Mark Waugh discusses World Cup squad; Bancroft back with a bang

The list of leading runscorers in this year’s Indian Premier League is an emphatic case for David Warner’s position at the World Cup.

Australian coach Justin Langer has welcomed the top-order selection dilemma posed by the return of David Warner as offering “fantastic flexibility” to the team ahead of the World Cup.

But cricket great Mark Waugh says Australia’s opening pair isn’t up for debate.

The return of Steve Smith and Warner from their year-long bans for ball-tampering has left selectors in a quandary, with openers Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja building a formidable partnership in recent one-day internationals.

Warner has been in blistering touch in the Indian Premier League and typically opens the batting.

Langer said it was a welcome problem to have all three potential openers firing. “We have amazing flexibility now,” he told Melbourne radio SEN.

“Usman and Finchy have done an incredible job opening the batting. David and Finchy have done a great job in the past doing it,” he added.

But Waugh, who opened the batting for Australia at the 1999 and 2003 World Cups, said the recent success of the Khawaja-Finch partnership shouldn’t be overvalued.

“I think Finch and Warner will open — I would definitely open with Warner,” he said.

“There has been talk about Khawaja and Finch opening because they did it in Pakistan but that was on very flat pitches against a mediocre attack.

“Warner for my liking is the key, he’s going to attack and could win us the game.”

WARNER BLITZ

Leading IPL run scorers this season.

Player Runs Ave SR

1 David Warner (H’bad) 450 75.0 145.2

2 KL Rahul (Punjab) 387 64.5 127.7

3 Jonny Bairstow (H’bad) 365 52.1 153.4

4 Chris Gayle (Punjab) 352 50.3 155.1

5 Andre Russell (Kolkata) 312 78.0 213.7

Other Australians

16 Chris Lynn (Kolkata) 212 30.1 134.2

24 Steve Steve (Rajasthan) 186 37.2 107.5

32 Shane Watson (Chennai) 142 15.8 110.9

42 Marcus Stoinis (Bangalore) 102 51.0 134.2

Australia named their World Cup squad on Monday with middle order batsman Peter Handscomb “brutally unlucky” to have to make way for Smith.

“Steve Smith we felt would probably be able to play that role that Pete has done so well for us,” Langer said.

The decision to drop Handscomb also means the team only has one wicketkeeper in Alex Carey.

Waugh backed the call to drop Handscomb and promote Smith but said he doesn’t believe the former skipper is an automatic selection for the Aussies.

“Peter Handscomb can count himself unlucky after he played well in India and Pakistan,” Waugh said.

Waugh declared the team’s recent eight-match winning streak did not carry enough weight to keep Warner and Smith out.

“They’re two great players, realistically you would think they are better than the guys that were in there ... you have got to pick them,” he said.

“Smith is struggling a bit in the IPL but Warner is playing well.

“I don’t think Smith is an automatic selection, it will depend on form leading up to the World Cup.”

BANCROFT BACK WITH A BANG

The other Aussie cricketer banned for ball-tampering, Cameron Bancroft, showed he’s still a long-term limited overs prospect with an unbeaten and match-winning 151 on his one-day debut for Durham to begin repaying the English county’s faith in him.

“Hopefully (I’m winning the crowd over). I’m just going out there to enjoy my cricket and to enjoy playing for Durham. Hopefully, making some runs and if that’s going to win them over, fantastic,” he said.

Bancroft was banned for nine months after being caught in the Australia ball-tampering scandal during their tour of South Africa last year.

After returning in Australia’s Big Bash League in December, and playing a role in the back end of Western Australia’s current Sheffield Shield campaign, Bancroft has joined up with Durham with a view to making Australia’s Ashes squad.

Durham, now under a new Australian director of cricket in Marcus North, attracted criticism in some quarters when they recruited Bancroft.

But the 26-year-old was controversially appointed Durham captain and, making his maiden limited overs appearance for the northeast side, Bancroft piled up the runs in their 72-run win at home to Northamptonshire in a One-Day Cup match at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday.

“Winning always creates a nice feeling,” Bancroft told the Northern Echo. “The guys have been working hard so it’s nice to start this tournament really well and personally it was nice to get some runs.”

Bancroft, who played in the 2017-18 Ashes, plundered five sixes and eight fours in a 188-minute stay at the crease.

Together with Michael Richardson, he put on 208 for the fourth-wicket before the latter was ousted in the final over.

Durham went on to score 342 for five from their 50 overs.

— with AFP