ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Strongest Australian Playing XI

#3 Steve Smith

Steve Smith will unquestionably be Australia's key man in the upcoming World Cup. At number 3, Smith's presence will help Australia to stabilize the middle order - a significant link in ODIs - as they have possessed a bit shaky middle-order in the recent past.

The only cloud surrounding Smith is the injury that he picked up in the Bangladesh Premier League. He is said to get fit only by mid-April which will hinder his preparations for the 2019 World Cup. However, if everything goes well, the injury will not trouble Smith in the nearing World Cup.

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#4 Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh has had a decent time in the middle-order since January 2018. Having played ten matches since January 2018, Marsh has amassed 640 runs at an average of 64.00 and a strike-rate of 97.70. His tally also includes four hundreds and a solitary fifty.

Besides, with 640 runs to his name, he stands as the highest run-scorer for Australia since January 2018. Thus, it is apparent that Marsh will field a place in the middle-order for Australia in the 2019 World Cup.

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#5 Peter Handscomb (WK)

Peter Handscomb did not have a good 2018. However, he kicked-off the year 2019 in style as he finished as the second highest run-getter for Australia in the ODI series against India. Having played three matches, he notched-up 151 runs at an average of 50.33 and a strike-rate of 103.42. The performance against India might help him fix a place in the Australian playing XI for the coming event.

Moreover, with Alex Carey failing more often than not, Australia will be looking Handscomb as a prospective wicket-keeping option in the 2019 World Cup. Thus, with Handscomb having good hands behind the stumps, we might see him in Australia's World Cup XI as a wicket-keeper batsman while allowing Australia to have an extra batsman or bowler in the final XI.