Former Test captain Tim Paine would be making two changes to Australia’s XI for their World Cup Semi-Final against South Africa.
The Aussies dominated their last group game against Bangladesh, winning by eight wickets with Mitch Marsh scoring an unbeaten 177 from number three.
As they had already secured a spot in the final four in the lead-up to the game, Australia put both Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc on ice ahead of the knockout stage.
With the pair certainties to come back into the side, Paine expects Sean Abbott to make way for Starc while he’s prepared to axe a player that featured in six of the nine group games in Marcus Stoinis.
As much of the XI is cemented, Paine prefers to keep Marnus Labuschagne in the side for some extra batting with Stoinis making way for the all-rounder.
The former gloveman says the only way he’d keep the West Australian in the side is if he takes the new ball in a scenario where the Aussies try and take the pace off early to the likes of Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma.
“I wouldn't definitely play Stonis,” Paine said on SEN Whateley.
“Without seeing the wicket, I find it really hard to make a call.
“But the only way I'm playing Marcus Stoinis ahead of Marnus is if we use him in a new ball role.
“If we don't, I'm taking the batting every day of the week.
“If we lose the toss at Eden Gardens, it looks like that wicket has worn and it has been difficult to bat on.
“The reason I would have had Marnus Labuschagne in our World Cup squad is because of this moment. If it spins, you need skill.
“If we're chasing in the second innings and they've got three spinners, we need a guy who averages 60 in Test cricket.
“He's got the ability to handle that type of bowling and that type of pressure.
“If Stoinis isn't going to use the new ball for a couple of overs and he's only bowled something like 19 overs for the World Cup, then I'm going to go with Marnus ahead of him and bring Maxwell in.”
While he initially was against picking both Labuschagne and Steve Smith in the Australian XI due to their similarities, Gerard Whateley now also agrees with Paine given how Stoinis has been used throughout the tournament.
“I've come around to that view as well,” Whateley said.
“Stoinis has bowled 19 overs in the tournament. He's taken four wickets, so he's not being used … and he’s made 87 runs.
“I've said the whole way through, Labuschagne and Smith are the same batter and their numbers suggest that … 286 to 268 runs, averaging 36 and 38. They’ve made two half-centuries each and a high score of 71 each.
“I was thinking you don't need the same batter twice, but maybe here you do.
“If you're not using Stoinis, if he is not going to bowl early overs, then give me the extra insurance policy.
“I flipped entirely on that.”
Australia play South Africa for a spot in the ODI World Cup Final on Thursday. The first ball is set for 7:30pm (AEDT).