Australia has five matches to get their World Cup preparation right, and it all starts against the West Indies on Wednesday on the Gold Coast.
From the captaincy to the top order conundrum and the middle order jigsaw puzzle, there are questions littered through the defending champion’s squad.
Here are five burning questions ahead of Australia’s final five T20s against the Windies and England before their World Cup defence gets underway.
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IS AARON FINCH LOCKED AND LOADED AS AUSTRALIA’S WORLD CUP SKIPPER?
With five matches left, it seems unlikely Australia will make a change of captaincy at this late stage.
George Bailey backed his out of sorts captain to lead Australia to a maiden T20 World Cup crown last year and he was rewarded.
While Finch’s output with the bat left some questions around his form, questions that still exist, the fact he managed to lead Australia to glory put a lifetime of currency in the bank.
Should it have?
You could argue no, and if Australia fail to win this year’s tournament and he struggles, that will be a mark the selection board carries against them during its tenure.
Hitherto, Australia’s selection panel under Bailey have not put a foot wrong from the decision to back Finch, then appoint Pat Cummins captain and strong selections from Travis Head to Usman Khawaja during the Ashes. Even during their 1-0 away series win against Pakistan, Australia’s selectors got it right.
But Finch is their biggest punt to date.
On the slower wickets of the subcontinent, Finch has been repeatedly found out.
On the quicker wickets of Australia, Finch’s technique will be tested.
Marsh & Starc set to return! | 02:25
Only a series of single-figure scores, perhaps in every remaining match ahead of their World Cup opener on October 22, will change anything.
Even then, they will go back to the ODI World Cups in 2015 and 2019 when Finch scored a mountain of runs when it counted.
The reluctance to change the captaincy revolves around Finch’s calm head.
In T20 cricket, which moves at a rate of a Japanese bullet train, clear thinking, particularly in the field, when bowlers are up against it and bowling plans and fields are vital, is paramount.
Australia’s selectors believe this is where Finch shines.
IS THE DOOR SHUT ON CAM GREEN’S WORLD CUP DREAM?
It says something about what a home World Cup means when Pat Cummins said the 2015 victory at the MCG rates as one of his greatest moments in cricket.
Why? Cummins did not even play in the final, instead he held the drinks.
Yet, the significance of a full house at the MCG in a World Cup final was not lost on the fast bowler.
That is why Cameron Green will be desperate to play in the World Cup.
Should he?
Well, the next five matches could well answer that question.
Green plays a shot a ball in crazy 50 | 02:20
With Finch and David Warner likely locked and loaded at the top of the order, could the all-rounder play elsewhere?
Absolutely, and that is why Marcus Stoinis is particularly vulnerable.
Like Finch, the class of ‘21 has the currency and Australia’s selectors will likely want to back those who won in the UAE.
But the reality is Stoinis has struggled since, particularly in ODI cricket, while he rarely bowls.
Stoinis will miss the matches against the West Indies but must be given every warm-up match to find his feet though because he is a match-winner.
Red hot Green retained in T20 squad | 00:44
He played vital knocks against South Africa in the pool stage last year and Pakistan in the semi-final, where alongside Matthew Wade he saw Australia home.
Green, as he showed in India, where he scored two half-centuries at the top of the order, is versatile and his all-round ability, as well as his excellent hands, is international class.
WHAT NOW FOR TIM DAVID?
If it was not already known, potential has been confirmed. Indeed, Tim David can be a world beater.
Ricky Ponting has been pushing his case for two years and now the world knows what David – the 26-year-old, who was born in Singapore – can do.
His 54 from 27 deliveries in the third T20 was crucial.
After two quick hits in the opening two matches, David was given a chance and showed that what comes off the bat is as good as the sound it makes in the nets.
His innings included four sixes, while he finished with a strike-rate of 200. If you’re doing that in the middle-orders, when the field is up, you’re doing something right.
But his innings came when Warner, as well as Marcus Stoinis and Mitch Marsh, were missing.
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David bludgeons maiden T20I half century | 01:01
It means that David is likely fighting for a spot alongside Stoinis and Marsh, unless Australia somehow decides to back getting four overs out of the duo and possibly dropping a specialist bowler.
COULD AUSTRALIA DROP A BOWLER AND IF SO, WHO?
In the UAE, Australia predominantly played three quicks – Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins – and specialist spinner Adam Zampa.
They relied on getting more than useful overs out of Glenn Maxwell, and occasionally from Marsh and Stoinis.
Four of those bowlers are specialists, while Maxwell is more than handy.
It means that Marsh and Stoinis, both who are capable but injury prone, often go unused.
Yet, could Australia consider dropping one of their specialist quicks to get another batter into the mix?
Quite possibly yes, and if they did then Cummins would likely be the one under the gun.
Hazlewood has emerged as Australia’s best short-form bowler over the past 16 months, having starred in the past two IPLs.
Clutch India hold their nerve in decider | 03:18
Starc’s left-arm option and ability to swing and produce the goods with his yorker means he is often considered a lock.
Cummins, however, can still go the journey and recently struggled in India.
Across the three matches in India, he took two wickets and went for 110 runs, an economy of 11.
Hazlewood, too, went at 11 an over, but his form has been irresistible in recent years.
WHY SMITH’S FORM NEEDS TO CONTINUE
Because of the nature of random T20 series played during the winter months of Australia, Smith’s stunning return has gone unnoticed.
But alongside Green, Smith has been one of the nation’s best in recent months.
He might have missed out in the latter two games in India, but he started the series with a swift 35.
Before that, he smashed New Zealand and Zimbabwe around on decks where most of Australia’s batting line-up struggled.
Australia punish India in T20 opener | 01:52
Smith provides Australia balance.
From Warner to Wade, Marsh to Stoinis, Australia has a group of dashers that plays to everything that T20 cricket is about.
The game is more nuanced than that though, with manipulation of the field and subtlety just as important.
At times, pace between the wickets, particularly when conditions call on it, are just as important as a bludgeoning six over the ropes.
It is why Smith’s return to form is important because he can do that better than anyone in the world.
Australia T20 squad to face West Indies : Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Sams, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Australia vs West Indies
Wednesday Oct 5: Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast, 7.10pm
Friday Oct 7: The Gabba, Brisbane, 7.10pm
Australia vs England
Saturday, Oct 9: Perth Stadium, Perth, 7.10pm (AEDT)
Wednesday, Oct 12: Manuka Oval, Canberra, 7.10pm
Friday, Oct 14: Manuka Oval, Canberra, 7.10pm
