WC contenders: allrounders, keepers

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 allrounders and wicketkeepers who are in contention for the World Cup.

Glenn Maxwell

Maxwell has been moved up and down the batting order in the ODI team but it looks like he's finally found a home coming in late and finishing off an innings. He ended the KFC BBL season in good form and he's gone to another level for his country over the past two months, scoring a match-winning century in the T20I side in Bangalore along with vital knocks against India and Pakistan. The right-hander finished the UAE tour with scores of 71, 98 and 70 – his last knock a whirlwind effort from just 33 balls. Coming in late – or up the order when on top and after quick runs – allows Maxwell to bat with a license to hit from ball one and that clarity appears to be paying dividends. His off-spin remains to be useful when called upon and is perhaps the best fielder in the team if not in the world.

Marcus Stoinis

Stoinis was named Australia's best men's one-day player over the past 12 months in February for his hard-hitting stroke play and knack of picking up key wickets. While Maxwell has teed off from ball one, Stoinis has played an anchor role in the 50-over side before exploding late in order to take each innings deep. The right-hander broke his thumb in India but missed only one game with the injury and has returned to the subcontinent to play alongside Virat Kolhi at Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL. The 29-year-old has been the regular seam-bowling allrounder in the ODI outfit for the past 12 months and looks set to own that role in the World Cup.

Michael Neser

Perhaps the main challenger to Stoinis' spot as the seam-bowling allrounder is Queensland's Neser. The right-armer is a fast swing bowler who can hit a long ball and made his ODI debut in England last year. While he didn't nail his first couple of matches in national colours against the No.1 50-over side in the world, he does have experience in the World Cup host nation under his belt. In swinging conditions on small grounds, Neser could be a handful in England, but whether he's done enough to get a World Cup ticket will be revealed. If he misses out, the 29-year-old would be a strong candidate to make the Australia A tour that runs concurrently with the back half of the World Cup and precedes the Ashes. 

Alex Carey

Carey has been Australia's ODI gloveman since Test skipper Tim Paine was dropped at the start of the summer. Carey has opened the batting but has found a home at No.7, the spot where ODI captain Aaron Finch expects the wicketkeeper to bat in the World Cup. The left-hander scored his maiden ODI half-century against Pakistan in Dubai last month and made vital contributions down the order in India. As the team's vice-captain, Carey is a leader in the side and was backed by legend Ricky Ponting to go to the World Cup.

Matthew Wade

Wade's form across all formats has been irresistible this summer. The left-hander amassed 1021 runs in the JLT Sheffield Shield and 592 runs in the KFC BBL, he has 94 ODIs under his belt and a one-day century to boot. It would be a radical selection picking Wade given Carey has worn the gloves for the past four series, but there are few batters in the country in better form than the Tasmanian captain.

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