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Introduction

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is just around the corner, and all the cricket fans are eagerly waiting to see their favorite teams in action. One of the most successful and popular teams in the history of the tournament is Australia, who have won the trophy five times and reached the final seven times. Australia have a strong and balanced squad, led by Pat Cummins, who will be captaining the team for the first time in a World Cup. In this article, we will take a look at the Australia World Cup squad team, their key players, their recent performances, and their upcoming matches in the mega event.

AUSTRALIA World Cup Team List

The Australia World Cup 2023 squad team consists of 15 players, who have been selected based on their form and fitness in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League 2020-23, which was the primary qualification pathway for the tournament. The squad includes eight batsmen, four all-rounders, two spinners, and one fast bowler. Here is the list of the Australia World Cup squad team:

Captain

The captain of the Australia World Cup 2023 squad team is Pat Cummins, who is one of the best fast bowlers in the world. He has been playing for Australia since 2011, and has taken 164 wickets in 74 ODIs at an average of 26.76. Pat Cummins is also a handy lower-order batsman, who can score some quick runs when needed. He was appointed as the captain of the ODI team in March 2023, after Aaron Finch stepped down due to poor form and injury. Cummins has led Australia in 10 ODIs so far, winning six and losing four. He will be hoping to emulate his predecessors like Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, who have lifted the World Cup trophy as captains.

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Vice Captain

The vice captain of the Australia World Cup 2023 squad team is Steve Smith, who is one of the best batsmen in the world. He has been playing for Australia since 2010, and has scored 4702 runs in 132 ODIs at an average of 43.55. Steve Smith has also hit 11 centuries and 25 half-centuries in the format. He is a versatile player, who can bat at any position in the order, and can also bowl some leg-spin if required. Steve Smith was the captain of the ODI team from 2015 to 2018, but was banned for a year due to his involvement in a ball-tampering scandal. He returned to the team in 2019, and has been performing consistently since then. Smith will be supporting Cummins as his deputy, and will also be a key player for Australia in the World Cup.

Wicket Keeper

The wicket keeper of the Australia World Cup squad team is Alex Carey, who is also a reliable batsman in the middle order. He has been playing for Australia since 2018, and has scored 1339 runs in 49 ODIs at an average of 35.23. Alex Carey has also hit three centuries and six half-centuries in the format. He is a safe and agile keeper behind the stumps, who has taken 71 catches and effected 11 stumpings in ODIs. Alex Carey was also the vice captain of the ODI team from 2018 to 2021, but was replaced by Smith after Finch’s resignation. He will be looking to contribute with both bat and gloves in the World Cup.

Coach

The coach of the Australia World Cup squad team is Andrew McDonald, who is a former Australian all-rounder. He has played four Tests for Australia between 2009 and 2010, scoring 137 runs and taking six wickets. He has also played 95 first-class matches and 100 List A matches in his domestic career. Andrew McDonald has been coaching various teams since his retirement from playing in 2016, such as Leicestershire, Melbourne Renegades, Victoria, Rajasthan Royals, and Australia A. Andrew McDonald was appointed as the assistant coach of the Australian men’s team in October 2019, under head coach Justin Langer. However, in September 2023, Langer stepped down from his role due to personal reasons, and McDonald was promoted as the interim head coach for the World Cup. He will be aiming to guide Australia to their sixth World Cup title.

Best Batsman

The best batsman of the Australia World Cup squad team is David Warner, who is one of the most explosive and consistent openers in the world. He has been playing for Australia since 2009, and has scored 5455 runs in 128 ODIs at an average of 45.45. David Warner has also hit 18 centuries and 23 half-centuries in the format. He is a left-handed batsman, who can dominate any bowling attack with his aggressive strokeplay and quick running between the wickets. David Warner was the leading run-scorer in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, where he scored 647 runs in 10 matches at an average of 71.88. He will be looking to repeat his heroics in the World Cup 2023.

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Best Bowler

The best bowler of the Australia World Cup squad team is Mitchell Starc, who is one of the fastest and deadliest bowlers in the world. He has been playing for Australia since 2010, and has taken 184 wickets in 96 ODIs at an average of 22.12. Mitchell Starc has also taken seven five-wicket hauls and two four-wicket hauls in the format. He is a left-arm fast bowler, who can swing the ball both ways at high speeds and trouble any batsman with his yorkers and bouncers. Mitchell Starc was the leading wicket-taker in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, where he took 22 wickets in eight matches at an average of 10.18. He will be aiming to lead the Australian bowling attack in the World Cup 2023.

Fastest Bowler

The fastest bowler of the Australia World Cup squad team is Pat Cummins, who is also the captain of the team. He has been playing for Australia since 2011, and has taken 164 wickets in 74 ODIs at an average of 26.76. He has also taken three five-wicket hauls and six four-wicket hauls in the format. Pat Cummins is a right-arm fast bowler, who can clock speeds of over 150 kmph and generate bounce and seam movement on any surface. He is also a handy lower-order batsman, who can score some quick runs when needed. He will be leading from the front with his pace and skill in the World Cup 2023.

Best Spinner

The best spinner of the Australia World Cup squad team is Adam Zampa, who is one of the most effective and economical spinners in the world. He has been playing for Australia since 2016, and has taken 102 wickets in 67 ODIs at an average of 32.64. Adam Zampa has also taken one five-wicket haul and three four-wicket hauls in the format. He is a right-arm leg-spinner, who can deceive any batsman with his variations of googly, flipper, slider, and top-spinner. Adam Zampa is also a decent lower-order batsman, who can hit some big shots when needed. He will be providing the much-needed spin option for Australia in the World Cup 2023.

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2023 World Cup Matches and Venue

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 will be held in India from October to November, with a total of 48 matches to be played across nine venues. Here are the matches that Australia will play in the World Cup 2023:

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FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the Australia squad for World Cup 2023:

Q: Why is Aaron Finch not in the squad?

A: Aaron Finch, who was the captain of the ODI team until March 2023, was dropped from the squad due to his poor form and injury. Aaron Finch scored only 179 runs in 10 matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League 2020-23, with an average of 17.90 and a strike rate of 66.91. He also suffered a knee injury during the tour of West Indies in July 2021, which required surgery and a long recovery period. He was replaced by Pat Cummins as the captain and Josh Inglis as the opener.

Q: Who is Josh Inglis and why is he in the squad?

A: Josh Inglis is a 26-year-old wicket-keeper/batsman, who plays for Western Australia and Perth Scorchers in domestic cricket. He made his ODI debut for Australia in September 2023, against West Indies, and impressed with his batting and keeping skills. He scored 233 runs in five matches, with an average of 58.25 and a strike rate of 104.04. Josh Inglis also hit two centuries and one half-century in the series. He also took eight catches and effected two stumpings behind the stumps. He was selected as the backup wicket-keeper and opener for the World Cup squad.

Q: Who are the other players who missed out on the squad?

A: Some of the notable players who missed out on the squad are Matthew Wade, D’Arcy Short, Moises Henriques, Daniel Sams, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Riley Meredith, Andrew Tye, Nathan Lyon, and Ashton Turner. They were either out of form, injured, or overlooked by the selectors.

Q: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the squad?

A: The strengths of the squad are:

• A strong and experienced batting lineup, with players like Warner, Smith, Maxwell, Marsh, Carey, and Head.
• A potent and balanced bowling attack, with fast bowlers like Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, and Abbott, and spinners like Zampa and Agar.
• A versatile and dynamic set of all-rounders, like Green, Stoinis, Agar, and Marsh.
• A good mix of youth and experience, with players like Inglis, Green, Abbott, and Head adding freshness to the squad.

The weaknesses of the squad are:

• – A lack of a proven finisher in the lower order, who can score big runs in the death overs.
• – A dependence on Warner and Smith for scoring bulk of the runs, which can expose the middle order if they fail.
• – A vulnerability against quality spin bowling, especially on slow and turning pitches in India.
• – A pressure of expectations and history, as Australia have a reputation of being a dominant force in World Cups.

Q: What are the chances of Australia winning the World Cup 2023?

A: Australia have a good chance of winning the World Cup 2023, as they have a strong and balanced squad, a capable captain and coach, and a rich history of success in the tournament. They are currently ranked second in the ICC ODI rankings, behind India. They have also won four out of their last five ODI series, against India, New Zealand, England, and West Indies. However, they will also face tough competition from other teams like India, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and West Indies. They will have to play well as a unit, adapt to the conditions in India, and overcome their weaknesses to lift their sixth World Cup trophy.