Cricket World Cup: George Bailey’s replacement this week may end up playing in World Cup

GEORGE Bailey’s one-match ban is set to force Australia’s selectors to reveal who is in line to replace Michael Clarke in the World Cup squad.

GEORGE Bailey’s one-match suspension for slow over rates is set to inadvertently force Australia’s selectors to reveal who will replace Michael Clarke in the World Cup squad if he fails to meet his February 21 fitness deadline.

Bailey won’t play in Friday’s clash against England in Hobart after the ICC punished him for running well behind time during India’s innings on Sunday at the MCG.

It leaves Australia a captain and a batsman short, and the solution to both of those problems will be very revealing in terms of forward-planning for the World Cup.

Steve Smith and Brad Haddin are the two obvious contenders to take over the captaincy on Friday, with Smith heavily favoured followed his successful spell in charge of the Test side this summer.

BANNED BAILEY TO MISS HOBART ODI

ALL 14 WORLD CUP SQUADS IN FULL

While Bailey is still set to lead Australia for its World Cup opener while Clarke furiously works on rehabilitating his dodgy hamstring, if an injury should befall the Tasmanian then either Smith, Haddin or, at a pinch, Twenty20 skipper Aaron Finch will need to take charge.

However the most pressing matter for the selectors is who they should call into the squad for Friday’s clash.

With all-rounder Mitch Marsh still recovering from injury, the only spare players in the current squad are bowlers.

That means a specialist batsman will get the call, and Australia coach Darren Lehmann has admitted that same player is likely be the man to replace Clarke if his fitness race proves futile.

We look at the main contenders to get the call-up.

Cameron White in action for Australia’s T20 side last year. Picture: Brett Costello.

CAMERON WHITE

The Victorian veteran made the third-most runs in the Matador Cup, including two centuries. While he has been given recent opportunities in the T20 side, he hasn’t pulled on the green or canary yellow in a 50-over game since 2011. Once one of Australia’s very best limited-overs batsmen, White has experienced something of a renaissance over the past 12 months although his form in the current edition of the Big Bash is solid without being spectacular – 149 runs for Melbourne Stars at an average of 21.29.

Shaun Marsh last played one-day international cricket against England 12 months ago.

SHAUN MARSH

Marsh averaged almost 60 in the one-dayers against England last summer, but elbow and hamstring injuries have limited his opportunities in the 50-over game since. With 45 ODIs and three centuries next to his name, he is the most credentialed batsman outside the current squad. Also working in his favour is that he’s spent the past month with Australia’s Test squad and could slot back into the national setup fairly seamlessly.

Callum Ferguson is back in the mix for an international call-up. Picture: Colleen Petch.

CALLUM FERGUSON

The 30-year-old hasn’t played an ODI since 2011 when a serious knee injury put his international career on hold. Ferguson made an impression in his 30 ODIs — averaging more than 40 — but he hasn’t had a taste since. His form in the Matador Cup and Shield this summer was outstanding, averaging 54.57 in the former and 48.16 in the latter, but selectors could be loathe to throw him back into international cricket after such a long time between drinks.

Chris Lynn’s star looks ready to explode.

CHRIS LYNN

The Queenslander got a taste of international cricket last summer when he made his T20 debut for Australia against England. He will remain in the mix for Australia’s T20 side after a strong Big Bash season that culminated in a breathtaking 81 for Brisbane Heat last week, but Lynn has little one-day form to go on after missing the entire Matador Cup through injury.

Michael Klinger has been in good touch for Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash. Picture: Sarah Reed.

MICHAEL KLINGER

Klinger’s name is perennially on lists like this one but time is fast running out for the veteran batsman to make a splash on the international scene. The 34-year-old’s greatest asset is his dependability – an average of 45.66 in this summer’s Matador Cup and a one-day domestic career average of 46.76 attest to that – but Klinger also showed his explosive side with a memorable century for Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash late last year.

Originally published as Cricket World Cup: George Bailey’s replacement this week may end up playing in World Cup