Australia look wobbly

The Australians announced their team today and it’s pretty much as expected.

Rating these guys on a scale of 1 to 10 for ODI record (A), current form (B) and experience in World Cups (C), we shall find out how strong they really are.

Let’s go:

Squad: Ricky Ponting (capt), Adam Gilchrist (wk), Nathan Bracken, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin (wk), Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson.

The Batting: 7.5/10

Ricky Ponting: Without doubt the best batsman in the world today. Add to this the fact that he can captain well and you have two players in one. But a recent niggling injury may just play truant. One doubts it, but you never know. He is Australia’s best bet for retaining the title.

Score: A=8; B=7; C=9. Total: 8

Adam Gilchrist: A true all-rounder, he hasn’t had the best of seasons so far and could well be one of the weak links at the top. Having said that, he has trememdous experience and can definitely take care of himself.

Score: A=8; B=6; C=8. Total: 7.3

Michael Clarke: He is the next big thing in Australian cricket and also a potential captain. But the fact that he was not chosen as captain for the short tour of NZ may be a signal that he’s not yet ready. After a brief hiatus last year, he’s back and among the runs. He will be someone to watch out for.

Score: A=8; B=7; C=N/A. Total: 7.5

Matthew Hayden: The old warhorse. He has been there and done it all. And perhaps that’s why the hunger seems to be missing. Is this a wrong choice by the Aussie selectors? At the moment, he seems to be the weakest link in the Australian side. His World Cup record too isn’t the greatest.

Score: A=7; B=6; C=6. Total:6.3

Michael Hussey: The man to watch out for. Energetic in the field and tremendous finisher with the bat. Hussey can win matches that seem lost. He’s the new Bevan, really!

Score: A=9; B=8; C=N/A. Total: 8.5

The Bowling: 7/10

Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson: The bowling does look a little weak this time, no? Only McGrath and Lee have any real experience of a World Cup and the recent tri-series in Australia showed us that the Australian bowling can be ‘beaten’. On the whole, this is a weak bowling attack and will sorely miss someone like a Warne or even the experience of Gillespie.

Score: A=7; B=7; C=6. Total: 6.33

Nathan Bracken: He is good. No doubt. And that his record outside Australia is just as good as that at home augurs well. No prior World Cup experience can also be a good thing since the hunger is there.

Score: A=8; B=7; C=N/A. Total: 7.5

The Brads: 7/10

Brad Haddin (wk), Brad Hogg, Brad Hodge: Three players with the same first name and initials! What are the odds! Honestly, Hodge deserves his place for recent performances, even though I feel he is highly overrated and hasn’t been really tested against spin. Hogg is a moody performer and cannot be relied upon as the main spinner and Haddin will perhaps only be a tourist barring the odd unimportant game.

Score: A=7; B=7; C=N/A. Total: 7

Verdict:

A rating of 7 for an Australian team may look below par but that’s because it is. I am not convinced this is the best team Australia has sent to the World Cup. Yes some players have retired and some are just woefully out of form. Damien Martyn, for instance, will be badly missed.

Prediction: Semi-finals at best, I say. Be prepared for a new World Champion.