As Travis Head concedes his ship has sailed, The Advertiser cricket writer Richard Earle runs the rule over Australia’s likely World Cup squad

A timely turnaround in Australia’s one-day form left selectors with ‘brutal’ decisions to finalise a 15-man squad for the World Cup defence, with Travis Head set to be among the unlucky ones. See Richard Earle’s preferred and predicted teams here.

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A timely turnaround in Australia’s one-day form left Justin Langer and selection boss Trevor Hohns with ‘brutal’ decisions to finalise a 15-man squad for Australia’s World Cup defence.

Hohns and coach Langer showed a ruthless streak in omitting Australia’s Test batsman of the summer Travis Head from the ODI set-up and the South Australian suspects his ship has sailed ahead of Monday’s team announcement.

Australia won nine consecutive games on the way to clinching the 2015 World Cup and can equal that record in the 2019 opener against Afghanistan in Bristol.

The full team will be confirmed at 9.30am (ACST) Monday April 15.

“I guess they are making it pretty easy for me not to be there,” said Head, the scapegoat for Australia’s 2-1 one-day series loss against South Africa last November.

Head doesn’t expect to be among the 15 names — that will include Steve Smith and David Warner — that chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns submits to the International Cricket Council.

“I am pretty sure I will be sitting on the sidelines the way they have been playing,” he said.

Head has watched Usman Khawaja dominate India and Pakistan opening with Aaron Finch and retains deep respect for Shaun Marsh’s prowess.

Australia's batsman Travis Head reacts after being dismissed by South Africa during the third one-day international cricket match in Hobart in November. Picture: WILLIAM WEST / AFP

Khawaja is the game’s most prolific batsman this year with 769 runs at 59.15 but was spared a confrontation with premier Proteas quicks Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada.

Peter Handscomb capitalised on his shot in the middle order with a maiden one-day ton against India in Mohali. Handscomb has played half of Head’s 42 one-day games but shares an identical 34 average.

“It was great to see Uzzie getting the amount of runs he did as play as well as he did. He showed his class and how good he is,” Head told The Advertiser.

“Shaun Marsh has four hundreds and three half centuries over his past 17 innings.

“You give you spot up and to the credit of the guys, Pete got a hundred then 60 and fit that role that I played and Uzzie at the top. Unfortunately I gave my spot away and they have taken it.”

Shaun Marsh was the only Australian specialist batsman to score a ton and average over 20 against the Proteas on spicy pitches but it was Head who was punished by selectors.

Head has no regrets about going to hard against a brilliant attack compared to the measured strategy Australia has since adopted.

“It is disappointing that I missed out in a few of games against South Africa. I felt like I had done a pretty good job but you can’t miss out three times in the Australian cricket team,” conceded Head (128) who put on the second highest opening one-day stand, 284, with David Warner (179) against Pakistan on Australia Day 2017 at Adelaide Oval.

“I am young and hopefully when another World Cup comes around I will be older and wiser, work on the things I need to work on.

“I have had opportunities, I don’t think about what if. I would love to be playing and hopefully around the corner I can get back in the team.”

The Advertiser cricket writer Richard Earle settled on his preferred Australian World Cup squad and predicts the list Hohns will submit to the International Cricket Council ahead of the tournament in England and Wales from May 30 to July 14.

Richard Earle’s preferred World Cup squad:

Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Shaun Marsh, Aaron Finch, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Kane Richardson.

Richard Earle’s predicted World Cup squad:

Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Aaron Finch, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Peter Handscomb, Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson (fitness pending), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Nathan Lyon, Nathan Coulter-Nile.

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja plays a shot during the fifth one day international cricket match between Pakistan in Dubai last month. Picture: MAHMOUD KHALED / AFP

BATSMEN

Usman Khawaja

Usman Khawaja has gone from one-day after thought to front-line opener over the past 12 months with 769 runs at 59 including two breakthrough tons. He’s unproven in England but anchoring with fluency from the top is essential in a competition format. Khawaja’s fitness and fielding has markedly improved over the past 18 months.

Glenn Maxwell

Australia has finally realised it must invest in the man with genuine X-Factor. Maxwell averages 45 over 10 games at No.7 but is generally wasted there. Maxwell has found a niche at No.6 averaging 42 this year. The Big Show can break a game open or save it. An astute leader, Maxwell’s off-spin will be pivotal in games where Australia chooses to play one specialist tweaker.

Steve Smith in action for Rajasthan Royals. Picture: SAJJAD HUSSAIN / AFP

Steve Smith

A batsman averaging 41 over 108 matches has a bulletproof case for inclusion but Steve Smith is no ordinary case. Sandpaper-gate and return from elbow surgery cast a question mark over the former Australian skipper. Smith averages 33.18 with no ton over 14 one-day matches in England. Peter Handscomb would be squeezed from Australia’s line-up to fit in Smith who has made the bulk of 2472 one-day runs at 52.6 occupying No.3.

David Warner

Former Australian vice-captain Warner showcased trademark firepower on return from a year ban in the Indian Premier League. Opener Warner is Australia’s premier limited overs batsman with 14 one-day tons over 106 matches at 43.3. Warner blasted 85, 69 and an undefeated ton at a whirlwind 176 strike rate on return for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Aaron Finch

Power-hitter Aaron Finch will start as skipper after saving his spot with an Australian record, five-match series run spree of 451 at 112.75 against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates. However Finch went 30 innings without a ton before a match-winning 116 in Sharjah. Finch has had issues against the moving, new ball away from docile pitches in the UAE. Finch could assume a middle order role with David Warner opening and has 394 runs at 39 in 11 matches in England since the 2015 World Cup.

Shaun Marsh

Veteran Shaun Marsh polarises opinion but boasts an impeccable record in England and case for inclusion in any Australian World Cup squad. Marsh averages 41 over 71 matches but 46 over nine starts in England. Marsh peeled two tons last June against World Cup favourites England in a side humbled 5-0.

Peter Handscomb

Selectors axed Peter Handscomb from the Test line-up but offered the Victorian Travis Head’s one-day spot as consolation and he cashed in with a maiden one-day century against India in Mohali. Handscomb is a fine player of spin but his technique will be tested against quality pace in English conditions. Versatility as back-up keeper to Alex Carey is destined to win a tick from selectors despite Steve Smith’s return.

Australian bowler Marcus Stoinis celebrates the wicket of Indian captain Virat Kohli during the fifth one-day international in New Delhi last month. Picture: Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

ALLROUNDER

Marcus Stoinis

Provides the passion and versatility every team needs. Employs aggressive hitting and seamers which will be suited to English conditions. The allrounder stood up when others couldn’t in Australia’s home series loss to India.

WICKET-KEEPER

Alex Carey

Legend Ricky Ponting rates Alex Carey Australia’s ‘best package’ as keeper-batsman and successor to skipper Aaron Finch. Carey can score from all angles at the top or as lower order finisher. Former AFL star Carey has only played 19 matches but his leadership skills are highly rated within the Australian hierarchy.

Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey against India last month. Picture: Prakash SINGH / AFP)

Australia cricketer Pat Cummins celebrates the wicket of India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan last month. Picture: Prakash Singh / AFP

BOWLERS

Pat Cummins

Australia’s World Cup defence will be built around its gun quick and burgeoning lower order batsman Pat Cummins. Australia will rely on Cummins for early breakthroughs with 150km/h swing and seam both ways backed by canny change-ups. Cummins has 17 wickets at 14.29 in six matches this year as the only front-line Australian paceman without injury concerns.

Mitchell Starc

Having found peak rhythm, Australia’s spearhead tore a pectoral muscle against Sri Lanka during February in Canberra. Australia needs Starc firing to defend the 2015 crown won with its left-armer taking a standout 22 wickets at 10. Starc is arguably at his best with the white ball gaining late swing into right handers as underlined by a career record of 145 wickets at 21.4. If Adam Zampa doesn’t clean up tails then Starc will.

Jhye Richardson in full flight against Pakistan. Picture: KARIM SAHIB / AFP

Jhye Richardson (pending fitness) / Kane Richardson

Having burst to prominence last summer, Jhye Richardson paid for his commitment with a dive that dislocated his right shoulder against Pakistan in Sharjah on March 24. Fast learner Richardson is striving for condition following an injury that usually requires a three month recovery period. Richardson is an automatic selection if fit offering 145/km pace and seam.

Nathan Coulter-Nile

Selectors keep coming back to Nathan Coulter-Nile despite managing 27 one-day matches over an injury dotted career since debuting against England at Cardiff in 2013. Coulter-Nile is a noted crisp hitter while the Western Australian’s fielding is top shelf which provides a compelling combination when fit. Coulter-Nile has 32 wickets at 24.8 in 17 matches since Australia’s 2015 World Cup triumph.

Adam Zampa

Walk up start for any successful Australia World Cup defence armed with a faster stock ball that turns sharply and solid wrong’un. Australia has recognised the path rivals have followed since the 2015 World Cup with quality wrist-spin the point of difference every attack needs. Zampa was distinguished by take downs of India kingpins Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni in Australia’s 3-2 one-day series win series last month where 11 wickets came at a frugal 5.35 economy rate.

Nathan Lyon

Trevor Hohns has spoken of Australia’s preference to take two specialist spinners to England. Lyon’s belated addition to the national one-day set-up this summer indicates a role in Justin Langer’s World Cup blueprint. Lyon has a stellar Test record for Australia but will want to improve on his 26 wicket tally at 44 over 25 sporadic one-day games since 2012.

Travis Head at the crease. Picture Sarah Reed

EXTRAS

Travis Head

Australia was positioning Travis Head for a key World Cup role until going cold on the left-hander following a resounding series loss to South Africa last November. Head has the best average, 57, of any current Australian batsman against England in England with four half centuries including an unbeaten 71 in the 2017 Champions Trophy at Birmingham. Only David Warner with 691 runs recorded more runs than Head’s 518 for Australia in 2017.

Kane Richardson

Kane Richardson is in career best limited overs form after finishing leading competition wicket-taker in Melbourne Renegades inaugural championship. The South Australian quick represents ideal cover for Jhye Richardson bowling at 140 clicks and new variations perfected over the past 12 months. Overcame a side strain to feature in Australia’s series win against Pakistan in the UAE last month.