Australian captain Michael Clarke is confident a Shane Watson-less batting order is still strong enough to win the World Cup.
Former Test batsman Michael Slater questioned whether the line-up was looking a little light on for experience with Watson on the sidelines, even though Australia’s record 275-run win against Afghanistan in Perth suggested otherwise.
Last week against quality opposition in New Zealand, Australia were rolled for just 151 and that was with Watson posting 23, the third highest score of the innings.
The shock dumping of Watson pushed superstar Steve Smith to No.3, but means that Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh are now at five and six.
If a platform is laid up front as it was by David Warner and Smith against Afghanistan, then Maxwell and Marsh are the perfect men to take the total to another level.
But the acid test could come in an elimination game should Australia lose early wickets as they did in Auckland.
Clarke says the Australian 15-man squad is so strong he has faith in whatever combination selectors give him.
“I’m confident with every player in this squad. If they get an opportunity they’ll grab it with both hands,” he said.
“Whatever the XI the selectors give me, my job is to get the best out of them.”
Clarke has been a teammate of Watson’s for the majority of the all-rounder’s 182 ODI games for Australia.
The skipper said Watson handled his axing with class.
“I thought Watto handled it really well,” he said.
“It’s obviously a tough decision for the selectors. But I thought the way he contributed still today – he had a really good hit in the nets today. He’s been fantastic around the group all day.”
Aside from Watson’s demotion, the most controversial aspect of last night’s match at the WACA was Clarke’s decision not to bat himself.
Despite spending precious little time in the middle since undergoing hamstring surgery, Clarke elected to promote the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh and Brad Haddin ahead of him to keep the run-rate ticking towards the World-Cup record-breaking total of 6-417.
It was selfless by the skipper, but a risky decision as he searches for runs before the quarter-finals.
“There was no doubt I wanted to bat, but I thought it was in the best interests of the team (to send others in),” he said.
“I kept my pads on. I was in next until about 11 or 12 overs to go. And I thought there was an opportunity for us to really have a crack at that world record for Australian teams in the World Cup.
“The decision was based on what was best for the team.”
