What the Aussies have been up to

Aaron Finch

Since lifting the KFC BBL title with the Melbourne Renegades to end a summer where he found run-scoring tough on a high note, Aaron Finch has gone from strength to strength to enter the Cup training camp in high spirits. A drought-breaking 93 in a Ranchi ODI against India was followed by scores of 116 and 153 not out against Pakistan in Sharjah, with 90 in Abu Dhabi and 53 in Dubai. Series wins in a T20 and ODI series against India and beating Pakistan 5-0 in the UAE has seen Australia's World Cup captain lift silverware with pleasing regularity in 2019. Finch opted out of this year's IPL tournament, and has been holidaying with his wife Amy while renovating their family home.

Jason Behrendorff

The towering WA paceman was used sparingly in Australia's Autumn internationals as a new-ball bowler, playing two ODIs each against India and Pakistan for a best return of 3-63 in Dubai. He linked up with the Mumbai Indians for his first taste of the IPL and snared a wicket with his first ball, his trademark steep bounce doing over Ambati Rayudu. He played five games for the Mumbai side, claiming five wickets with an economy just below nine which is handy for a bowler who primarily does his work in the power play overs.

Alex Carey

Since helping Australia to one-day series wins against India and Pakistan, the wicketkeeper has been happily clocking up some valuable family time with his wife Eloise and infant son Louis. And putting his handyman skills to work with a bit of construction, according to his Instagram account!

Nathan Coulter-Nile

The Western Australian has shrugged off a long history of injury and locked himself in for a World Cup spot with his form in a full Aussie summer and the Autumn internationals where his handy lower-order hitting complemented his deceptively quick bowling. He had a whirlwind trip home to Perth from India to be there for the birth of his second child, making it back with four hours to spare before daughter Nevi was born. After a quick break he linked back up with the Aussies in the UAE and slipped straight back into the groove. He was due to turn out for Royal Challengers Bangalore but didn't make to the IPL, remaining in Perth with his family, teeing up a possible move to the east coast for next summer's BBL, and was also a groomsman at the wedding of fellow WA fast bowler Joel Paris.

Pat Cummins

You've had an unbelievable summer, you're now the No.1 Test bowler in the world, you've won the Allan Border Medal … you probably deserve a break, right? Pat Cummins was key to Australia overturning a 2-0 deficit to win their ODI series against India 3-2, and in just six ODIs in 2019 he has taken 17 wickets. He got most of the ODI series against Pakistan off and took some time to enjoy the UAE with his long-term partner Becky Boston. The couple then had a week in the Whitsundays – a "very rare but unforgettable week" in Boston's words – before they returned to Sydney where the 25-year-old fast bowler on whose shoulders so much rests for Australian cricket this winter has been resting up.

Usman Khawaja

The in-form batsman has had a chance to relax and refresh since helping Australia to ODI series wins in India and the UAE. He reached a career-high 19th in the ICC’s one-day batting charts following his heroics against Pakistan, where the elegant left-hander struck 272 runs at 54.4. Since returning to home soil, he’s been flaunting his skills (and fashion sense) on the golf course and spent time with wife Rachel and fur-child Le Bron.

Nathan Lyon

The Aussie off-spinner had more than one reason to celebrate during his break. First came his selection in Australia’s World Cup squad, and just days later, he successfully sold his home in the Sutherland Shire. With no IPL or County contract, Lyon had a chance to refresh ready for a long and busy summer in the UK.

Shaun Marsh

Marsh was Australia's best performed one-day batsman throughout 2018 and scored an unbeaten 91 against Pakistan in Sharjah just weeks after the birth of his second child.

It's been mainly about family for Marsh since that tour of the UAE, with the 35-year-old coming to grips with being a dad for the second time and trying to stay fit ahead of a big World Cup campaign.

Glenn Maxwell

Since the end of the UAE tour, Maxwell has been turning out for Lancashire in the UK. He picked up a five-wicket haul but didn't fare so well with the bat in his sole red-ball appearance, scoring 1 and 5, while in six 50-over matches for the county he produced a high score of 35, batting at No.4. Maxwell did have plenty of opportunity to ply his trade with the ball and in good signs for Australia heading into the World Cup, he picked up eight wickets at 37.12 in his six games, with an economy rate of 5.62. He also managed to squeeze in a visit to Paris! 

Jhye Richardson

Rehabilitation has been the focus for Richardson after he suffered a nasty shoulder dislocation during Australia's second one-day international against Pakistan in Sharjah. The Western Australian had returned to Australia after the injury but was buoyed when scans revealed a 'best case scenario' for the youngster. He was subsequently named in Australia's World Cup squad, while his break also included a trip to the Maldives with girlfriend Jessica. 

Steve Smith

Smith didn't enjoy the same success at Rajasthan Royals as David Warner did with Hyderabad, but there were some good signs from the batsman and his elbow held up. He came in with little match practice under his belt following his elbow surgery in January and improved as the season went on, scoring back-to-back half-centuries. He ended his stint at the IPL club with 319 runs at 39.87, at a strike rate of 116. 

Mitchell Starc

Starc hasn't been seen for Australia since he played the second Test against Sri Lanka in Canberra at the start of February and the last limited overs contest he participated in was back in November. In recent times it's all been about rehabilitation for Starc, with the left-armer recovering from a pectoral injury that slightly hampered his most recent home summer. Starc has managed to find the time to get out on the golf course alongside his wife Alyssa Healy and champion golfer Karrie Webb and even managed to take in an AFL game between the GWS Giants and Essendon.

Marcus Stoinis

Stoinis ended his time at Royal Challengers Bangalore on a disappointing note, becoming the third wicket in Rajasthan leggie's Shreyas Gopal's hat-trick. But he was a fixture in RCB's XI throughout his time in India and - until that final match - enjoyed a brilliant tournament with the bat, striking 211 runs at 52.75 - the highest of any RCB batsman at that point - while those runs came at a strike rate of 135.25. He didn't fare as well with the ball, collecting just two wickets at 72.5.  

David Warner

The explosive opener hasn't played for Australia for more than a year now, but his form for the Sunrisers Hyderabad during the IPL showed he is still a force to be reckoned with. Warner finished his stint at the Sunrisers with a whopping 692 runs from 12 knocks and that included eight half-centuries and a classic unbeaten century from just 55 deliveries against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Adam Zampa

The leg-spinner was another who spent his break in Australia taking a well-earned break from cricket. During his time off Zampa enjoyed some r&r with his fiancee Harriet Palmer in Byron Bay and worked on his side hustle as a fashion icon, much to the amusement of current and former teammates.