Captain Aaron Finch selected Jhye Richardson, Josh Philippe and Cameron Green as players on Australia’s radar as part of their plans for the next 50-over World Championship for men.
As the immediate grilling schedule is changing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia’s Brain Trust has spent the off-season drafting a one-day cricket design before the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.
Finch admits that the Australians were “a little late” before last year’s tournament in England, where they reached the semi-finals despite a horror run in the past few years that included just four wins in 26 games.
The skipper wants things to change this time around and has identified the West Australian trio of Richardson, Philippe and Green as part of the next generation of players who could play a role in the next World Cup.
The 23-year-old Paceman Richardson has already announced himself on the international stage and would like to be active again this summer after undergoing another operation on his problematic right shoulder recently.
The 23-year-old wicket keeper batsman Philippe had a great influence on the KFC BBL with Sydney Sixers and was the player of the game in the Big Bash final earlier this year.
Green has already received high praise from people like Ricky Ponting and test skipper Tim Paine, who said last week that Australian cricket can be “very excited” about the potential of the all-rounder with fast bowling.
The 21-year-old has only played eight List-A games, but he has also caught Finch’s attention as Australian decision-makers try to identify the players they need to get the trophy in two and a half years.
“We’ll work that out next month or so,” Finch said today. “We will sit down and really deal with numbers and how we believe the game will progress in the next few years and what we need to do as a team.”
“There are obviously a lot of young people who have done really well.
“Look at Cameron Green – Painey talked about him and his rise and dominance in state cricket for the past 12 months last week. He is such a young man and I think the potential is huge.
“Then you have young Batters, Josh Philippe and these guys. I think what’s really important about them and Josh is that he dominated a Big Bash final. I think it’s great when young players play big games good performances bring a real something to them, as does the natural flair and talent that he has.
“But then you have other people I can’t wait to see and shoot again. Jhye Richardson; he’s as exciting a young fast bowler as it gets when he shoots. I think his shoulder will be renewed . ” A good thing for him in the long run. It probably doesn’t feel that way when he goes through rehab again.
“There are people who only bring the excitement factor into play. They turn on the TV to see how people take the game, roll it quickly and swing it.
“There are many players we will talk about and will work out our plans for 2023.”
It remains to be seen when exactly the Australian selection players will take a closer look at the players available for the next World Cup. The three-game series against Zimbabwe in August was postponed today due to pandemic health and biosecurity concerns.
A newly planned limited-overs campaign against England could be postponed to September, with boards of both nations talking about how and when these games can take place.
Finch said it will be crucial not to repeat the mistakes of preparing for the 2019 tournament if Australia wants to win the World Cup for the sixth time.
“I think it is difficult if you just go in and give it wings,” he said.
“I think you have to plan and prepare a lot … to see how you will play, what the trend of the game will be so that you will be successful in two and a half years.
“It is really important to have a clear structure and blueprint that you can fall back on, and that helps a lot when choosing your team.
“We probably left it a little late last time … so we are really determined to make sure that we are well planned this time and that we do not leave any stone unturned.”
