Australia’s head coach Justin Langer admitted he has some national team headaches ahead of ODI’s three-game series against India that starts on November 27 in Sydney.
Steve Smith has returned to the ODI team after missing Australia’s last assignment against world champion England due to a concussion. Langer confirmed that Smith will immediately find a spot in the XI in place of the injured Mitchell Marsh in the first ODI against Virat Kohli’s men at SCG on Friday.
“We’ll probably lean that way (picking Smith for Marsh) but we learned and talked in our foundation for one-day cricket going forward, we really like that added bowling option,” Langer said as quoted by Cricket. .com.au.
The former Australia starter, however, added that they would like to have that extra cushion of a bowler they had in the presence of Marsh, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, which gives them some pick headaches.
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“In England, we had Mitch Marsh, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell able to get us at least 10 overs. So we like that combination, the extra off-roader. Obviously, Steve will return directly.
“There’s a lot of talk about the national team, they give you some headaches, but I promise they are really good headaches,” Langer added.
The Moises Henriques all-rounder that can fill that Marsh void.
“Mo (Moises Henriques) has a lot, a lot of experience. He’s in great shape, he deserves his chance back in the team because of his performance, ”explained Langer.
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“Then you have Cam Green, the young man, 21 years old, with enormous potential.
“He has pitched the last two Shield games for Western Australia. I have said publicly that if we are going to cast Cameron Green, he has to bowling in one day cricket specifically, not so much in T20 cricket or test cricket because we look for a different setup in those two ways I play.
“Yesterday he played well in the networks. He is a young fast bowler, he is 200 cm tall, so obviously we are very sensitive to his physical health; has had two stress fractures in the past.
“But he’s up and running, he’s bowling well and he’s certainly given us another option at the drafting table that’s really positive and exciting,” Langer said.
The Australia head coach sang high praise for Marnus Labuschangne, who is also in the mix for a place in the XI against India.
“Every time Marnus goes out in Australian clothes or anywhere, he does it for Queensland as well, every time he plays he makes more of an impression when he walks into the middle,” Langer said.
“It is a big problem to have.
“Choosing the final XI is what keeps you up at night because it is difficult to choose 13 or 14 deserved players in 11 places.
“Whatever team we put in the park, we think it will be a good team.”
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