Trevor Hohns Hints at Steven Smith, David Warner in the Mix for 2019 World Cup

May 29, 2019 at 7:22 PM

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Trevor Hohns Hints at Steven Smith, David Warner in the Mix for 2019 World Cup

Cricket Australia (CA) chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns on Friday (March 8) revealed there is a maximum of 19 names in the mix for Australia’s 2019 World Cup squad. In the lead up to the ODI showpiece in the United Kingdom (UK), banned duo Steven Smith and David Warner are expected to make a return in the quadrennial event. The multi-national competition will commence from May 30 in London

“I won’t nominate anyone at the moment but there’s still probably 18 or 19 names going around in my head. There’s still this lot, of course, there’s no doubt about that,” Hohns told CA in Ranchi.

Hohns also revealed the unchanged Aussie squad for the five-match One-day International series against Pakistan. The ODI leg will kick-off in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from March 22.

Hohns hint direct at Smith and Warner:

Trevor Hohns, 2019 World Cup
Trevor Hohns has backed Smith and Warner. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

With Smith and Warner missing the cut for Pakistan series, the duo recent picked elbow injuries during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). As of now, the star batters have been doing well ahead of the multi-nation event in England and Wales.

“We’ve got the other couple of boys that will everyone knows will be available again. And there’s still others back home on the sidelines that could consider themselves a chance. Ideally we’d like him in the UAE to play those games,” Hohns added.

On the other side, speedster Mitchell Starc is expected to make a return. But Josh Hazlewood is yet to recover from his back injury.

With less than three months for the kick off of the ICC tourney, Australia had plenty to work on owing to a batting front.

The National Selection Panel for Australia has backed Aaron Finch. He has returned to a form in Ranchi ODI by scoring 93 off 99 deliveries in the Ranchi clash.

With trio sidelined for Pakistan series at their adopted home, it could be a ploy only to spring a surprise in the ODI showpiece.

As far as the lifting of the ban is concerned, Smith and Warner will be exempted from the sanction on March 28.

Hohns indicated that there are vacant spots for the ODI showpiece.

As Australia would enter as the defending World Cup winners, the lack of match practice for Warner and Smith has had to be a major concern.

IPL to help Smith and Warner:

David Warner, Steven Smith, 2019 World Cup
Smith and Warner had won games for Australia. Photo Credit: Getty Images

While lavishing praise on Smith and Warner, Hohns stressed that they’re supposed to feature in the competitive cricket. He said the duo had done exceedingly well for Australia over the years. And he would be happy to see them doing well.

Hohns hinted the Indian Premier League (IPL) would also play its part in deciding the fate of banned Aussie stars. The faced sanctions in the wake-up of the ball-tampering saga in Cape Town, last year.

“It’d be nice to see them perform but it’s just a matter of playing. We all know they’re two of the better players in world cricket. The main thing for them and us is to have them playing competitive cricket,” Hohns inferred.

Australia has seven matches to play before announcing their 15-man World Cup squad by or before April 23.

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