{"id":185286,"date":"2023-10-05T06:26:42","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T06:26:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indiansapidnews.com\/?p=185286"},"modified":"2023-10-05T06:26:42","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T06:26:42","slug":"australias-all-rounders-key-to-another-wc-triumph","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indiansapidnews.com\/sport\/australias-all-rounders-key-to-another-wc-triumph\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia’s all-rounders: Key to another WC triumph?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australia’s aura as the all-conquering juggernauts of one-day cricket is long gone but captain Pat Cummins is optimistic that the abundance of all-rounders at his disposal in India will help them add another trophy to their collection.<\/p>\n

Australia picked up their first 50-overs title in 1987 before winning three in a row from 1999 to 2007. They picked up a fifth crown when they co-hosted the 2015 event with New Zealand.<\/p>\n

“I think we had a really strong run in the early 2000s,” Cummins told reporters on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

“I think one-day cricket is a format that’s really suited Australian teams of the past – not only taking the game on with the batting and having some good quick bowlers, but even in the field … They were amazing, really athletic.”<\/p>\n

“Hopefully we can carry it on. It’s a pretty good history we’ve had in World Cups. So hopefully another one.”<\/p>\n

With their fiery attack, formidable batting and electric fielding, Australia set the benchmark in 50-overs cricket during that era but reigning champions England have replaced them as the dominant limited-overs side, also winning the T20 World Cup in Australia last year.<\/p>\n

Cummins, in his first World Cup as Australia captain, is one of several frontline players returning from injuries but the 30-year-old says Australia have what it takes to win in India — an abundance of all-rounders.<\/p>\n

Australia have packed five of them into their 15-strong squad, including an in-form Mitchell Marsh, who is likely to be David Warner’s opening partner in the tournament until Travis Head recovers from a fractured hand.<\/p>\n

“We’ve played plenty of games over in South Africa, against India and even these warm-up games. It feels like it’s all come together in the last week or so,” Cummins said.<\/p>\n

“I think in ODI, you need a few all-rounders. And yeah, I feel pretty happy with where everyone’s placed at the moment.”<\/p>\n

Australia will begin their World Cup campaign against hosts India in Chennai on Sunday.<\/p>\n