Australia’s roadmap moving towards ICC Champions Trophy 2017
Australia's roadmap moving towards ICC Champions Trophy 2017
Australia has been ruling the roost in the One-Day International (ODI) format of the game, post their historic fifth ICC Cricket World Cup victory in 2015. Australia were back then, lead by Michael Clarke who retired after the tournament and handed the reins to young, dynamic Steven Smith. Smith, who had been promising in the Tests, was expected to bloom in the same manner in the limited-overs format and take Australia to unseen heights. He was given the charge keeping in mind the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England and another eye on the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England itself. With an ODI team going through a transitional phase, Smith’s job became harder because unlike Clarke, he did not have a ready-made side to skipper. Smith’s first assignment after becoming the permanent ODI skipper was a series against their rivals, England. ALSO READ: AUS may pick limited-overs specialists for IND tour, hints Lehmann
After the loss in The Ashes, Australia would have been hungry for redemption. Smith, with the likes of David Warner, George Bailey, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc in the side was expected to shine, like in their opening match of World Cup 2015, when they beat England by 111 runs. Australia added a few new players in the ranks. Joe Burns, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Marsh were among them. The series to everyone’s surprise was a close and intensely-fought one, and Australia managed to win 3-2. Knowing Australia, they would have already started making blueprints for the Champions Trophy 2017.
Coming into their next ODI series, against India at home, Australia opted for a major overhaul in the team, that included, unknown exponents like Joel Paris, Scott Boland, and Kane Richardson. With most of their leading pacemen out injured, it gave Australia an opportunity to test out their bench strength. Australia routed the visitors, without much trouble, to lift the series 4-1. This only essayed more conviction as to how strong Australia’s bench strength was.
Australia started with almost the same side in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, 2015-16, against New Zealand. Smith’s much famed team was found struggling in the series, as both their batsmen and bowlers failed miserably. Players like Boland, Hastings, James Faulkner and Richardson looked anything but world-class players, still needing time to gain maturity. On pitches that were devoid of any assistance, they looked absolutely child-like. Australia lost the series 2-1, which was also Smith’s first loss as skipper.
Australia’s next ODI assignment came in a Tri-nation series along with hosts West Indies and South Africa. Australia once again decided to field a experimental side with the likes of Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa, Usman Khawaja and Travis Head. Australia competed in seven matches in the series, which included four wins, two losses and one no-result. Australia won the final of the series in comprehensive manner, what was more important for them was how their bowlers performed on dead and placid pitches. Australian bowlers looked sorted and very tidy which would have given Smith hopes of a good show under sub-continental conditions. ALSO READ: ICC announces groups for ICC Champions Trophy 2017
With one eye on Sri Lanka series, Australia emphasised on playing spinners until the commencement of the tour. However, come Sri Lanka, Australia’s batsmen, looked down and out in the Test series dancing to the tunes of Sri Lanka’s spin. With an influx of young and experienced faces, Australia went into the ODI series without any confidence, where they displayed more persistence in batting against a weakened bowling attack. Smith’s departure post the second ODI, did not have any affect on the team and instead, made the team even more hungry for success. Australia came out on top with their heads held high, mauling the hosts 4-1.
Australia still have a lot on their plate to digest and ponder upon. Starting from the crucial debate of who is a better captain in the shorter format — Warner or Smith.
Smith in his tenure has proved to be a good leader while Warner has exhibited qualities, more like that of an inspirational figure. Warner’s exemplary will, to fight out and bring Australia out of a hole was evident in the Sri Lanka series. Moreover he lead a diverse Sunrisers Hyderabad to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016 title. Warner was the second highest run-getter in the tournament.
Smith on the other had been unable to instill that passion in his team, more importantly his own form as a batsmen has taken a hit. What goes in favour of Smith is the fact that he has played in England, and therefore it would not be an unknown territory for the 27-year-old. Warner though, will be a top candidate for that post as well. With Australia playing as many as four-ODI series’ in the near future, with the Champions Trophy to follow, it will be interesting to see how the selectors pick and choose Australia’s skipper, and testing out their true potential under time constraining conditions.
With captaincy out of the picture, head-coach Darren Lehmann will be vary of the fact that they still have an unsettled team. The whole of 2016, they have been testing the hit and trial method and players have been shuffled across like a pack of cards. Agree that form supersedes all, but there is nothing better than to have a conditioned batting line-up. With old-warhorses like Bailey and Shaun Marsh, nearing their final leg of the career, it becomes extremely important that players like Khawaja, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell are nurtured well and groomed to perfection. Not all players in the 15-men squad, can get the opportunity of being a part of the playing XI, but players need to be assured about their role in the side, so that they know what’s expected of them and ready to unleash their best. England, will be tough both physically and mentally, so it will be decisive who Australia pick for the ODI series against New Zealand, which will give a good look into their preparations.
Australia have a lot of talent, waiting in the wings to showcase their potentials on the big stage and impress selectors. The like of Chris Lynn, Cameron Bancroft, Cameron Boyce and Peter Handscomb have been in cracking form in the domestic circuit and might anytime replace an established name in the squad, which to Australia’s luck is a double-edged sword. A poor show in the upcoming ODI series might come hard for players in the squad, if the selectors decide to act strict. And the younger players might then just get a call-up with a chance to shine and earn national prominence. ALSO READ: Indian cricket team to pull out of ICC Champions Trophy 2017?
Another problem that has haunted the Australian team has been the fitness of its fast bowlers. In Starc, they easily have the fastest bowler in the world right now, but he is known to be quite injury-prone and not just him, James Pattinson who made quite an impression in the Test series against West Indies early 2015, has been troubled with injury too. Another one in that list is Pat Cummins, who had a dream-start to his career, playing the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Cummins had been fighting against time to get fit and reclaim his spot in the team.
If Australia want to win the CT 2017 in England, a lot will depend on the form of these three bowlers and whether they can keep themselves fit and fine. With the extreme raw pace it will be a sight for fans to see the Duke’s ball rocket past the batsmen. Not only pace Australia, have a factory of line and length bowlers in Josh Hazlewood, John Hastings and Nathan Coulter-Nile. Each off these players has in the past been a bit unlucky to pick up injuries at wrong times. With Australia playing 11 ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) in a span of three months it will demanding and strenuous on the bodies of these fast bowlers. Selective trails, will be the key for the selectors who would definitely not want to risk any significant players just months before CT 2017.
CT 2017 is still nine months away, which going by cricketing standards is not far, and teams like Australia will be already quarter-way into their preparation. From listing out potential players to mincing out strategies against each opponent, Lehmann would have been crunching his fingers over keyboards day in and day out. A lot will be at stake for the World Champions. A second Champions Trophy, but more importantly honour and label of being the No.1 ODI team which the Australians decorate themselves with 24×7, 365 days a year.
(Vishal Mehra is reporter at CricketCountry, who enjoys his weekly dose of anime, and plays cricket once a white moon. His twitter handle is @capturethecatch )