Australia cruising at World Cup but there are areas that need fixing, writes Robert Craddock

Spin, Usman Khawaja and a third quick. Robert Craddock highlights the key issues Aaron Finch’s side must address if they’re to claim another piece of silverware.

David Warner and Aaron Finch are both making runs. Pic: Getty Images

• Aaron Finch: From self doubt to Cup killer
• Fielding fix: How Langer has sharpened Aussies
• Steve Waugh: Warner engine ready to purr

You don’t have to be perfect to win a Cricket World Cup. You just have to get it right on the night.

The Australian 50-over team is yet to strike the perfect formula but they are still winning and that is an ominous sign for rivals.

Australia are beautifully poised to strike, right down to the fact that the bookies haven’t even burdened them with the favourites tag which is owned by England.

Australia, however, has plenty of issues yet to be solved.

Here are the big questions which could decide the fate of Australia’s Cup defence.

Adam Zampa looks a good option. Pic: AP

Nathan Lyon hasn’t yet been called on. Pic: Getty Images

DOES AUSTRALIA NEED A SPINNER?

With Nathan Lyon kept on the bench and Adam Zampa dropped, Australia has turned to Glenn Maxwell and he has performed solidly despite not taking a wicket in four games.

It’s not a bad option but an in-form Zampa would be a better one. Australia does not want to get to a point where it sneaks through to the semi-finals without a spinner only to be greeted by India launching a 21-gun assault on Maxwell.

Hopefully Zampa can be cuddled back to form but every match he sits on the pine he is a game further away from finding the form he needs to threaten at the end of the tournament.

THE ALL-ROUNDER QUESTION

There have been whispers Marcus Stoinis was on the verge of bowling in the nets within the next 24 hours to test his injured side.

If he is ruled out of the tournament Mitchell Marsh would be promoted and you just never know what he might be capable of.

I know you have read that before but this time he would come in with little expectation and it might just be a bonus. He was shattered to miss this tournament in the first place.

CAN USMAN KHAWAJA AND SHAUN MARSH BOTH PLAY?

If they do there is something not quite right about team balance because it means no all-rounder at six.

Getting by without a pace-bowling all-rounder may be fine against Sri Lanka and Pakistan but you would be crossing your fingers and toes against the great batting swordsmen from England and India if you dared go in with a mid-strength attack.

Usman Khawaja is being shuffled around in the batting order. Pic: AFP

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH USMAN KHAWAJA?

He seems to have a new role … The Floater.

Khawaja has been coming to the wicket when Warner gets out to keep the left and right-hander mix.

Khawaja is yet top crack 50 for the tournament but it’s not a bad tactic so long as he can adjust to the elevator taking him up and down the order.

WHAT TO MAKE OF DAVID WARNER’S FORM?

Steve Waugh is right. Warner has been cruising up and down the highway in the family Bentley but is yet to take the Ferrari out of the garage.

The 50-over game was the one Warner found hardest to master, having being at ease with the “just hit don’t think” T20 game and the Test match game where he could choose whatever gear he liked so long as he did not get out.

Warner is the third highest run-scorer in the Cup (281 at 70).

His strike rate of 77 is the slowest of the top eight run-scorers and a throwback to more conservative eras but it’s no big deal.

If you didn’t know he had third, fourth and fifth gears it might be an issue but with Finch on fire at the other end its almost a bonus that he is proving solid rather than spectacular.

David Warner is making runs, but not yet with his usual gusto. Pic: AFP

WHO IS AUSTRALIA’S NUMBER THREE QUICK?

This could be the $64 dollar question that decides the fate of Australia’s Cup bid.

The shock omission of Mr Steadfast Josh Hazlewood is still being questioned.

Nathan Coulter-Nile, Kane Richardson and Jason Behrendorff are being trialled and watched closely.

All look serviceable but the pressure will rise to boiling point in the first hour of Australia’s likely semi-final appearance when they bowl the most important overs of their career.