Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood has said that the team doesn’t need more spinners in India, despite losing six wickets to spin in their opening defeat to the hosts at the Cricket World Cup 2023.
Australia’s decision to go with only one frontline spinner in their World Cup squad has been questioned by many, after they were skittled out for 199 in their opening match against India. However, Hazlewood, who was Australia’s best bowler in the match with two wickets, has defended the team’s selection, saying that they have enough quality spinners in their ranks.
“I think we’ve got the right balance in our squad,” Hazlewood said. We have a few all-rounders who can spin the ball, and we also have Ashton Agar, a talented spinner. I think we’re well-covered in that area.”
Why does Australia think they don’t need more spinners?
There are a few reasons why Australia may think they don’t need more spinners in their squad. One reason is that they have a very strong pace attack. Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins form one of the most dangerous bowling trios in the world, and they are all capable of taking wickets in Indian conditions.
Another reason is that Australia have a number of all-rounders in their squad who can spin the ball. Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh can both bowl effective spin, and they can also provide some much-needed depth to the batting lineup.
Finally, Australia also have Ashton Agar in their squad, who is a quality spinner. Agar has played 50 ODIs for Australia, and he has taken 63 wickets at an average of 26.00. He is also a handy batsman, and he can provide some valuable balance to the team.
What are the risks of not having enough spinners?
The main risk of not having enough spinners in India is that the team could struggle to take wickets in the middle overs. Spin is typically the most effective way to bowl in India, as the pitches tend to be dry and dusty. If Australia don’t have enough spinners, they could find it difficult to break partnerships and restrict the opposition’s scoring.
Another risk is that the team could be over-reliant on their pace bowlers. Hazlewood, Starc, and Cummins are all world-class bowlers, but they can’t bowl all the time. If they are overworked, they could be susceptible to injury.
Conclusion:
Australia’s decision to go with only one frontline spinner in their World Cup squad is a risky one, but it is one that they are confident in. They believe that their pace attack and all-rounders are good enough to take wickets in Indian conditions. However, if the pitches are particularly dry and dusty, they could find themselves struggling to take wickets and restrict the opposition’s scoring.
Additional thoughts:
It is important to note that Australia’s decision to go with only one frontline spinner is not without precedent. In the 2019 World Cup, England won the tournament with only one frontline spinner in their squad. However, it is also worth noting that England played on some very good batting pitches during that tournament.
In India, the conditions are likely to be more challenging for batsmen, and Australia may find that they need more spinners in their lineup. If they are able to get some early wickets, they may be able to get away with playing with only one frontline spinner. However, if they struggle to take wickets early on, they could find themselves in trouble.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to play more spinners will come down to the conditions and the team’s form. If the conditions are particularly challenging for batsmen, and Australia are struggling to take wickets, they may need to reconsider their selection.