Disagree with quite a lot of this.
I don't think we are missing Clarke at all. Shaun Marsh and Khawaja offer that same type of batsman and perform to a level very similar to he.
Watson - yep, he's a gun.
Haddin, disagree with that too. Mediocre keeper and batting didn't exactly play a significant role at all for us towards the end of his ODI career. I'm no huge fan of either Carey or Wade, but both are providing a similar output.
Johnson, well yes.
Faulkner had a special run of form at that cup. Mitch Marsh was a good replacement who was doing well in ODI cricket, but is off the scene of late after a horrible summer. Stoinis had his 'Faulkner 2015 world cup' patented run of form a year too early for the cup.
Bowling options thin? Possibly. But NCN has done the job very well in the past coming into the cup, the injuries to both the good Richardson and Pattinson have hurt. Neither Zampa or Lyon inspire much confidence. But you look at any ODI bwolign lineup, regardless how vaunted - India just gave up 336 against us (and do frequently)! England and Jofra the great hope routnely go for 300+ Rabada, Ngidi, Tahir, Morris looks great on paper, but the reality is they go the distance too. It's just the game of short form cricket these days! Fans still act as though going for 6 or 7 an over is disgraceful these days like we're back in 2000. The reality is it's nigh on impossible to stop guys like Roy, Buttler, Gayle, Dhawan, Rohit, de Kock once they really get going and seeing Russell, Pandya, Plunkett who can stroll out after 48 overs and smoke the first, second and third they face out of the ground... as a bowler you're basically on a hiding to nothing.
I think Langer has performed ok. As you say the team he's developed looks stronger than it did over 12 months ago. And it does genuinely look as though the culture and environment has been significantly improved.
Difficult to argue with your assessment of the Ashes given the pattern of results in international cricket over the past half decade or so. But while England are stronger, they have their flaws too and also subject to wild fluctuations in performance.
I can see where you’re coming from tbh even though I disagree with you but outside of Cummins who’s a better cricketer in the 2019 side than the 2015 side. You could make a case for Finch being marginally improved but otherwise nope.
2015-2019
Warner > Warner
Finch < Finch
Smith > Smith
Clarke > Khawaja
Maxwell > Maxwell
Watson > Stoinis
Haddin > Carey
Faulkner > NCN
Johnson > Zampa
Starc > Starc
Hazlewood < Cummins
I will add that I think Carey is capable of being as good as Haddin, even better but Haddin did a fantastic job last World Cup. I think people underestimated the guy because a. he’s from NSW and b. he was a bit of a flog at times. Clarke was an underrated limited overs cricketer too - not to mention his captaincy is a world better than Finch’s.
We aren’t hopeless (we just lost by 30 runs to a probable finalist) but we won’t win this thing.
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