat has time off bowling, to prevent the injury becoming more serious and consequently we have made the decision to rule Pat out of the IPL.

"Pat will now undergo a period of recovery and rehabilitation and we will look to re-scan him in a few weeks to assess the healing. Following this we will be in a better position to decide on Pat's return to play timeline including participation in the limited overs tour of the UK."

LIKELY CONTRACT LIST

Tim Paine (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...s-and-focus-on-world-cup-20180410-p4z8um.html

Oz still one of the favourites to win WC2019?

I think this could be England's best chance.

 

[hadi123]

Without Warner and Smith, Australia are really going to struggle

 

[shokz1408]

Well there goes Australia's chances in the upcoming WC.

IMO, Pakistan, India, New Zealand will qualify. And the 4th spot will likely go to England, unless South Africa spring a surprise.

 

[boomboom6]

Prime chance for Pakistan to get some series wins under their belt vs Aussies in upcoming tri series and then UAE series.

 

[Josh]

It's a very good chance for Pakistan and India to win series against Australia in upcoming months. Is the Pak Vs Aus series in Australia or UAE?

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

it's a very good chance for pakistan and india to win series against australia in upcoming months. Is the pak vs aus series in australia or uae?

uae

 

[Pakistanian]

Australia are still a great team without them. They're still favorites to defend their title.

 

[Syed1]

Australia are still a great team without them. They're still favorites to defend their title.

How many members of this "great" team can you name?

 

[Syed1]

Are people forgetting that this Aussie ODI side lost 4-1 at home to the English with both Warner and Smith in the side????



Australia is no where close to where it used to be. Australia reaching the semis would be a huge surprise.

 

[rhony]

Tim Paine the captain of the ODI team? Khawaja and lyon have no business in ODI teams. They should give the captaincy to Finch.

 

[Pakistanian]

How many members of this "great" team can you name?

Mitch Starc, Tim Paine, Khawaja, Aaron Finch to name a few. They still have a lethal bowling attack, Smith & Warner's presence would only be felt in the batting order however I'm sure Australia havr a great system in place. They have a lot of homegrown talent that can fill in their place, they didn't become 5 time world champs for no reason.

 

[Hasan123]

Smith and Warner will be back for the WC. They still have a team to compete at the WC.

 

[Varun]

Smith and Warner will be back for the WC. They still have a team to compete at the WC.

Keep in mind that both were a fading force in LoIs even before the ban.

 

[Slog]

Keep in mind that both were a fading force in LoIs even before the ban.

lol this is such **... Do you seriously believe that mate?

Smith averaged 57, 63, 54 in the 2017, 2016 and 2015 respectively. Warner averaged 45, 50 and 54 in the same three years. And might I add at great strike rates....

They would have come up with the goods when it mattered. 4-5 poor matches in 2018 isnt a big enough sample set

Lot at 'fading force'

Smith has many years to give.Warner is 31 so maybe getting on with the years but he was hardly 'past it' in ODIs

I respect you a lot as a poster but this is one of the most ignorant posts Ive ever seen with no basis on facts... Five matches is no sample. And as it is the Aussies up their performance levels in ODI World Cups when it matters whereas normally they are in cruise control mode in bilateral ODIs

 

[Slog]

Are people forgetting that this Aussie ODI side lost 4-1 at home to the English with both Warner and Smith in the side????



Australia is no where close to where it used to be. Australia reaching the semis would be a huge surprise.

Aussies always up their performance levels come the World Cups. Its also a function of the fact that they experiment quite a bit in bilaterals..

I rarely give much attention to their bilateral performances when assessing their ODI WC chances. If we did then mind you to WC 2007 they were coming off a whitewash to NZ and a humiliating ODI tri series loss at home to England in the finals.

 

[MMHS]

Aussies needed a kick at the back - I am sure Aussies will come back hard.

Aussies are a different type, they won't go down taking a punch on chin.

 

[Savak]

Good job, no need to consider those disgraceful cheats

 

[Donal Cozzie]

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...s-and-focus-on-world-cup-20180410-p4z8um.html

Oz still one of the favourites to win WC2019?

I think this could be England's best chance.

England will look a million dollars in the group stage and then completely flop in their first pressure match.

 

[Hasan123]

Keep in mind that both were a fading force in LoIs even before the ban.

Warner is fantastic in LO and Smith can't be ruled out. Slog has shown you the facts.

 

[Varun]

lol this is such **... Do you seriously believe that mate?

Smith averaged 57, 63, 54 in the 2017, 2016 and 2015 respectively. Warner averaged 45, 50 and 54 in the same three years. And might I add at great strike rates....

They would have come up with the goods when it mattered. 4-5 poor matches in 2018 isnt a big enough sample set

Lot at 'fading force'

Smith has many years to give.Warner is 31 so maybe getting on with the years but he was hardly 'past it' in ODIs

I respect you a lot as a poster but this is one of the most ignorant posts Ive ever seen with no basis on facts... Five matches is no sample. And as it is the Aussies up their performance levels in ODI World Cups when it matters whereas normally they are in cruise control mode in bilateral ODIs

Let me rephrase - Warner and Smith won't be as much of a loss to the Australian ODI team as they are to the Australian test team.

 

[Slog]

Let me rephrase - Warner and Smith won't be as much of a loss to the Australian ODI team as they are to the Australian test team.

Well on a relative basis you are right that they are a bigger miss in Test cricket but you said they were a fading force which is totally incorrect.

They walk into pretty much any ODI side

 

[backfootpunch]

England will look a million dollars in the group stage and then completely flop in their first pressure match.

That's the England we know haha.