The Australian cricket team named a combined white ball team for the three ODI and three T20 Internationals that will take on India from November 27. Unlike their rivals, the Kangaroos have played an international series after the coronavirus pandemic, when they took on the English cricket team in a limited overs series in September.
They have managed to assemble a strong unit for the upcoming games, and here we look at the SWOT analysis of the side.
Australian ODI team squad
Aaron Finch (C), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (VC), Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Sams Andrew Tye, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Also Read: IND vs AUS: SWOT analysis of Indian cricket team for the ODI series
Strengths
Like all seasons, the Australian fast bowling attack is once again their biggest strengths heading into the short series. Led by Mitchell Starc, the attack also has Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Andrew Tye (replacing Kane Richardson, who opted out of the series), Daniel Sams, Cameron Green and Sean Abbot. Marcus Stoinis and Moises Henriques can chip in with some utility overs in the middle overs, and we have a well-rounded attack that can wreak havoc on their day. In Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa the side have quality spinners, with the latter, in particular, having a good record against the Men in Blue.
The openers David Warner and Aaron Finch have been in great form over the last few years in both the ODIs and T20 Internationals, and will be hoping to lead from the front yet again. Finch has donned the role of an aggressor of late, while Warner has taken on the responsibility of anchoring the innings. Despite Finch not being in the greatest form in the recent Indian Premier League, where he played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, the quick Australian wickets will see him back at his comfort zone, and we expect the Aussie skipper to lead from the front.
Weaknesses
The middle order is one of the team’s biggest weak links. Though Steven Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Moises Henriques, Matthew Wade and Glenn Maxwell have plenty of experience and seem strong on paper, there is no brutal ODI player who could tackle the spinners in the middle overs. There are not many batters who could rotate the strike and fetch the quick singles in the middle overs, and while there is a lot of promise, the middle order lacks variety and the presence of dynamic players.
Opportunities
The Australian side lost an opportunity to pick young guns, when they omitted players such as Josh Phillippe and Riley Meredith from the ODI and T20 International teams. From the training side, Nathan Lyon was left out as well. Though Cameron Green can be seen as a positive step, the inability of the Australians to pick talented youngsters and to let them go without giving them adequate number of chances reeks of confusion and is seen as a poor selection policy.
Threats
The biggest worry for the Australian team in the One Day International series will be the inability of the middle order to tackle the spin threat that the Indians are expected to unleash in the middle overs. Though Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Moises Henriques and Glenn Maxwell are mighty names on paper, they are prone to inconsistencies and will find it tough against Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja.
