Australia announced an 18-member provisional squad in August for the ICC World Cup 2023. Later, one month ahead of the tournament, in September 2023, they finalized their squad by trimming it down to 15 players. Although Australia started the World Cup with two losses, they still have a chance to come back with their abundance of all-rounders and top orders.
Australia Squad for ICC World Cup 2023
Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.
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Australia Men’s ODI Squad Analysis for World Cup 2023
Australia's World Cup team is packed with amazing batters who can really give a hard time to any bowling team. Even though Travis Head is injured, there is still Mitchell Marsh, a super-talented player. He can give the Australian team a powerful start with his awesome batting skills when he opens the game.
The Australian team's strong suit is definitely its batting. There is a lot of depth, with skilled hitters all the way down to the ninth spot in the lineup. David Warner, who is in great form, is geared up for his last ODI tournament and has given an average performance in the first two matches of the World Cup. But he still has a chance to give his best. Warner finding his form ahead of the 2023 World Cup is a positive sign for Australia. Given his extensive experience and impressive batting record, the team hopes he will put a lot of pressure on the opposing bowlers.
Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell are two key players with the experience of leading Australia to victory in the 2015 World Cup. While they have not had a stellar year in terms of runs, underestimating them could be a mistake for other teams.
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An aggressive bowling attack is another strength of Australia. There is no doubt that Australia has one of the top-notch pace attacks in the 2023 World Cup, led by Mitchell Starc. Starc is a force to be reckoned with, boasting an exceptional record in World Cups. With an impressive collection of 39 wickets in 17 matches, the 33-year-old is the fifth-highest wicket-taker in World Cup history. Starc is just 19 wickets away from surpassing Glenn McGrath's record as the bowler with the most wickets in the 50-over World Cup.
In addition to the usual fast bowlers, Green and Stoinis can also contribute with the ball. Stoinis has taken 44 wickets in 64 one-day matches. Similarly, Green has impressed with 16 wickets in 21 games played for the national team, proving to be a valuable asset in the bowling department.
While Australia has a competitive edge in batting and fast-blowing, they are lagging behind in the spin department. Indian pitches are famous for favoring spinners. Adam Zampa stands out as the go-to spinner in the squad, known for taking crucial wickets and keeping the runs in check. Unfortunately, Ashton Agar is unavailable due to a calf injury. If Zampa doesn't perform in any of the World Cup matches, Australia might face a shortage of quality options in the spin department.
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Key Australian Players to Watch in World Cup 2023
Marnus Labuschagne
Marnus Labuschagne, the reigning ICC Test Player of the Year, has smoothly adapted to the ODI format, showcasing his batting excellence. Accumulating over 1,000 runs in ODIs in 2023, Labuschagne's outstanding form highlights his considerable talent. Serving as the leader of Australia's campaign, he aims to guide the team to their sixth World Cup title. He already scored 73 runs in two World Cup matches.
Adam Zampa
Adam Zampa is the sole specialist spinner in Australia's World Cup squad. Since the start of 2022, he has claimed 46 so far wickets in the 50-over format. Zampa played a key role in Australia's ODI series win against India in March 2023.
Despite facing a loss with an expensive spell that led to an unfortunate record in a recent ODI loss to South Africa in September 2023, the 31-year-old bounced back impressively. In the lead-up to the World Cup, he redeemed himself by taking six wickets in his last three matches before the tournament.
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Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc is renowned as one of the fastest bowlers globally, and his ability to grab key wickets is well-known. In the 2019 World Cup, he showcased this talent by securing 27 wickets, earning him the Player of the Tournament award. Starc is determined to replicate that success in the upcoming 2023 World Cup.
David Warner
The iconic Australian opener, David Warner, is appearing in the last World Cup of their career and might announce his retirement from ODI cricket afterward. Warner holds a key role in the Australian playing XI, and his impressive stats in limited-overs cricket in India significantly boost the team's confidence. As an opener, Warner is anticipated to provide Australia with a dynamic and strong start in the tournament. In 2023, he played 11 matches and scored 444 runs. So, he needs to give his regular performance to keep Australia’s hope alive.
Final Words
The Australian team clinched their first World Cup title in India back in 1987, defeating England at Eden Gardens. So, Australian fans are hopeful that Pat Cummins can lead the team to a similar victory on November 19th at Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium. But, the two losses have already distracted their track. However, Aussies still have a chance to come back. While Cummins has shown his leadership skills in other formats, he has yet to prove himself in the ODI format. With a strong squad at their disposal, Australians aim to secure their sixth World Cup title, setting high expectations among their supporters.