Cricket World Cup: Australia should’ve picked a leg-spinner and named Steve Smith vice-captain, writes Ian Chappell

AUSTRALIAN selectors should have picked a leg-spinner in the 15-man World Cup squad and named Steve Smith as vice-captain, writes Ian Chappell.

AUSTRALIA struck a significant psychological blow against one of its main rivals in Group A of the World Cup by completing a comprehensive win over England at the SCG.

The Aussies were powered to victory by twin turbos. First it was the newly found confidence and aggression of pace bowler Mitchell Starc that set England on the path to ruin and the task was completed by the ebullient stroke play of David Warner.

Working on the theme proposed by Bob Hudson in his 1975 hit “The Newcastle Song” — never let a chance go by — Warner hammered the England bowlers to confirm the fast growing suspicion he’s now the complete batsman.

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Warner is a big reason why Australia is one of the favourites for the World Cup, as he heads a powerful batting line-up that will test the nerve of even the strongest bowling attack.

However, on this occasion Warner’s batting was overshadowed by Starc, who picked up from where he left off in the SCG Test.

Mitchell Starc was named man of the match in Australia’s comprehensive win over England.

His late swing did the early damage, but the fact that he again maintained his pace and aggressive approach must give the selectors comfort that if Mitchell Johnson is missing from the action, they have a well-credentialed spearhead to fill that role.

Australia is rightfully a favourite for the World Cup on the back of its powerful stroke making and a strong and varied pace bowling attack.

I only have two quibbles with the chosen World Cup squad of 15: the non-selection of a leg-spinner and Steve Smith not being vice-captain to take over in a situation where Michael Clarke doesn’t make the fitness deadline.

First the captaincy.

George Bailey doesn’t make Australia’s best side, which means if Clarke breaks down during a game then Smith will take over the captaincy. Why wouldn’t Smith then remain as captain of the side in Clarke’s continued absence?

In addition, Smith is the future leader of Australian cricket so why not give him as much experience as possible? The best way to improve as a captain is to do the job and learn from the mistakes you make.

I haven’t seen anything in Bailey’s captaincy that marks him as an above average leader and Smith — being younger and a far better player — has the greater upside as a skipper.

By choosing Bailey, the selectors may create a situation where, during the World Cup campaign, the captaincy could resemble a game of musical chairs.

As for leg-spinners, there’s always a need for one in Australian conditions. From Arthur Mailey, Bill O’Reilly and Clarrie Grimmett, to Richie Benaud, right on through to Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill, Australia has produced the most prolific leggies.

The need for leg-spin in Australia applies equally to 50-over cricket. At the previous World Cup held in Australia, Imran Khan, who was a great believer in leg-spin as an attacking weapon, utilised the talents of Mushtaq Ahmed to help him win the trophy.

Steve Smith was not named vice-captain of Australia’s World Cup squad. Picture: Mark Evans

Wickets in the middle overs are crucial in a 50-over game and a good attacking spinner can help provide those ambushes with spin and guile.

Xavier Doherty is a steady, slow bowler, but he relies on batsmen becoming impatient to claim his scalps. Doherty is one-dimensional; he’s good at containing the opposition, but good attacking spinners can also keep the opposition batsmen bottled up.

Adam Zampa may have been a gamble, but I felt he was a punt worth taking, especially as there are perilously few really good players of spin bowling at the moment.

Pakistan isn’t consistent enough to win the World Cup this time, but it has recalled the lessons of Imran by choosing the cagey leg-spinner Yasir Shah in its squad.

I doubt either of those selection choices will lose Australia the World Cup, but they may have made a difference to winning the trophy.

Xavier Doherty has been picked as AUstralia’s frontline spinner for the World Cup. Picture: Mark Evans

While England has some dangerous players, and Eoin Morgan adequately showed why he’s one of the most potent, it doesn’t have the wherewithal to open its World Cup winning account.

Australia’s biggest challenges will come from South Africa and India, with New Zealand a dark horse under the aggressive leadership of Brendon McCullum.

Australia is superior to all but India’s powerful line-up in batting and the pace bowling is the equal of South Africa’s talented triumvirate and better than the rest. Its fielding, which will be important on Australia’s bigger grounds, is athletic and includes some strong arms.

The one area where Australia can be bettered is in spin bowling.

As the summer heats up and the pitches are subjected to more wear and tear, this may become a factor and Australia’s achilles heel against spin is its biggest concern going into this World Cup.

Originally published as Cricket World Cup: Australia should’ve picked a leg-spinner and named Steve Smith vice-captain, writes Ian Chappell