David Warner, Steve Smith unlikely to play last 2 ODIs against Pakistan : Aaron Finch

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The injured and banned duo of Steven Smith and David Warner are unlikely to take part in Australia's final two ODIs against Pakistan despite serving out their one-year ball-tampering suspensions during the series to be held in the UAE.

After the conclusion of the ODI series against India, the defending World Champions will take on Pakistan in the five-match series with the fourth and fifth ODIs slated on 29 and 31 March respectively.

Smith and Warner, both recuperating from elbow surgeries, will find their suspension end on 29 March but there are still serious doubts whether they will play the mega event or not. Smith has just started knocking and will take some more time to get fit.

"I don't think David Warner or Steve Smith will play that game (March 29). I am not a hundred percent sure on that but I don't think they will play that last one or two games," Finch said on the eve of the first ODI.

He also curtly put it when a reporter asked if he sees himself as a stand-in captain now that both Smith and Warner are set to be back.

"No, no, I am the captain, yeah," was his blunt response.

Just like Indian team is trying to balance the workload of its players, Australia are also grappling with similar problems with Ashes starting after the World Cup.

Asked about pacer Pat Cummins' workload, Finch said: "He bowled a lot throughout the Australian summer, particularly at the back end of the India Test series.

"I think having no cricket in April will help guys like Pat to freshen up. Again someone like (Mitchell) Starc, who has played no cricket needs to bowl. The workload of our fast bowlers needs to be balanced."

But playing 10 ODIs in a month (India and Pakistan series in March) is quite unprecedented in Australian cricket, said Finch.

"Playing 10 ODIs in a month is quite an unchartered territory for our fast bowlers. There will be a mix and match managing the workload."

Young batsman Ashton Turner is set to make his debut and the skipper is excited about that prospect. "Ashton Turner is a guy who will be making his debut in ODI cricket. We have seen how destructive he can be in domestic cricket, so really excited to see him get a go in international cricket as he is such a smart player.

"He is a diverse player who can bat in top couple or down the order. He is game smart and manages situations. He will be an important player, someone I am very interested to see."

It is the settled unit that makes India a very strong ODI side not only at home but in all conditions.

"It's a good question. Their batting is really strong. They have got in Virat, arguably the best player of all time in ODI cricket. Rohit has been in good form. They have quicks, who move the ball upfront and execute really well at the death. They play well everywhere to be pretty fair," Finch said.

"I think when you have a team that has played together for a long time, they understand each other well. Probably a settled group of 14 or 15 very good players are playing for a long time. That goes a long way as to why they have been so successful in particular," he elaborated.

https://www.firstpost.com/firstcric...ys-australia-captain-aaron-finch-6179311.html

 

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Sooner these two get back into the game, the better for Australia's chances in the World Cup.

 

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Steve Smith, the banned Australia batsman, has returned to the nets for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery, as he races against time to be fit for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales.

Smith and David Warner are both nearing the end of their year-long bans for ball-tampering and will be eligible for selection for the World Cup 2019. However, their returns to international cricket were muddled when both batsmen returned early from the 2018-19 Bangladesh Premier League with elbow complaints.

Smith suffered the more severe injury and it was even rumoured at one stage that he could be held back from the World Cup to preserve him for the subsequent Ashes series in England. While a timeline for his return is still not set, Smith posted a video on Instagram, where he said the elbow felt good.

“Great to have my first hit back today,” he wrote alongside a short clip of him having a hit. “The elbow is feeling good.”

Warner, meanwhile, is understood to be making good progress and is looking at playing a grade match to get match ready. Both batsmen will be eligible for selection on 29 March, the day of Australia’s fourth ODI against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates. However, it is highly unlikely for either batsman to make an immediate comeback, especially Smith, who isn’t even expected to have fully recovered by then.

Justin Langer, the Australia coach, has already indicated that the Indian Premier League could be a possible route back for both players. “From all accounts, they should both be ready for the IPL, which is really positive,” Langer said. “Dave’s probably a little more advanced, but my understanding is they’ll be ready to go in the not-too-distant future.”

Steven Smith and David Warner played against each other in a Sydney Grade Cricket match in November 2018 Steven Smith and David Warner played against each other in a Sydney Grade Cricket match in November 2018
Australia play 10 straight ODIs in the build-up to the World Cup, starting with the first ODI against India on Saturday, 2 March. After the five-match series concludes in the country, they head straight to the UAE for five more games against Pakistan.

As their final stretch of preparation ahead of the big event, these ten games will be Australia’s last chance to settle on a combination for the World Cup, although with Smith and Warner’s return not set yet, they will likely have to make some late tinkering to their squad for the event. Australia have a deadline of 23 April to name the squad for the World Cup, although it can be tweaked later, with the approval of the International Cricket Council’s event technical committee.

Australia’s World Cup squad will gather in Brisbane in early May for a training camp that includes warm-up matches against New Zealand, before flying out to the UK in mid-May.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1083245