Australia’s four-hour crisis meeting overhauled playing style which has saved World Cup defence

As recently as six months ago Australia’s World Cup defence was in disarray, with selectors struggling to agree on an XI and even a gameplan. Coach Justin Langer knew something had to change.

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Aaron Finch says Australia’s failure to copy England’s fearless batting game plan led to the dramatic overhaul that will tonight receive its fiercest test just two weeks out from the World Cup semi-finals. 

Coach Justin Langer — who hit out at Shane Warne’s claim that the Aussies can’t win the World Cup unless they find some middle-over dynamite — held a four-hour crisis meeting at Southbank’s Quay West Hotel last December to discuss the ODI plight.

Australia lost 22 out of 26 consecutive ODIs before the current run of 13 wins from 14 games and enters tonight’s blockbuster against England at Lord’s with its World Cup force field as strong as ever.

Justin Langer helped overhaul Australia’s strategy a mere six months out from the World Cup. Picture: Getty

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The Aussies dumped Twenty20 specialists Chris Lynn and D’Arcy Short and put a premium on wickets in hand after a pattern of entering the death overs with the tail exposed. 

Langer and Finch said the new formula would stand up under the heightened pressure of a World Cup. 

“In a bilateral series you can throw caution to the wind, but when two (World Cup) points are so valuable it’s tough to really free up and play that really high-risk game,” Finch said.

“We saw the scores that England were getting and we felt like we had to play the same way (last year).

“It's tough to play someone else's game — you have to be true to your game plan and what your style is.

 “You can go down the route of picking a T20-based side and hope for the best for 50 overs, but … in a World Cup I think we've got the balance well and truly right.”

The Chris Lynn experiment didn’t work for Australia. Picture: Getty

LISTEN UP! The Australia’s Peter Lalor joins the Cricket Unfiltered podcast to discuss Justin Langer’s stress levels, David Warner’s form and whether World Cup favourites England are choking.

England smashed Australia 5-0 last year and has won 12 of their past 14 clashes.

Usman Khawaja’s credits in 2019 still have him miles ahead of Shaun Marsh in Australia’s selection stakes while Nathan Lyon was never considered to play in front of Adam Zampa last game.

Langer rubbished talk either of those selection calls were close in a sign the 5-1 Aussies are just about settled on their best team, given third seamer Nathan Coulter-Nile has played all five games when fit. 

England will again be without Jason Roy, who failed to train on Sunday - 10 days after tearing his hamstring against West Indies.

England on Monday confirmed that James Vince will get one more chance at the top of the order.

England's Jason Roy (C) is again expected to be sidelined against Australia. Picture: AFP

Langer said Australia’s win against England in last month’s warm-up match uncovered some valuable match-up information.

But it is likely that one match-up Finch will be keen to avoid is Zampa bowling to anchor man Joe Root.

In 2019 the No. 3 batsman is averaging 47.7 runs against pace and 75.3 against spin.

Finch said there was added pressure on England, given the past two hosts lifted the trophy. 

Langer said England’s Jos Buttler was “the new (MS) Dhoni as he yet again shut down criticism that his middle order lacked enough firepower. Australia’s tournament run-rate of 6.48 ranks second.

“We just got 381 — it has been a long time since Australia got 381,” Langer said.

“There have been a lot of critics saying we can’t do that. It’s easy to be a commentator.”

Langer said Warner would not miss a game when wife Candice is induced for the birth of their third daughter, most likely on Sunday.

“He is really good company. I did not know Davey that well but he is good company, he is playing well (and) he loves his family.”