TOPIC:

The main issue appears to be middle order batting and potential replacements for Smith, Labuschagne and Head due to retirement or injury. Renshaw could play in the middle order and Jewell did OK in the first innings of the Australia A match. Henry Hunt has been opening but he looks like he could bat 3 or 4. If Pucovski could get on the park he would be a good chance as well.

Some good white ball cricket being played in South Africa so far by the Aussies. The pleasing thing is how the charge has been led by some of the newbies, Sangha, Spencer Johnson, Short and Ellis have all been prominent. They will be pushing the established players for spots in the World Cup squad.  I've never seen Mitch Marsh in such good form and he is obviously enjoying captaining the white ball team.

Marnus has given the Australian selectors a huge headache with his performances in the ODI series so far. 80no as a concussion sub followed up by 124 last night. There is a place in the team for a batsmen like Labusagne but the question is can both he and Smith play in the same unit, given their similarities as players and the apparent strategy of the Australian side to play ODI cricket like T20s. Mind you, Marnus was going at a fair clip as well but he would be a good player to have in the side to cover collapses as per what happened in game 1.
 

remarkable early onslaught from Head in particular - looks like a plan is in place 
never seen Rabada get thrashed that much 
good to see Zampa getting wickets

Definitely no place for 2 keepers in the side.....Carey has lost his mojo with the gloves and bat since Lord's. Give Inglis the gloves and play another specialist bat I reckon. Doesn't make sense playing both TBH.

well it turns out the end of Warner might come to be because of the new Neckguard rule that come into effect next month
he has given evidence in court that he will not conform

see Stokes went to town on NZ last night - highest ever England score

looks to be a huge factor in the cup

The ODI squad just got a South African street mugging last night - an incredible last 15 over onslaught that not too much would have stopped 
Must have been an absolute freeway of a wicket 

Sadly the freeway ended at 250 odd for Aust. Difficult what to take out of these ODI WC warm ups for Aust. I guess the Aust v India warm ups will be more like for like WC wise. On face value looks like Aust are vulnerable depth wise with bat n ball. 

Not sure the logic behind Aust only using 5 bowlers during that 400 + onslaught the other night.....Zampa carving out a maiden 100 off ten overs....obviously, or should I say hopefully, a one off for the Aussie front line spinner. Carey comes to the party with a well made 99, I guess the law averages will always result in a decent knock eventually. Pity Inglis doesn't get the same life lines....

Head is a likely out, big loss for Aust if the case....more so out of pure scoreboard pressure....as I reckon this WC ODI, may see a few more Klaessen/ Stokes like innings occurring....geez who wants to be an ODI bowler these days....so set up for the batsman these days.

Not sure if Australia will have much impact at this World Cup. I think that the sub continent teams will boss it with England being the only team from outside the region to mount a challenge.
Marsh will probably replace Head at the top of the order with Marnus slotting into the middle order. The bowling is a concern although the return of Starc and Cummins will strengthen the pace bowling. Head will be missed not just for his batting but also his spinners that can fill in 4-5 overs in the middle of the innings.

 

the spin will be incredibly important in the real stuff - it will be opening the bowling in almost all matches over there
no way anyone will get SA or Australian-like wickets where it really comes onto batsmen so it's just been a practice net for Aust