World Cup squad contenders: batters

Australia selectors will in coming weeks pick the 15-man squad that will head to England in May to defend the World Cup.

It's a daunting task for the National Selection Panel of chairman Trevor Hohns, former captain Greg Chappell and head coach Justin Langer, who has already said there will be some "brutally unlucky" players to miss out.

Hohns has said up to 19 players are in the mix for the World Cup squad, while skipper Aaron Finch said the number of contenders could be as many as 21.

Below we look at the batters who are in contention for the World Cup with perhaps only five batting spots available.

Aaron Finch

Finch is a lock to lead Australia in the World Cup and will enter the quadrennial tournament near the peak of his powers. The Victorian openly admitted he struggled this summer in what has been the most frantic period of his career, but a solid ODI series in India helped him turn the corner before exploding in the following tour to the UAE. Against Pakistan, Finch scored 451 runs at 112.75 in five innings, with two centuries and as many fifties. His runs haul was the most by an Australian in a five-match ODI series and justified the belief and support his coach and teammates have in him. Now that his position is unquestionably cemented, the next question to answer is where Finch will bat. The right-hander is one of the most damaging players in the world, but Australia's World Cup squad will likely boast several top-order specialists. That could lead to Finch sliding down the order if that is what is best for the team, a move he is open to.

Usman Khawaja

Khawaja has made the most of his return to the ODI side since January. In 13 ODIs in 2019, no player has scored more than Khawaja's 769 runs at 59.15. In eight of his 13 innings this year, the left-hander has passed 50 and twice has gone on to post three figures. The remarkable consistency opening the batting helped Finch as the captain regained form and together the pair formed a dominant first-wicket partnership. In 14 innings at the top of the order, Khawaja and Finch average 64.07 three century stands, including a best of 209 against Pakistan in Sharjah. 

Shaun Marsh

Throughout Australia's forgettable 5-0 whitewash in England last June, Marsh was a shining light. The veteran scored two centuries batting at No.3 against the premier ODI team in the world and proved it was no fluke with two more centuries on home soil this summer against South Africa and India. However, a lean run of single-figure scores in India last month saw him dropped for the series-decider. The 35-year-old returned to the starting XI and played each game of the clean sweep over Pakistan in the UAE, where he scored 182 runs at 60.66. His experience during the absence of Smith and Warner has been invaluable and his record in England can't be ignored.  

Peter Handscomb

Like Khawaja, Handscomb has made the most of his opportunity after earning an ODI recall in January. The right-hander has been a reliable performer in the middle order with 479 runs at 43.54 this year and posted his maiden ODI ton in Mohali last month. His ability to rotate the strike and raise the run rate during the middle overs has been significant reason why Australia has returned to posting large ODI totals, and his strike rate of 98.15 this year is second only to Glenn Maxwell's 126.51 of the side's top-order batters. While he is seen as a similar player to Steve Smith, Handscomb's wicketkeeping skills give him an extra string to his bow when it comes to selection.

Ashton Turner

Turner was a surprise selection for the ODI tour of India but in just his second match produced one of the most thrilling innings in the 50-over format for his country. Chasing an improbable 359 to win in the fourth ODI in Mohali, Turner unleashed on Virat Kohli's bowlers, crunching six sixes and five fours in a 43-ball 84 that delivered Australia their highest successful run chase, with 13 balls to spare no less. His power-hitting and red-hot form forced Shaun Marsh out of the side for the series finale in Delhi, but in the UAE the veteran returned and Turner was left to run the drinks for the entire series.

D'Arcy Short

Short played three ODIs in England last year and just the one match against South Africa on home soil at the start of the summer before he was dropped. The explosive left-hander put the disappointment behind him to go on and score the most runs in the KFC BBL for the second straight year as the player of the tournament. His electric from in the game's shortest format saw him play both T20 internationals in India as cover for Shaun Marsh and posted composed scores of 37 and 40 in the historic series win. 

David Warner

If there was any doubt about Warner's form or fitness he quashed those concerns inside a week in the Indian Premier League. Warner scored 85 in his IPL return after missing last year due to the events in Cape Town and followed up his blazing start with 69 and 100no. It was vintage Warner that destroyed the attacks of Kolkata, Rajasthan and Bangalore, respectively, and showed he hasn't lost his touch after spending 12 months on the sidelines from international cricket. Coach Langer has said Warner and Smith will likely return to the World Cup squad and the left-hander looks set to rejoin the national side in peak form if selected.  

Steve Smith

Smith's start the IPL hasn't been as productive as Warner's but there have been glimpses of his best in his four innings for Rajasthan. Both Smith and Warner entered the IPL coming off elbow surgery, but the injury setbacks haven't appeared to hinder either player. The 29-year-old has enough credits in the bank for the selectors to know what he's capable of at ODI level, so his performances won't be too heavily scrutinised. With Smith and Warner almost guaranteed to make the World Cup squad, the question now is who makes way for them?

Australia's World Cup fixtures

May 25: (warm-up) England v Australia, Southampton

May 27: (warm-up) Australia v Sri Lanka, Southampton

June 1: Afghanistan v Australia, Bristol (D/N)

June 6: Australia v West Indies, Trent Bridge

June 9: India v Australia, The Oval

June 12: Australia v Pakistan, Taunton

June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE