The 12th edition of ICC Cricket World Cup is scheduled from 30 May to 14 July 2019 at England and Wales. A total of 45 league matches will be played between 10 teams, followed by 2 semi-finals and the final at Lord’s, London.
Australia has been the most successful team in the tournament, winning the championship 5 times (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015). The team went through a rough phase as captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner faced 12 months suspension for ball-tampering last year.
Aaron Finch took charge but the team lost subsequent series against England. After all ups and downs, the defending champions have found their rhythm again and it couldn’t be at a more perfect time.
Though Australia is at the 5th spot in ICC ODI Rankings, that doesn’t reflect their recent brilliant performance. The team won the ODI series against India by 3-2 and comfortably defeated Pakistan by 5-0.
The return of Smith and Warner to the team provides strength to the batting lineup. The department would be led by Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Warner, and Smith. Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis are the designated all-rounders in the squad.
Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins will spearhead the pace battery while Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa have been included in the 15-member squad as specialist spinners.
Complete squad:
Aaron Finch (c), Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa.
The team would begin their World Cup campaign against Afghanistan on June 1, 2019, at County Ground, Bristol.
