Australia’s Middle-Order Crisis in the 2023 ODI World Cup

Australia started with two losses and everyone thought they were going to be the shadow of themselves. But they proved us wrong and came back valiantly. they are now holding the 4th position in the points table. Fighting their way to the Semifinals. Though they are doing well so far they still have some issues in the middle order which could lead them to their demise if their consistent top order fails. Let’s dissect the middle-order crisis that has been plaguing the Australian cricket team during this tournament.

Australia’s batting prowess has been on full display, with consecutive totals of 350 or more. While their openers, led by David Warner, have been instrumental in laying solid foundations, it is the middle order that has been cause for concern. In multiple instances, the middle-order batsmen struggled to maintain momentum, and the team had to rely on late-order heroics, primarily from Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, and Pat Cummins.

A notable example was their game against Pakistan, where they went from 252 for 0 to 363 for 9, scoring just 108 runs in the last 16.1 overs. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting labeled the middle-order performance in their game against New Zealand as “deplorable.” This inconsistency in the middle-order raises questions about the team’s ability to handle pressure situations.

Marnus Labuschagne, who has shown promise, has struggled to convert starts into substantial innings with an overall strike rate of 77.30. On the other hand, Steven Smith has expressed his discomfort batting at No. 4. It’s clear that adjustments need to be made in the middle-order to ensure they capitalize on the strong platforms laid by the openers.

Australia needs to find a way for players like Mitchell Marsh and Steven Smith to gel in the middle-order and maintain momentum when the openers provide a solid foundation. Alternatively, they should consider being more flexible with their batting order to adapt to different game situations, especially when dealing with spinners.

Australia had initially planned to field multiple allrounders in their lineup, including Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green, to strengthen both their batting and bowling departments. However, in their recent game, they opted for a combination of Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh, with Marsh hardly contributing with the ball.

Stoinis’ fitness concerns have limited his participation, and his absence has meant that Australia is deprived of a potential match-winner in the middle-order. The selectors have shown faith in their specialist bowlers and Maxwell, but this strategy has its limitations, especially when the specialist bowlers have an off day. Australia needs to have a versatile and well-rounded lineup, and Stoinis’ full fitness can be a significant asset.

If Stoinis is fit, he can bolster the bowling and death-hitting abilities, making the middle-order less one-dimensional. However, this may require either Smith or Labuschagne to make way, potentially relying heavily on Maxwell’s late-order exploits.

Mitchell Starc, a renowned fast bowler, has not been at his best in this World Cup. His record-breaking 22-game wicket-taking streak ended against New Zealand, where he conceded 89 runs from nine overs. Starc’s performance has raised concerns, especially considering Australia’s underwhelming new ball bowling performance.