Played down suggestions of David Warner moving down the order at the World Cup 2019, Australian great Ian Chappell has batted for the swashbuckling opener to open the innings with Captain Aaron Finch in the upcoming 50-over showpiece event in England.
The Australians selectors stuck in a dilemma over their top order choices for their title defense in England with Warner’s return and Usman Khawaja’s contribution to the side since March, as he has scored five half-centuries and reached triple figures on two occasions his last 10 innings.
However, Finch-Warner had also a lot of match-winning partnership for Australia in One Day cricket in the past before the ball-tampering scandal, and Chappell believes that the duo would be handy for the defending champions in English conditions, saying Australia should not waste the psychological advantage of having the dynamic left-hander at their top order.
Chappell, former Australia Test captain, cricket expert, has backed the 32-year-old to open the innings with Finch at the World Cup 2019, saying Warner makes opposing bowlers and captains nervous that’s an ultimate advantage the Aussies have right now, so they should not squander over the same.
On Sunday, 21st April, Chappell wrote in his column in News Limited newspapers, “Warner should step straight back to the opening partnership with skipper Aaron Finch. Any suggestion of Warner moving down the order is illogical.”
The commentator continued, “You don’t waste the psychological advantage the dynamic left-hander provides at the top of the order. As an opener, Warner makes opposing bowlers and captains nervous, and that is an advantage you don’t squander.”
While saying Khawaja's best value is as an opener, Chappell suggested the former captain Steve Smith to bat at number 3 at the World Cup 2019. He further added, “Khawaja's best value is as an opener, and therefore I’d bat Marsh at four, followed by all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis. That leaves Alex Carey to handle the wicketkeeping duties, followed by four frontline bowlers.”
Meanwhile, Australia is currently struggling with the fitness of their bowlers that makes a quite difficult to identify the four frontline bowlers for their 2019 World Cup campaign at the moment.
However, Chappell has picked Adam Zampa as his first-choice spinner along with Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc in his bowling attack while left Australia selectors to pick one of between Jhye Richardson, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Jason Behrendorff as third bowling option for the ICC event.
He continued, “Pat Cummins is a must, as is a fully fit Mitchell Starc. The third fast bowling spot will be a choice between Jhye Richardson, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Jason Behrendorff.”
Chappell signed off by saying, “Adam Zampa’s recent surge of the form should see him rated as the first-choice spinner. But with the likelihood the pitches will suffer from fatigue in the latter the tournament, Nathan Lyon could be included if a dual spin attack is considered the best option.”
Australia will kickstart their World Cup campaign against Afghanistan on June 1.
(With News Limited Inputs)
