Champions Trophy 2017: Predicted XI of Australia

Australia is entering the competition as World Champions. There will surely be some added pressure because of that tag. Anyhow, the Australian team is immune to pressure it seems. They have won the biggest competition in cricket 4 times and know how to win such competitions.

Darren Lehmann has transformed this young team into a squad of champions as he has immense belief in them. Like India and England, they are also in contention to win the competition. This is mainly because of the squad they have. It is a brilliant squad with some huge names in it.

It will be interesting to see how they lineup for the Champions Trophy. They have 4 of the best fast bowlers and some amazing batters. For now, we have predicted our eleven. Let us have a look.

Openers (David Warner and Aaron Finch)

Aaron Finch and David Warner are the obvious choices for the openers’ slots. However, Chris Lynn gives a tough fight for the spot but Finch will get the green signal because of his experience. This pair is as destructive as it gets. It is the best left-hand, right-hand combination you can get in world cricket.

Aaron Finch scored a fantastic century in the warm up game. He is a destructive batter and a strong lad. He likes to get on with the things and does not take a lot of time to settle down. Finch has a fantastic record in limited overs cricket and will be important to Australia.

David Warner is the vice-captain of the team that gives him the added responsibility. Warner has given Australia many good starts and they will be hoping for some more from this veteran southpaw. Warner will look to carry his form from the IPL to the Champions Trophy.

Middle order (Steven Smith, Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell)

The middle-order of Australia is a mixture of explosive batting and some good patient batting. Steve Smith can up the ante as well but his normal game is to build the innings. Steve Smith will probably be the anchor of the Australian innings. Smith has shown immense quality already this year and is in the form of his life. He will be the man who would take the Australians forward this year.

Travis Head will most probably play according to the situation as he has the ability to adapt to the situation. He showed his class in one of the innings in the IPL for RCB when he dug deep and scored some 70 odd runs to help his team to a commendable total. Head is probably on the team because he is capable of batting in any situations.

Glenn Maxwell knows only one way and there is no point in asking him to go against it. He is at his best when he is attacking. Glenn Maxwell is kind of a two in one player. He can bowl a few overs in the middle if any bowler is struggling. He is the trump card Australia will use to good effect. The only question that remains is will Maxwell be able to deliver? We will have to wait and find out.

Lower Middle Order (Matthew Wade and Mitchell Starc)

Matthew Wade will be the wicket-keeper and Mitchell Starc is someone who can hit a few and he has shown his batting skills in the series against India as well. Both of them are proven international cricketers and have enough experience to tackle any situations. Wade is aggressive naturally but also can build his innings if required. Wade has performed well in the limited overs cricket. His experience will also help Steve get his decisions right.

Starc is more of a utility player as he is more of a bowler but has pretty good hands when it comes to batting. Starc will bat deep and can attack if needed and also has the ability to defend well if the situation demands. Australia would like to fancy their chances as with four fast bowlers as they have got enough firepower with the bat and it won’t hurt to have an extra bowling all-rounder like Mitchell Starc.

Bowlers (James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins andAdam Zampa)

James Pattinson went for a few runs in the warm-up game. However, the team management and the selectors have immense faith in him. He is more of a swing bowler and knows his trait pretty well. He attacks the batter and hits the bat hard. Currently struggling with form but once he finds his rhythm he can be a dangerous bowler.

Josh Hazlewood relies more on accuracy. Hazlewood would hit the spot continuously building the pressure. Hazlewood has proved his worth many a times. He is probably one of the most consistent bowlers in the Australian team. He is not super quick but sticks to one length and doesn’t allow the batsman to score off easily.

Cummins is similar to Starc in terms of aggression and pace and will look to replace him while the latter is having a breather. Cummins is very fast and just when Starc would finish firing, this guy would come in and bowl with the same speed and intensity. Both these bowlers are the main wicket-takers for Australia. Cummins is coming off after a good season with the Delhi Daredevils and has learned a lot under Zaheer Khan.

Adam Zampa will be the only regular spinner. Wrist spinners are dangerous on any wicket and Zampa’s unpredictability would do wonders to him as well. Zampa will look to get his overs through the middle of the innings and wickets will be a bonus for him. Zampa is not a big turner of the ball but he has a terrific googly which can deceive any batter. He will be used intelligently by the skipper.