It was a brilliant series victory for Australia against India in Indian conditions. The win would have certainly lifted their soul up, especially, ahead of the ICC World Cup 2019. Meanwhile, Shane Warne shares his thoughts on the Australian team and the return of Steve Smith and David Warner to the current team.
Shane Warne feels that Australia will be the major competitor in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019. He feels that the defending champions have found the balance at the right time, which would make a massive difference for the team.
The team has many match-winners – Shane Warne
He explained that the addition of Steve Smith and David Warner to the current batting unit will see a lot of match-winners in the side. Warne also believes that Australia found their confidence back with the series victory against India.
”Australia’s performance in the last 12 months in all forms has been ordinary, pretty poor. Just in the last month or so, the one-day team has really come together pretty well. When you look at the side there are so many match-winners Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Finch, you got Smith and Warner to come back in, young guys like Ashton Turner,” Shane Warne said.
Youngsters got a belief:
Further, he quoted that Australia got match-winners like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc in the bowling section. All in all, Warne feels that the confidence, which was gained by the players from India series would be a massive positive.
”You look at the bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc; there are some pretty amazing players in that side. But above all, they’re starting to find that belief again. Australian sides have always believed they can win from anywhere,” he added.
Steve Smith and David Warner will be hungry:
The swashbuckling players David Warner and Steve Smith are all set to end their ban period officially on March 29th. It will be the same day, which is scheduled for the 4th ODI game of the bilateral series against Pakistan. However, Australia decided to not include them in the side for the series.
”When they got their 12-month suspension, if you had to name the top-5 batsmen in the world at that time, you’d say Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Smith, Warner and probably Kane Williamson. Australia had two of the best five batsmen in the world. It was a huge loss but having them back, their class mixing with Finch, Stoinis, Maxwell, Turner — they all can win the game on their own,” he said.
He believes that Smith and Warner would be hungry to perform. Further, he went on to add saying that the people would be wrong if they feel the duo wouldn’t perform in the grand event.
”Smith and Warner will be hungry, fresh, raring to go, very determined and would want to let their bat do the talking. Look out for them, anyone who thinks Smith and Warner wouldn’t perform, you’re wrong,” he added.
IPL would be the best platform for their return:
Further, Shane Warne quoted that there would be no other platform, which would help Steve Smith and David Warner return to the game. He believes that the quality in IPL will aid the duo in obvious ways.
”Of course! Where else can they play? Practice matches, nets? They are playing in a proper competition, in the best T20 league in the world, against guys who will play in the World Cup. So it is fantastic preparation leading up to the World Cup, even if it is T20,” he concluded.
Well, it would be interesting to see how things would pan out for the duo. Meanwhile, as Shane Warne termed, Australia will certainly be one of the favourites to win the upcoming grand event.