Title says it all... what does your nation need to do to win in Sri Lanka in 2012? Who will you pick? What holes do you need to fill and what weaknesses do you need to cover?
For Australia, there are a few questions to answer:
1) Michael Clarke - Thankfully he's admitted his batting is not cutting the mustard and that means he's surely going to try and improve his game. The good news for him is that since he's ditched his high maintenance fiancee, he should have plenty of time to play IPL next year. I see a reunion with Warney on the cards. He needs to come up with a better gameplan. Anyway, he's basically got 2 years to sort out his game, I hope the selectors give him a chance to, because he's a good captain, handy bowler and good in the field. If he gets that batting sorted, he's a good player to have.
2) Balance/extra bowling depth - I love Shane Watson, but unfortunately, once his bowling got carted in the last couple of games there was no one else to turn to. And in 2 years time, I can't see Watson being a better bowler and it's possible he'll be starting to give away bowling altogether by then. To me the easy fix is move Steve Smith up to #7. Smith's batting (and bowling) will be better in 2 years and he can play as the 5th bowler with 4 specialists below him - some of whom need to be able to bat a bit of course. If the pitches in SL are turning then you play a spinner as one of those 4 specialists.
3) Squad turnover - who will still be available for selection in 2 years? Mike Hussey surely won't be. Dirk Nannes will also be over 35. Dave Hussey and Brad Haddin will be creeping towards 35 as well. Personally, I'd be dropping Haddin from T20s, I don't think anyone should play all 3 formats when they get past 30. For bowlers it's a little harder to project for, particularly the express bowlers that Australia employs. Mitch J would be 30 and Taity almost 30. Is 2012 too far away for them? Maybe, particularly for Taity.
So here's a possible XI for the 2012 World Cup:
1. Davey Warner
2. Tim Paine (wk)
3. Shane Watson
4. Cameron White (c)
5. Michael Clarke?/Dave Hussey?/other middle order: Bailey, Birt, Cosgrove, Voges/Mitch Marsh? Shaun Marsh too, perhaps with a bit of reshuffling.
6. Callum Ferguson - the new Mike Hussey
7. Steven Smith
8. Mitchell Johnson - John Hastings might be a shot for the bowler who can bat slot if Mitch is off the rails by then. Dan Christian if his bowling improves a bit more.
9. Nathan Hauritz/other spinner: Xavier Doherty/Jon Holland/Aaron Heal/whoever...
10. A quickie: Tait, Bollinger, Cutting, Siddle, Hilfenhaus, McKay, Rimmington
11. A 2nd quickie from the above list.
For Australia, there are a few questions to answer:
1) Michael Clarke - Thankfully he's admitted his batting is not cutting the mustard and that means he's surely going to try and improve his game. The good news for him is that since he's ditched his high maintenance fiancee, he should have plenty of time to play IPL next year. I see a reunion with Warney on the cards. He needs to come up with a better gameplan. Anyway, he's basically got 2 years to sort out his game, I hope the selectors give him a chance to, because he's a good captain, handy bowler and good in the field. If he gets that batting sorted, he's a good player to have.
2) Balance/extra bowling depth - I love Shane Watson, but unfortunately, once his bowling got carted in the last couple of games there was no one else to turn to. And in 2 years time, I can't see Watson being a better bowler and it's possible he'll be starting to give away bowling altogether by then. To me the easy fix is move Steve Smith up to #7. Smith's batting (and bowling) will be better in 2 years and he can play as the 5th bowler with 4 specialists below him - some of whom need to be able to bat a bit of course. If the pitches in SL are turning then you play a spinner as one of those 4 specialists.
3) Squad turnover - who will still be available for selection in 2 years? Mike Hussey surely won't be. Dirk Nannes will also be over 35. Dave Hussey and Brad Haddin will be creeping towards 35 as well. Personally, I'd be dropping Haddin from T20s, I don't think anyone should play all 3 formats when they get past 30. For bowlers it's a little harder to project for, particularly the express bowlers that Australia employs. Mitch J would be 30 and Taity almost 30. Is 2012 too far away for them? Maybe, particularly for Taity.
So here's a possible XI for the 2012 World Cup:
1. Davey Warner
2. Tim Paine (wk)
3. Shane Watson
4. Cameron White (c)
5. Michael Clarke?/Dave Hussey?/other middle order: Bailey, Birt, Cosgrove, Voges/Mitch Marsh? Shaun Marsh too, perhaps with a bit of reshuffling.
6. Callum Ferguson - the new Mike Hussey
7. Steven Smith
8. Mitchell Johnson - John Hastings might be a shot for the bowler who can bat slot if Mitch is off the rails by then. Dan Christian if his bowling improves a bit more.
9. Nathan Hauritz/other spinner: Xavier Doherty/Jon Holland/Aaron Heal/whoever...
10. A quickie: Tait, Bollinger, Cutting, Siddle, Hilfenhaus, McKay, Rimmington
11. A 2nd quickie from the above list.
